KernelEx 2022 (Kex22) Test Versions (4.22.26.2)

[DougB]

 

I can confirm that the KStub822/MPRExe crash (on bootup) remains.  (W98SE + USP3.36 + 98SE2ME + RP7 + ...)  

- Doug B.

 

USP 3.36 seem to install a ntdll.dll from XP, please see what happens when you manually downgrade to 4.90.3000 !

 

Yes, the U98SESP v3.36 changes list does state that NTDLL.dll v5.1.2600.6055 (WinXP SP3) is included, yet i have re-installed this version of the USP a few times and the NTDLL.dll in Windows\System\ remains at v4.90.3000 (WinME).  (Perhaps this is a bug in the USP, or maybe the DLL is installed only as part of one of the auxiliary programs.)  So it *is* v4.90.3000 on my system. 

- Doug B.

[jumper]

>GCC fix and Shell32 ordinal 727 are very cool to have directly in kernelex

Shell32:727 was requested in the DIY topic!

>Since the only change in kexbasen is the addition of oleaut32 functions, it's safe to think the problem is right there.

Did you try version x.0? It doesn't have the oleaut32 functions, just a version update.

For Kexbasen 4.5.2015.3, kexcrt has a tweak in strcpy to prevent the crash but the actual problem is still undetermined. It feels like an uninitialized variable somewhere that is usually zero but could be any value depending on what gets loaded where. I'm still working on it--more stack traces are welcome.

>Well, how's the Time market, any changes in price?

Just 16 bits for 54 hours!

Edited January 7, 2015 by jumper

[jumper]

Changelog:

KernelEx v4.5.2015.3 by jumper2015-01-06Resources: updated all product and file versions and resource languageskexcrt: fixed level3 warnings, 64-bit returns no longer truncated to 32-bitsKexbasen: DLL delay loading standardized for simplicity and robustnessKexbasen: added Oleaut32 templateKexbasen stubs: Oleaut32:442/RegisterTypeLibForUser, 443/UnRegisterTypeLibForUserKexbases fixes: Kernel32:VirtualProtect - dont let GCC apps disable write accessKexbases stubs: Shell32:727/SHGetImageList, Kernel32:*ActCtx*, Kernel32:*SList*

[jumper]

Here's a question: What is the most advanced or challenging NT-dependent application program or system component that a Win-98se system with Kex can run in a satisfactory way? Is it some particular browser? It is some particular version of flash player? Or Java JRE? Or some particular version of acrobat reader?

The Kext:DIY topic has dozens of success stories. No more general discussion here, please.

[MiKl]

Hi Jumper, beginning with version 6.7 (I think) the toolbar in notepad++ is not showing up any longer and notepad++ has the tendency, although working fine, to crash on closing. A fix for the latter issue would be especially cool because it sometimes also causes an explorer crash on my systems. Thx.

NOTEPAD++ verursachte einen Fehler durch eine ungültige Seite
in Modul KERNEL32.DLL bei 018f:bff9dc19.
Register:
EAX=c003098c CS=018f EIP=bff9dc19 EFLGS=00010216
EBX=03a0ffbc SS=0197 ESP=0390fe0c EBP=039100a8
ECX=00000000 DS=0197 ESI=00000000 FS=4387
EDX=bff76855 ES=0197 EDI=bff79050 GS=0000
Bytes bei CS:EIP:
53 8b 15 e4 dc fc bf 56 89 4d e4 57 89 4d dc 89
Stapelwerte:

 

A fix for the toolbar may also help on a similar problem with the latest Sumatrapdf prerelease builds.

http://www.sumatrapdfreader.org/prerelease.html

Edited January 7, 2015 by MiKl

[Nomen]

The Kext:DIY topic has dozens of success stories. No more general discussion here, please.

It would be nice if there was a single program or system component that could be agreed upon as being the defacto test-case for a successful KernelEx modification, enhancement, or installation on any or all win-98se systems given some minimum requirement (such as CPU type, installed ram, etc). The more sophisticated, advanced or "challenging" this application program is, the better.

[Drugwash]

I've uploaded 4.5.2015.3 to my repository.

 

jumper, why would you comment out the last two version variables in version.h? Since you started updating all subproject versions, I think it would be much easier to just use those globally. I've set my copy of the sources to use those variables.

 

Also, is there a problem with the subproject order in main KernelEx.dsw (dunno if you checked my diffs)? I've slightly altered that and core.dsp to allow a full batch build in one go.

[mcv93us]

 

 

I can confirm that the KStub822/MPRExe crash (on bootup) remains.  (W98SE + USP3.36 + 98SE2ME + RP7 + ...)  

- Doug B.

 

USP 3.36 seem to install a ntdll.dll from XP, please see what happens when you manually downgrade to 4.90.3000 !

 

Yes, the U98SESP v3.36 changes list does state that NTDLL.dll v5.1.2600.6055 (WinXP SP3) is included, yet i have re-installed this version of the USP a few times and the NTDLL.dll in Windows\System\ remains at v4.90.3000 (WinME).  (Perhaps this is a bug in the USP, or maybe the DLL is installed only as part of one of the auxiliary programs.)  So it *is* v4.90.3000 on my system. 

- Doug B.

 

 

The ntdll.dll v5.1.2600.6055 is installed on C:\ when you select support for the NTFS, else it is the version 4.90.3000.

This evening I try the new version of kernelex.

 

Mcv'93

[DougB]

 

 

 

I can confirm that the KStub822/MPRExe crash (on bootup) remains.  (W98SE + USP3.36 + 98SE2ME + RP7 + ...)  

- Doug B.

 

USP 3.36 seem to install a ntdll.dll from XP, please see what happens when you manually downgrade to 4.90.3000 !

 

Yes, the U98SESP v3.36 changes list does state that NTDLL.dll v5.1.2600.6055 (WinXP SP3) is included, yet i have re-installed this version of the USP a few times and the NTDLL.dll in Windows\System\ remains at v4.90.3000 (WinME).  (Perhaps this is a bug in the USP, or maybe the DLL is installed only as part of one of the auxiliary programs.)  So it *is* v4.90.3000 on my system. 

- Doug B.

 

 

The ntdll.dll v5.1.2600.6055 is installed on C:\ when you select support for the NTFS, else it is the version 4.90.3000.

 

Ok, thanks, makes sense (i figured it was one of the two).  I have not installed the NTFS support. 

 

- Doug B.

[loblo]

Kexbasen 4.5.2015.3 still crashes for me:

MPREXE caused an invalid page fault inmodule KERNELEX.DLL at 0177:bfa08f18.Registers:EAX=00000000 CS=0177 EIP=bfa08f18 EFLGS=00010246EBX=833411fc SS=017f ESP=0072f500 EBP=0072f510ECX=00000000 DS=017f ESI=bfa00000 FS=40cfEDX=00000043 ES=017f EDI=00000000 GS=0000Bytes at CS:EIP:8a 08 2b d1 89 55 f8 8b 55 f4 83 c2 01 89 55 f4 Stack dump:8692e043 00000000 00000000 86a2cf8c 0072f588 bfa07a3d 86a2cf8c 00000000 86a2cfe4 bfa0c350 8692e000 00000040 00000000 bfa00000 833411fc 00000177 

Edited January 8, 2015 by loblo

[DougB]

 

Kexbasen 4.5.2015.3 still crashes for me:

MPREXE caused an invalid page fault inmodule KERNELEX.DLL 

 

For me too... if i'm just using KStubs.  

However, i just tried installing iphlpapi4 (thanks to schwups's suggestion), and it works -- no MPRExe crash on bootup!  Only i used the standard installation in Kstub822.ini:

  [iphlpapi.dll]

  GetAdaptersAddresses=>iphlpapi4:

  GetPerAdapterInfo=>iphlpapi4:

KEx 4.5.2015.3 + U98SESP 3.36 + 98SE2ME + RP 9.7.2 + ...  

- Doug B.

P.S.  All my other posts should have said RP 9.7.2 -- sorry for the typos.

 

Edit:  Oops, spoke too soon.  Yes, it eliminates the MPRExe crash on bootup, but on some KEx-dependent apps (for example Audacity and VLC Media Player), it produces a whole bunch of messages similar to these:

  Msvcrt.dll:___lc_codepage_func=; Update DLL!

  SetLastError (1 / 0)        [ Yes / No ]

  more options        [  Cancel     ]

  Msvcrt.dll:___lc_codepage_func=; Update DLL!

  return -1 / 0        [ Yes / No ]

  more options        [  Cancel     ]

 

  Msvcrt.dll:___lc_codepage_func=; Update DLL!

  return <param1> / 1        [ Yes / No ]

  ExitThread (-1)        [  Cancel     ]

 

I'm using v7.00.9981.0 MSVCRT.dll.

Edited January 9, 2015 by DougB

[MiKl]

@ DougB, try commenting out all msvcrt-entries in kstub822.ini and see if the 'new' error goes away. Then you can 're-activate' one at a time. I think you will just need a def, like '= z2'

 

@ Jumper, yesterday I have commented out the 2 iphlpapi.dll entries in my kstub and the system booted without any problem ! All apps worked.

[M()zart]

 

and notepad++ has the tendency, although working fine, to crash on closing. A fix for the latter issue would be especially cool because it sometimes also causes an explorer crash on my systems. Thx.

Notepad++ often crashes on exit for me even on Windows 7. I doubt it is KernelEx-related.

[mcv93us]

Ok, I have successfully tested on VM with a new clean install the new Kernelex 4.5.2015.3.

Configuration: Win98SE with no service packs.

I then installed the Kstub822 without having any problem.

Tomorrow I try installing the SP 3.36 basic and RP 9.7.2, then I will install the rest of the extensions for Kernelex (K452stub, Iphlpapi4).

 

Mcv'93

[jumper]

Good feedback, everyone.

As for a standard test suite, it's better that we don't have one. At each update I'll try to mention at least one app that is helped (less reliance on Kexstubs).

As of 4.5.2015.3, Slimboat 1.1.50 (with QtWebKit4.dll from Qupzilla 1.1.5) no longer outputs to Kexstubs.log. K-meleon74_31 now just has one output. Note: outputs to Kexstubs.log are stubs that are actually called, not all of dependencies needed to load an app.

Drugwash, I commented out the last two variables because they are not being used. Each file should be versioned independently and have its own build comments, however, it is much easier to update one file than three (or four: Kernelex, Kexbasen, Kexbases, Sheet?). I'll put separate version and comment definitions for each in the next version.h.

I don't do batch builds and haven't (knowingly) changed the 4.5.2 workspace file. I also haven't seen any of your source (Cloudme is very difficult to access from Win98se--please provide direct links to files). Do whatever works best for you.

The crash we are seeing is definitely in Kernelex.dll, not kexbasen. With the null pointer check now added to strcmp, it has just been defered to strcpy. The affects of Kexstubs on the crash indicate a problem loading the API tables. The problem appears to be in the C++ configuration code, possibly in MAP or XTREE.

What I need is a much deeper stack dump, or better yet, an actual stack trace. I'll add debug info to the next build of Kernelex and also a popup with a deeper stack dump at the first null pointer detection in strcmp. Any feedback from Release.0.7z? I really need to hear from the ten who downloaded it.

Doug, thanks for testing with SP3. The "Update DLL!" messageboxes are from Kexstubs (should be identified in the title bar). As MiKl noted, if you have already updated MSCVRT you don't need those definitions anymore.