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problem with Windows98 SE Service Pack 2.1


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Okay. I have a custom built pc. It's been an isolated, stand-alone system since day 1, never online. My version of 98SE is backed up on it's own partition, and also on disk. I.e., no other version of my OS has been run on this comp.

I haven't had a history of problems; recently i did need to re-format and re-install. I read about the SP 2.1, and it sounded like a good idea. Downloaded from MajorGeeks. Which stated: from the author's website, "Uninstallation is possible from Add-Remove Programs" Cool. No harm, no foul.

1. I'm having sound problems - game starts up, has sound in the intro, but once in the game no sound. Exit the game, start again, and i have sound.

Am also having some choppy sound on wav files, and Winamp will stop in mid-song. (As for Winamp, i had a stable version i was using, but now i have 5 diff versions, i don't remember the one before the re-install, so maybe that's a Winamp prob, but it keeps happening with every version i install -and i do check the tech specs for versions that support 98SE)

This is unusual, this is not a problem i ever had before

2. I used to run Diskdoctor and Windoctor from the (Norton) Systemworks 2003 cd. Runs better from the cd, installing it was not a good idea (this was just before Symantec turned to the Dark side of the Force). I can't run them from cd now, the program says "your comp is missing system files required to use this program, let me install the missing files". I've been using this same disk on my comp for years -this has never happened before, ever.

And a few left-click mouse functions, have a "lag-time"/pause of a few seconds before whatever function takes place. This again, is not a problem i ever had before. The only new thing that's been added to the equation is this 'Service Pack'. And when i go to the author's site, i read this:

"Uninstallation needs Windows 98 SE CD-ROM. It also doesn't remove all installed files. It only reverts back half of the installed files with original 98 SE files. So, I don't recommend uninstallation of the pack, unless you are having a serious problem."

(Please bear with me, i'm trying to be concise yet thorough)

I'm not a novice. But i'm a bit freaked out here, 'cause now it seems i can't un-install this patch after all.

And every time i run CCleaner, it gives me some kind of Registry error re Notepad.exe; then i find this much farther down in the list of changes: "Better Notepad: MetaPad 3.5 (Optional)."

Well apparently my comp didn't like that.

I'm not angry or blaming anyone; i understand computers, i have some experience programming but a lot more at trouble-shooting. Due to major health problems i'm currently disabled and backing up 15 gig to a series of cds to re-format and re-install was a major task. And that's why i'm a bit freaked out. (Right now i'm running Scandisk -taking forever- and then defrag)

I was trained to start with the simplest solutions. Okay, remove the 1 thing that's different about the system, see if the problems persist. OH, i'm not sure if doing that will create problems. -And i guess that's what i'm asking: can i remove this?, will doing so create problems?, is removing this mean i have to do another OS re-install?, has anyone added this and then removed it, if so what did you experience?

I can find some things for 98SE; but not a sound driver upgrade, (if that's even the problem).

Okay, sound: VIA AC97 ("enhanced audio controller") chipset in a VIA motherboard. Cracked the case, and it appears fine. Current sound driver files: viaudio.sys, ntkern.vxd, mmdevldr.vxd, file version 5.12.01 (that's what the comp says it's using)

I don't know what else to add (starting to have trouble concentrating). I would be very grateful for some assistance and information about this.

Regards,

Poet

Edited by poetdowns
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The latest version of Winamp that I run on Windows 98SE is 5.33. Versions after 5.33 I found to be unstable and/or bloated on my very old computer equipment. Version 5.33 requires unicode, so be sure that unicows.dll can be found in the Winamp folder of your Windows 98SE computer.

You indicated that your computer was run offline. If so, Winamp would not be able to download missing or addtional codecs during installation.

Windows 98SE Service Pack 2.1a is available from http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#98SE , as well as downloads of additional and more recent updates.

Neither Service Pack 2.1 nor Service Pack 2.1a include security and other updates for Internet Explorer. Thus, also consider downloading Internet Explorer (IE) 6.0 from Microsoft or mdgx.com. Also consider downloading the "Unofficial Internet Explorer (IE) 6.0 SP1 for Windows 98/98 SP1/98 SE/ME Cumulative" 7-24-2010 update available from http://www.mdgx.com/upd98me.php . (Note Winamp 5.33 includes a built-in browser that uses the IE engine. Thus, to operate, Winamp 5.33 may or may not require a minimum version of IE also be installed).

Another list of resources, including driverpacks, can be found at http://www.mdgx.com/upd98me.php .

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Aye, old versions of Winamp come as complete installs.

Service packs and updates, are what i believe is the problem; i would like to know if/how i can safely get rid of it, keeping my original OS intact.

I don't have anything to do with IE (imho, it's one of the worst pieces of programming i've ever come across). I use Firefox to display any HTML related material.

I've seen VIA Tech's all-in-one driver package (can't think of it's name); but A) i'm not sure i need it, and 2) i don't know what would be compatible with my current motherboard and/or chipset.

Regards,

Poet

Edited by poetdowns
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I had issues with SP2.1, so I just installed SP1.5 on top of it which I had absolutely no problems with... later on SP3, that works great too

(winamp 5.35 is the last version to run on unmodified win98SE, wel apart form unicows.dll, but winamp comes with it...)

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If reinstalling win9x is not an option, try to restore it to a vanilla install state (or as close as possible).

You can use the inbuilt system file checker utility to determine version numbers etc...

There is a fat chance, however, that you can replace certain files in native DOS mode only or booting from another OS/drive on your computer.

Also, you might have some luck with manually restoring the system registry state to a backup which dates before you installed the service pack.

This must also be done by booting to dos and, if my memory serves, using the SCANREG /restore "nameofbackup" command. No quotes.

Another stab in the dark: reinstall DirectX. Many times when sound plays OK thru plain wave output but not DX hardware acceleration, this is the culprit.

Good luck,

J.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Poet, I 'updated' my drivers for the VIA AC97 sound chipset one time, and I had no more sound from the speakers.

You may want to revert them to an older set of drivers, which is what I did.

I had thought that the SP gave the option of saving old windows files before writing new ones. Are you sure that it cannot be backed out completely?

tom

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  • 1 month later...

I had thought that the SP gave the option of saving old windows files before writing new ones.

no tom. the 98se SP does NOT give you the option of saving old Win98se system files. no such feature exists. if and when you uninstall the SP, it will automatically restore the win98se system files from the original win98se CD or from the folder where the win98se installation files are stored.

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