HoppaLong Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 I feel like that old bible story, where Daniel walks into the lions den!I know and admire the tremendous success most of you have using KernelEx.My experience with 98SE and KernelEx has usually been a disaster. Thisstrange failure with KernelEx is no reflection on the authors, who are certainlyexpert level programmers.I've tried to install more than a dozen apps based on the info here at MSFNand the KernelEx Wiki. Usually, the installer won't run at all, or after fileextraction my system is 90% frozen.One of the few examples of success happened recently. I updated VLC MediaPlayer and there were no problems. Usually, I try to find a compressed archivewith the files so I don't have to run the installer with KernelEx.I found a list at CNET from a guy who installed eight different browsers withKernelEx. He listed them best to worst. At the top of his list was SeaMonkey.I already had an old version, so I followed the advice at the KernelEx Wiki andtried to install SeaMonkey_v2.0.14. The files extracted and then my systemlocked up, as usual. I extracted all the files from a zip archive and followedthe directions at the Wiki. Set KernelEx to XP or 2K. Again, the results forfor my system were predictable. The app tries to run, maybe you'll see a blankwindow. The Task Manager shows "not responding."I have multiple clean system backups and I always try all new software bymounting a virtual partition. That's why I can allow my system to crash intooblivion. I can quickly undo any damage.I really would like to use KernelEx successfully, like so many of you have already.Maybe there are a few simple tweaks or Registry hacks.Whatever the problem is with my copy of 98SE would probably require manyhours to resolve. I've never had the time to start down this long and windingroad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nomen Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 Probably something to do with your hardware. Video driver, or not enough system ram, or old (non-P4) CPU. If not hardware or drivers, then what updates / patches / tweaks to your system files do you have as a starting point before you try KernelEx? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commodore Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 or old (non-P4) CPU. Hi. If I may put my simple two cents in, i successfully tested KernelEx on a Pentium III. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nomen Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 It's not Kex that you're testing. It's a specific program / software that you're testing. And there are certain specific deficiencies in those old P2's and P3's that affect multimedia / video rendering if I'm not mistaken.Absolutely no reason to be putzing with win-98 on anything less than a socket 478 P4 with 512 mb ram these days. Five years ago you could find PC's like that sitting on the side of the road - being thrown out with the garbage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
submix8c Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 I haven't found much by way of exactly *what* you have. IBM ThinkPad T23BIOS_v1.20Embedded Controller_v1.06aP-IIIWin98SE "Highly Customized" (transferred from an old Gateway?) using USP2(?). What's this about a Dell Latitude D600?http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/140866-booting-from-external-usb-floppy-drive/?view=findpost&p=901246 ThinkPad (512MB RAM?)http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/140798-refurbished-laptops-and-98se/?view=findpost&p=900814 Seriously, you've never given much info as to what you're using in the way of Hardware. Please help us to help you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoppaLong Posted August 24, 2015 Author Share Posted August 24, 2015 I've got 98SE on two computers.That old IBM laptop, with 767 MB of RAM. Also, it's loaded onto a more powerful computer asone of four bootable systems.I've got the same problems with KernelEx on both computers.Honestly, I never dreamed that anything like KernelEx was possible!I installed KernelEx twice. The first time it was enabled for all apps. I quickly realized many ofmy older apps couldn't run with KernelEx. The second run through I installed KernelEx disabled.Each time I tried installing an app with KernelEx I made sure it was set to whatever the Wikirecommended.I was content using 98SE to create DOS scripts and several other things that were just easierfor me with this older Windows system.A friend keeps telling me I should pretend KernelEx never existed, and just continue with mylife! I guess he's right.Discovering KernelEx is like owning an underpowered car that runs fine. One day you read thata few simple engine upgrades will boost horsepower and you'll burn less gas. Should you do it,or just leave your car with an underpowered, but fully functional engine? That's why I installedKernelEx. 98SE might run like a sports car with KernelEx. Whoopie!!Guys, I'm not going to start listing all the hardware, Microsoft patches and updates, etc. Theonly part of this system that's "highly customized" is the shell. It was done in the early daysof my business to give the system a unique look. Everything "under the hood" is still 98SE.Years ago I added the "Unofficial 98SE_SP2.1a."Every few months I would try another app with KernelEx. Each time it failed, I thought aboutposting here at MSFN, but it just seemed like a bottomless pit with no solutions. Yesterday,when I finally posted a message I felt foolish and I wanted to immediately apologize.I'm 99% certain the only solution would be a fresh install of 98SE. I just don't have the time tobuild a new system from scratch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamTron Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 Most of us here are pretty friendly and willing to help others, so don't feel bad about posting if you have a problem. There are numerous possibilities as to what's going wrong. I don't know exactly how your system is set up and what software you have installed. If it's not much, you can back up all of your programs and data to another computer, reinstall Windows 98, and restore everything. Windows 98 installs pretty quickly (the whole installation process only took about an hour for me). Only install updates and unofficial modifications if they're absolutely necessary. Some unofficial updates and service packs can interfere with KernelEx. There's pretty much no need to worry about the security of a Windows 98 system in 2015, since Windows 9x malware is pretty much nonexistent. If you absolutely can't nuke and restore, try completely removing KernelEx and any unofficial service packs, etc. you have installed, then try reinstalling KernelEx. Make sure unicows is also installed, as KernelEx can't work without it. There's also a possibility that those shell modifications are interfering. The fact that you've got the same issue on two machines is strange.Does the freezing behavior happen with all apps when KernelEx is enabled, or just a few? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
submix8c Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 @HoppaLong - Still, I browsed through all of your prior posts and that was basically all I could glean. You've not been very forthcoming with much. Besides, that's a *really old* USP that *may* be causing all of your problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumper Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 >mounting a virtual partition.Please tell us more about this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
submix8c Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 @jumper - Huh! Never paid much attention to that.I have multiple clean system backups and I always try all new software bymounting a virtual partition. That's why I can allow my system to crash into oblivion.With low specs and trying this on (assuming) a VM heck yeah, stuff will lock up! I have 2GB RAM and only alloacate 512MB of it to VPC for testing, otherwise the Host OS slows down drastically. In addition, if you have Dual Core, you *must* set VPC on the Host to use *only one* for Win9x (as Guest VM), otherwise bad stuff happens.Task Manager->Processes->(Right click the one to be changed)->Set Affinity Again, HoppaLong, you're not being very forthcoming. It seems impossible that so many other Members have had nearly no problems but only *you* can get -one.lousy.application- to function. If you wish to be helped, tell all... clearly... in sequence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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