Service Pack replaces Explorer.exe? What else?

[Lunac]

I have Unofficial Service Pack installed (old 1.5). I noticed that it replaces my old explorer.exe, as seen below. What are the real benefits of the new exe?

Original Win98SE: ver. 4.72.3110.1 >> 176KB >> MD5 value: B22B28F61B1BB06723019307F0FAACFC

USP 1.5 Version: ver. 4.72.3612.1700 >> 167KB >> MD5 value: FADD08BBDF703648F52F13D0A950BC35

What other files does this version of Unofficial Service Pack replace, patch, or modify? (Kernel32.dll?, Shell32.dll?). (Do I need to edit some registry keys after replacing with original files?)

[Petr]

I have Unofficial Service Pack installed (old 1.5). I noticed that it replaces my old explorer.exe, as seen below. What are the real benefits of the new exe?

Original Win98SE: ver. 4.72.3110.1 >> 176KB >> MD5 value: B22B28F61B1BB06723019307F0FAACFC

USP 1.5 Version: ver. 4.72.3612.1700 >> 167KB >> MD5 value: FADD08BBDF703648F52F13D0A950BC35

What other files does this version of Unofficial Service Pack replace, patch, or modify? (Kernel32.dll?, Shell32.dll?). (Do I need to edit some registry keys after replacing with original files?)

At first, the current and most stable version of the Unofficial Service Pack for Windows 98 SE is 2.1a, http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=61749 - 1.5 is more than 19 months old.

At second, this is the major function of the service pack, to replace older files with newer ones. SE SP 2.1a replaces about 180 system files.

Petr

[LLXX]

If you want to restore them then just extract them from the CAB files.

[Lunac]

I concluded that it was USP 1.5 that was causing some of the Norton Utilities 2000 to crash. On fresh install of Win98SE none of the NU2000 utilities crash. Right now I am trying to pinpoint which update from USP 1.5 is causing this. Now in some of the threads about USP I noticed talk about USP patching kernel32.dll as well as shell32.dll. (for 256 color icons?) That pointless patch right there sounds like something that would cause instability. Also, I asked about explorer.exe because the explorer.exe in USP 1.5 crashes constantly, compared to one that comes with Win98SE that does not.

Now I can't just replace explorer.exe (especially if shell32.dll was modified in any way) since I do not know which custom patches were applied and what was exactly patched, especially considering USP 1.5, or any other USP version for that matter comes with little or no documentation. Also, I can't uninstall the service pack not only because I do not know what was exactly installed/fixed/patched/updated, but because that would probably cause even more instability and problems.

[miko]

if you really want to do this just use SFC.EXE to extract explorer.exe from the install files, it doesn't need to tie in with the other dlls (as long as it's a valid 98SE explorer.exe)

further if you're that interested in file versions set SFC to append its log file and run it every time you update something/apply a patch and you'll get a nice list of changed files and their version numbers (as stated above newer is generally better).

if you just want to avoid the hacked files (afaik there are only currently 3 which are going to be changed to optional patches applied during the SPs install) this topic may be of help -

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=53875

don't know if 1.5 is the same, i came in at 1.6, but you should really upgrade to the latest anyway imo . . .

i use explorer.exe 4.72.3110.1 btw (i have my doubts about the file version on the later one and exactly what OS it's intended for, but that's a personal thing with me and i don't espouse it)

hth.

Edited January 10, 2006 by miko

[Lunac]

IE6 SP1 Explorer.exe 4.72.3612.1700 MD5: F7573AB5E36FC078C58F31AB9BC83BDE >> 167KB

USP 1.5 Explorer.exe 4.72.3612.1700 MD5: FADD08BBDF703648F52F13D0A950BC35 >> 173KB

Took some searching... same version, but USP 1.5 one is different. Hmm.

[miko]

if 1.5 is like 1.6 and upwards it has win 2k icons and a new start menu banner bitmap (the bit that runs up the side of the start menu) hacked into the explorer.exe.

32bit windows files (dlls and some exes) have resources stored in them which can be changed using a resource script compiler and decompiler like this - http://www.angusj.com/resourcehacker/

it's not as dodgy a procedure as it sounds and in fact that particular program was even recommended by microsoft at one point for people to use to change their logon 'images' (the little squares for users in XP) or it might have been the start up logos i'm not that sure (not an XP user you see). the programs core 'code' is not touched, only graphic resources and menus.

quite amazing things can be done with 'resource hacking', witness - http://wint.virtualplastic.net/hackindex.php

the procedure is sometime used post complie to change icons or menus in a program without having to recomplie the app from source, for example Delphi comes with a resource script compiler and decompiler as part of its package i believe.

this is what should be behind the differences in file sizes/crc

Edited January 10, 2006 by miko

[Petr]

IE6 SP1 Explorer.exe 4.72.3612.1700 MD5: F7573AB5E36FC078C58F31AB9BC83BDE >> 167KB

USP 1.5 Explorer.exe 4.72.3612.1700 MD5: FADD08BBDF703648F52F13D0A950BC35 >> 173KB

Took some searching... same version, but USP 1.5 one is different. Hmm.

Please do not use 17 months old USP that may contain bugs.

Explorer.exe in USP has modified icons and therefore the size and MD5SUM may differ.

Petr

Now in some of the threads about USP I noticed talk about USP patching kernel32.dll as well as shell32.dll. (for 256 color icons?) That pointless patch right there sounds like something that would cause instability. Also, I asked about explorer.exe because the explorer.exe in USP 1.5 crashes constantly, compared to one that comes with Win98SE that does not.

In what thread? AFAIK there are no kernel32.dll patches.

shell32.dll has icons changed.

explorer.exe has icons changed and Dr.Hoiby's patch http://www.dr-hoiby.com/TrayIconIn256Color/ cannot cause any instability - it is just one bit changed.

Here you can see what was modified:

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?s=&sho...ndpost&p=432615

I you want to use unpatched files but the latest version, then shell32.dll comes from Q313829 package http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/nts/down...829/default.asp

and explorer.exe comes from IE6SP1 or IE4.01SP2 (same version, a bit newer file).

Petr

Edited January 10, 2006 by Petr

[kartel]

Aparantly the explorer is the patched version that displays the 256 color icons.

I downloaded the usp and opened it with winzip and hen-picked the goodies and, wellllll........anyways

I noticed the installer replaces system.cpl, soon as that happens my system properties wont say my cpu on the "general" page but i managed to replace a few files but no major diff.

The reg and .ini hacks had the most usable affects, most are available around the forum

[Petr]

I noticed the installer replaces system.cpl, soon as that happens my system properties wont say my cpu on the "general" page

You mean probably sysdm.cpl, right?

This is well known feature of sysdm.cpl version 4.10.2224, Microsoft has decided to remove CPU displaying from this version.

Petr

[kartel]

Thats updated or better or both ?

do you think in 98 they had any clue ? I was impressed when I had my Plll 933 Slot 1

[MDGx]

FYI:

You probably installed 98SE2ME [if using Win98 SE] and/or one of Petr's UPDATE.SYS fixes:

- WinME fix:

http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#MEU

- Win98 SE fix:

http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#9SU

98SE2ME [options 1 + 2] also installs newer sysdm.cpl from WinME hotfix:

Microsoft Windows ME Virtual Memory Tab Negative HD Free Size Error SYSDM.CPL build 4.90.3001 Fix:

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=272620

Direct download [282 KB, English]:

http://www.mdgx.com/files/ME272620.EXE

which I modded to display "Windows 98 Sesond Edition" instead of "Windows Millennium Edition" in System Properties control panel applet.

System Properties CPL without any updates:

http://www.mdgx.com/ver95.gif

Hope this helps.

Edited January 11, 2006 by MDGx