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Running Windows 98 in 2020 and beyond...


Wunderbar98

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Sadly the household Canon MX310 printer will not be installed in Windows 98. Reviewing built-in Windows 98 printer drivers for Canon, they are obviously from a previous generation of printers. Unfortunately Canon never released Windows 98 printer drivers for any of the Pixma series. Cutting losses as a hacked printer install, even if successful, may end up providing only basic print function. Query no advanced printer options, scanner or fax.

The double vanilla Windows 98 system, used for the browser emulation project, has been disconnected and will be stored as a very capable back-up system for future upgrade. It will likely become an eventual triple boot. Keep the existing Windows 98 install for the odd DOS era game. Windows 2000 Professional for old Windows compatible graphic software and the Canon MX310 printer, may as well use the proper drivers for the printer. Newer GNU/Linux release for day to day operations as well as print/scan/fax.

Back happily hacking on my regular vanilla Windows 98 system (800 MHz, 384 MB RAM). Although both Windows 98 systems ran fairly well, this slower system somehow feels more suited for Windows 98 era and is still snappy fast for most tasks. The faster system (1.8 GHz, 1.5 GB RAM) ran Windows 98 fine too, but was a bit more hassle to install and configure. What i now affectionately think of as having to actively manage both the top-end (> 512 MB RAM) and bottom-end (DOS configuration, high memory, etc).

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When having a bad day, brew a nice warm tea or coffee, sit in a peaceful, dimly lit room and be mesmerized by disk defrag, your file system will thank-you :)

So this post has a little usefulness, launching 'defrag', rather than right-clicking a single drive in Windows Explorer, will allow setting defrag options.

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On 3/1/2020 at 11:26 PM, loblo said:

LAVFilters 0.66.0.10 (for audio and video) and VSFilter 3.0.0.284 (for subtitles) work OK for me and are pretty much all I actually need.

I can't find them. I think I've found LAVFilters but not sure. VSFilter I am struggling to find.

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11 minutes ago, Bruninho said:

I can't find them. I think I've found LAVFilters but not sure. VSFilter I am struggling to find.

Not too sure where I downloaded my VSFilter but you should find a working version here: https://code.google.com/archive/p/xy-vsfilter/downloads

LAVFilters 0.66.0.10 comes from here: http://roy.orz.hm/lavf-w32-nightlies/ but filenames aren't explicit. Otherwise get 0.66.0.0 from Github, it's only slightly older and should be fine too.
 

Edited by loblo
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Well, I have created a new Win98 VM, installed and upgraded it as much as I could, and I got KernelEx installed. Now I only need to know the entire route to upgrade KernelEx before actually installing any software. This time I don’t want to spend an entire night trying to figure out the things since it was one of the reasons why I had health issues these last weeks, and I am still recovering from it. Thankfully, I have vacations scheduled for the end of the month.

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Poor quality video from 2001, Bill Gates discussing the end of MS-DOS at a Windows XP event. Although Microsoft supported the last MS-DOS based systems until 2006 (Windows 98 and ME), it was clear they were moving on. DOS did it's best to try and stop him, Bill would have none of it.

HTTP only video download below in case the YouTube link goes down or future Windows 98 users are unable to access YouTube. Will remove the links if requested by the YouTube uploader or Microsoft.

Direct download link (~8 MB MP4 video, no JavaScript needed).
http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?file_id=03494801684402761208

YouTube link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-HIlNGczgU

Duration: 3:10 mins

Video title: TechLive - Windows XP: The End of the MS-DOS Era

Description: Bill Gates explains why Windows XP is the end of the MS-Dos era and turns it off for good. Originally aired October 25, 2001 on TechTV.

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Linked below an interesting CNET article entitled 'Microsoft Puts End to Windows 98 Support'.

https://www.cnet.com/news/microsoft-puts-end-to-windows-98-support/

Interesing quotes from the 2006 article below, in case the link fails.

...

From Tuesday, Microsoft will no longer issue security updates or provide support for Windows 98 and Windows ME, which are still being used by more than 50 million people.

Eight years after launching Windows 98, Microsoft is finally washing its hands of updating and plugging security gaps in the aging operating system.

The software giant originally planned to pull the plug in January 2004, but decided to extend support because of the increasing competition from Linux.

...

Analyst firms estimate that there are still between 50 million and 70 million computers running Windows 95, 98 or ME.

...

"Most software vendors and hardware vendors are no longer developing Win9x drivers for their new products--and have not been for some time now. Further, most free Linux distributions are supported for a year, some for two. Microsoft has supported Win98 for eight years, 98SE for seven years, and Windows ME for six years," he said.

"These do not meet Microsoft's current enterprise standard of 10 years--they shipped before the 10-year policy--but they're better than most," Silver added.

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@Wunderbar98: SeaMonkey just released the latest 2.53 version, which ditches support for XP. I might try it out later with my Windows 2000/BWC VM to see how far it can go. As of now, the best option for Windows 2000 + BWC still is SM 2.49.5, rock solid and with YouTube working last time I checked.

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Thank-you again for the information @Bruninho. The high-powered double-vanilla Windows 98 system will likely be taken out of storage later this year and modified with triple-boot Windows 2000 and GNU/Linux. YouTube through a browser hasn't interest me in years (use other methods).

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Old Opera for vanilla Win98 and SSL, a perhaps interesting (?) discussion from 2016:

https://forums.opera.com/topic/16565/what-is-causing-security-issues-can-i-fix-this

If I get this right, a vanilla win98 user could access MORE sites with a certain old Opera10 build as with a newer 10.63??

> I tried most of the newer Opera version up to 10.63 and found that the same security issues apply but Opera 10, build 1750 will now load this web site

Then someone remembered silent forced TLS updates to some old versions?

> sometime after SSL3 was finally cited in 2014 as insecure, Opera pushed out a silent, forced 'fix' to various Olde Opera version users which forced the security protocol enablings to be set a certain way to enhance security but which avoided selection combinations that had earlier destabilized the protocol negotiations for some users.

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1 hour ago, siria said:

Old Opera for vanilla Win98 and SSL, a perhaps interesting (?) discussion from 2016:

https://forums.opera.com/topic/16565/what-is-causing-security-issues-can-i-fix-this

If I get this right, a vanilla win98 user could access MORE sites with a certain old Opera10 build as with a newer 10.63??

> I tried most of the newer Opera version up to 10.63 and found that the same security issues apply but Opera 10, build 1750 will now load this web site

Then someone remembered silent forced TLS updates to some old versions?

> sometime after SSL3 was finally cited in 2014 as insecure, Opera pushed out a silent, forced 'fix' to various Olde Opera version users which forced the security protocol enablings to be set a certain way to enhance security but which avoided selection combinations that had earlier destabilized the protocol negotiations for some users.

Try this and tell me how it went for you:

http://retrosystemsrevival.blogspot.com/2018/01/opera-1063-for-windows-95.html?m=1

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A favourite old Windows game has been Domination from 'yura.net', variation of Risk board game, which requires a Java Runtime Environment. Apparently the game was first introduced as 'Risk' then renamed 'Domination'. Domination v1.2.1 does not install in vanilla Windows 98 as it requires a newer KERNEL32.DLL file. The older Risk v1.1.0.1 outlined below runs fine. I've happily played many 'yura.net' releases over the years. Java Runtime Environment always had a heavy feel to me but is a pre-requisite for some software.

Below is a Java Runtime Environment and 'Risk' combination that works well in vanilla Windows 98. All downloads can be performed from within vanilla Windows 98 using RetroZilla v2.2 and the about:config tweaks mentioned earlier to help with connections. To get working download links in RetroZilla typically View -> Use Style has to be set to 'None'.

Java Runtime Environment for Windows 98 and Windows ME 5.0 Update 22 (Freeware, file jre-1_5_0_22-windows-i586-p-s.exe, 17 MB, no JavaScript needed):
https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/sun_java_runtime_environment_for_windows_98_and_windows_me.html

Risk v1.1.0.1 (GNU General Public License v3, file Risk_1.1.0.1.zip, 5 MB, no JavaScript needed):
https://sourceforge.net/projects/risk/files/Risk/

Risk does not need to be installed, just unzip and click 'Risk.jar' to play. Note if you don't intend to play online, ensure a firewall is utilized, such as Tiny Personal Firewall v2.0.14, and deny all 'Java' connections when starting the game. Disclaimer: war sucks, be kind to one another, just enjoy the strategy and luck of the dice, good coffee break game. Hopefully everyone is doing okay during these very trying times (COVID-19), hang in there.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Just dropping my minimal Windows 98 notes in case it helps someone out. Although a seasoned Windows 98 system with all tweaks and drivers can be stripped, it is easier with less breakage to 'minimize' a system immediately after a fresh basic Windows 98 install.

Start with a minimal OS install using an official Windows 98 CD, deselect all optional components you don't want. Then use a program, such as Kan's Minimum Windows 9X Install Project (minwin9x.zip using MKMIN9X.BAT script, outlined below). There are other minimal Windows 98 systems out there, this is just what i've successfully used before.

More information linked below (no JavaScript required):
http://www.xxcopy.com/xxcopy81.htm

Direct download Kan's Minimum Windows 9X Install Project below (freeware, minwin9x.zip, ~37 KB, no JavaScript required). Recommend reviewing the 'Refinement strategies' section of the README.TXT.
http://www.xxcopy.com/download/minwin9x.zip

Running the 'MKMIN9X.BAT' script creates a new minimal C:\WINDOWS directory, aptly named C:\WINDOWS.MIN. Reboot into DOS, rename C:\WINDOWS to something like WINDOWS.ORI (original) and C:\WINDOWS.MIN to WINDOWS, then reboot into the new minimal environment. If it's a fresh install, proceed to install all necessary drivers and favourite software. If it's a seasoned installation, there will likely be breakage, such as no graphic or sound driver, some favourite tweaks missing, etc. Either re-install the desired software or copy over from the original bloated C:\WINDOWS.ORI sub-directories until everything gets fixed up like you want.

That's about it, pretty straightforward. To me the process need not be as complicated as outlined in the official README.TXT, nor is a floppy disk needed. My personal steps are pasted below. Unless the user makes an error when renaming or copying directories and files, using DOS commands or Windows Explorer, there is no risk of data loss. The original C:\WINDOWS.ORI directory stays intact, revert as needed or desired.

Note an XXCOPY installation is a prerequisite, free for personal use. The current release v3.33.3 (xxfw3333.zip) no longer supports Windows 98. The version i've successfully used previously is v2.96.8 (xxfw2968.zip, dated 2010-05-15). Unfortunately XXCOPY (http://www.xxcopy.com/) does not readily provide old versions, more information in the link below (no JavaScript required). If anyone has problems getting a working XXCOPY for Windows 98, let me know.
http://www.xxcopy.com/form71-2968.htm

-----
Personal 'minwin9x' steps pasted below:
- Perform regular Windows 98 install, avoiding extra unneeded components.
- Run the minimal install script BEFORE installing additional drivers and software, otherwise they probably won't copy over and break.
- First extract xxfw2968.zip (XXCopy), required for the Minimal 98 script, and install, ignore not for Windows 98 popup. Check C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND directory to confirm the installation.
- Then extract minwin9x.zip, navigate to extract directory, see README.TXT for usage notes, basically just need step # 3:
3. Create the minimum Win9X directory by running MKMIN9X.BAT which selectively copies files from the Win9X directory.
- Don't worry about other steps regarding a boot floppy, not required.
- Should have created minimal Windows directory parallel to original.
- Start -> Shut Down -> Restart in MS-DOS Mode.
- In DOS, rename original Windows directory:
REN WINDOWS WINDOWS.ORI
- In DOS, rename minimal Windows directory:
REN WINDOWS.MIN WINDOWS
- Press Ctrl-Alt-Del to reboot into minimal install Windows.
- From here just customize system as desired, watch for boot and software errors to fix, may need to copy some required files from original bloated Windows directory to restore desired functionalities.
- Install hardware drivers, Microsoft patches, extra software.
- Remove WINDOWS.ORI directory when no longer needed.
-----

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An updated Windows 9x Web Helper script (9xweb, v20200405 Beta) is available:
https://msfn.org/board/topic/177106-running-vanilla-windows-98-in-2020/page/17/?tab=comments#comment-1176154

20200405 Beta - 3rd Beta
- Improved main screen readability
- Modified video Wget command
- Improved video_fetch and getURL logic
- Remove non-ascii text from video description
- New delete video option after video and information view
- More strategic sleepSecs for file system race condition
- Decreased sleepSecs variable from 3 to 2 seconds
- Additional Video Fetch help
- Video title cleanup

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