Some Questions (for the gurus)

[miko]

i have a few disjointed 98SE questions so feel free to jump in if you can help in any way

1. does PLUSTAB.DLL (which produces the 'Effects' tab in 'Display Properties') and is 24kb contain any more functionality beyond manipulating registry entries? i want to know if i could safely remove it.

2. does anyone understand the function/use of the 'Mask' regstery key you can use in places like

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Advanced

and

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\AdvancedOptions

and could they share what they know ? (any info or links very much appreciated)

3. My right click 'New' menu has stopped adding new items to itself when it should, the ShellNew keys are there (where needed) the file types show up in TweakUI, just not on the right click 'New' menu, if fact it seems the menu won't show anything beyond the 'default set' (text doc, wordpad doc, bmp, wave sound, MS data link) i'm sure i've read about this problem before and there's a way to fix it but i can't remember what it is. sound familiar ?

4. anyone know of any guides to installing Suns java on a 98SE machine instead on MSs,

is this a good idea ? (it's more up to date) and will it work OK in both IE and Firefox ?

5. about user.exe and user32.dll,

on a 98SE machine (where the owner doesn't have WinMe) 4.90.3001 from the ME280800.EXE update can be used in place of the 98SE ones and i've seen this recommended a few times (i think MDGx did once).

what advantages/disadvantages (if any) are there in using these files with a standard 98se (plus SP 2.1a) install as opposed to the 4.10.2231 Win98se versions from 291362usa8.exe (which i've seen Gape saying contains at least 9 different bug-fixes) beyond the shutdown screen not showing up ?

do the WinMe files contain the same fixes as the 291362 files ?

i think i vaguely remember something said about LFNs :s as well . . .

6. the great lost shortcutting syntax mystery of windows 98

two secrets have been lost to the mists of time, do you know the answer ?

A. how do you create a shortcut (or command line) to "Folder Options" in windows 98SE ?

i'm sure i used to know, but i can't remember i think it might be called through explorer.exe (but that's just a hunch)

finding this out would possibly allow the total hiding of the setting menu on the start menu without losing functionality and/or the possible creation of a 'Folder Options' shortcut or even a Control Panel entry.

B. how do you link to system folders inside Webview .htt files without using external scripting ?

(putting a simple link into the webview to open a system folder like my computer or the contol panel when clicked)

i'm almost 100% sure this used to work, the problem is all the answers that are 'out there' don't actually work.

there are simple webviews up on Virtual Plastic (without .vbs or .wsh files to help) which rely on specific syntaxes but the links in them just don't seem to work anymore, i believe it's possible the fuctionality may have been removed from 98SE in a security update.

needless to say if a working syntax could be cornered it would be possible to easily jazz up the existing webview with something resembleing common tasks or at least common places.

as i understand it this fuctionality is in WinMe, and i believe MDGx rewrote some webview .htts specifically to work in 98SE2ME, i would really like a look at the 98SE2ME htts MDGx if you read this if that would be alright, just to try out the shortcuttting syntax used in those files on vanilla 98SE.

thanks for reading,

once again ANY help, links, tips, info at all related to these questions will be hugely appreciated.

miko.

Edited April 7, 2006 by miko

[os2fan2]

1. PLUSTAB was originally distributed with Windows 95 P!us pack, which was integrated into Windows 98. My recollections is that the thing simply provides the Effects tab. You may need to unregister it before removing, eg regsvr32 /u plustab.dll

4. Sun Java runs on windows 98, and is reccomended. You can run both versions of java at once.

[miko]

You can run both versions of java at once.

wouldn't that cause conflicts ?

[randiroo76073]

I have no conflicts & I'm running both, have the latest vers. AFIK Sun & MS java have'nt conflicted for a long time

[eidenk]

A. how do you create a shortcut (or command line) to "Folder Options" in windows 98SE ?

i'm sure i used to know, but i can't remember i think it might be called through explorer.exe (but that's just a hunch)

On WinME :

rundll32 SHELL32.DLL,Options_RunDLL 0

Not sure it does work on 98SE.

[miko]

thanks, but thats the most common answer out on the web but it doesn't work in 98SE,

you get a 'Missing entry:Options_RunDLL' error

in 98 (& 95 i think) i have a hunch its called through explorer.exe

though parts are also contained in SHDOC401.DLL & BROWSEUI.DLL

3 CLSIDs are referenced through the registry when the dialog is opened

{EF8AD2D1-AE36-11D1-B2D2-006097DF8C11} Global Folder Settings (BROWSEUI.DLL)

{6D5313C0-8C62-11D1-B2CD-006097DF8C11} Folder Options Property Page Extension (SHDOC401.DLL)

{B091E540-83E3-11CF-A713-0020AFD79762} File Types Page (SHDOC401.DLL)

[MDGx]

1. PLUSTAB.DLL seems to affect only the Effects tab in Display Properties.

The only reference in the registry I found:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\CLSID\{41E300E0-78B6-11ce-849B-444553540000}]
@=""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\CLSID\{41E300E0-78B6-11ce-849B-444553540000}\InProcServer32]
@="C:\\WINDOWS\\SYSTEM\\PLUSTAB.DLL"
"ThreadingModel"="Apartment"

So I'd say it's safe to remove it if u don't want the Effects tab.

Also, make sure you remove the registry key above [save this as REG file and then run it]:

REGEDIT4

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\CLSID\{41E300E0-78B6-11ce-849B-444553540000}]

Backup that reg key 1st for future reference.

2. I have no idea what the "Mask" value means.

If you refer to "UserPreferenceMask" under:

[HKEY_USERS\.Default\Control Panel\Desktop]

"UserPreferencemask"=hex:b0,00,00,00

here is something:

http://www.mdgx.com/newtip19.htm#AOG

which is linked to this REG file:

http://www.mdgx.com/files/ADVREG.ZIP

http://www.mdgx.com/2k1.htm#RMS

http://www.mdgx.com/newtip15.htm#TTOFF

3. Don't know much about this bug, but please check these tips/guides:

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/win95/rk22_app.mspx

http://www.virtualplastic.net/html/ui_cntxt.html

4. Sun Java works very well with 9x OSes, no matter if MS JVM is installed or not.

It automatically detects MS JVM and offers to disable it when u install Sun Java.

All Java Downloads:

http://www.mdgx.com/add.htm#JAVA

Sun Java install guide:

http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/jre/install-windows.html

Sun Java installs a CPL [Control Panel Applet] file in %windir%\system, which makes it easy to access its functions, including to disable/(re)enable it. If MS JVM was already installed, when u disable Sun Java it automatically (re)enables MS JVM.

This can also be done from MS IE Internet Options [CPL file: %windir%\system\INETCPL.CPL].

5. That was 1 of the first WinME hotfixes I installed on Win98 SE, and I'm still using it.

The only problems with WinME USER*.* files might arise if u use power saving features or/and want to display shut-down/wait-to-shut-down logos [i don't]:

quoted from READ1ST.TXT ["KNOWN BUGS + FIXES" chapter]:

http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT

BUG:

After installing 98SE2ME option 1 or option 2 which replaces USER.EXE +

USER32.DLL among other WinME system files [see "* Option 2:" under

"98SE2ME.PIF COMPLETE GUIDE" chapter further above]wait-to-shut-down +

shut-down logos: %windir%\LOGOW.SYS + %windir%\LOGOS.SYS [%windir% = usually

C:\WINDOWS] will not display anymore.

FIX:

Replace WinME USER32.DLL + USER.EXE 4.90.3001 with patched Win98 SE USER32.DLL

+ USER.EXE 4.10.2231:

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=291362

Direct download [469 KB]:

http://ftp.isu.edu.tw/pub/CPatch/msupdate/.../291362usa8.exe

or (re)install Gape's Win98 SE Service Pack 2 (SP2):

http://exuberant.ms11.net/98sesp.html

BUG:

After installing 98SE2ME option 1 or option 2 which replaces USER.EXE among

other WinME system files [see "* Option 2:" under "98SE2ME.PIF COMPLETE GUIDE"

chapter further above] on portable (laptops + notebooks) computers with power

saving features turned on you may experience power saving, standby, suspend,

restart in MS-DOS mode and/or shutdown errors, because:

- WinME USER.EXE does NOT natively support "Restart in MS-DOS mode".

- All USER.EXE versions have to call functions in VPOWERD.VXD for shutdown

and standby, and WinME VPOWERD.VXD is very different from the Win98 SE one.

FIX:

If you experience such errors while using patched WinME USER.EXE 4.90.3001

installed by 98SE2ME option 1 + option 2, replace WinME USER32.DLL + USER.EXE

4.90.3001 with patched Win98 SE USER32.DLL + USER.EXE 4.10.2231:

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=291362

Direct download [469 KB]:

http://ftp.isu.edu.tw/pub/CPatch/msupdate/.../291362usa8.exe

or (re)install Gape's Win98 SE Service Pack 2 (SP2):

http://exuberant.ms11.net/98sesp.html

6. Shortcuts can be created to any available/valid folder or file using INF files [example from 2G.INF = part of 98SE2ME]:

[Version]
Signature=$CHICAGO$
[DefaultInstall]
UpdateInis=UI
[UI]
%10%\SETUP.INI,progman.groups,,"0="
%10%\SETUP.INI,0,,"""File Manager"","%10%\WINFILE.EXE",,,,"%10%",,""File Manager (Short File Names only): versatile + customizable disks, folders + files editing + viewing management tool"""
%10%\SETUP.INI,0,,"""Registry Editor"","%10%\REGEDIT.EXE",,,,"%10%",,""Registry Editor: Registry editing + viewing management tool"""
%10%\SETUP.INI,0,,"""System Configuration Utility"","%11%\MECONFIG.EXE",,,,"%11%",,""System Configuration Utility: Registry, Startup + System Files editing + viewing management tool"""
%10%\SETUP.INI,progman.groups,,"G2=Accessories\Games"
%10%\SETUP.INI,G2,,"""Spider Solitaire"","%10%\SPIDER.EXE",,,,"%10%",,""Play Spider Solitaire Card Game"""
%10%\SETUP.INI,G2,,"""Space Cadet Pinball"","%28700%\Pinball\PINBALL.EXE",,,,"%28700%\Pinball",,""Play Space Cadet 3D Pinball Game"""
[SourceDisksNames]
1=,,0

This creates shortcuts for:

File Manager

Regedit

MSconfig [renamed to MEConfig]

into %windir%\Startup Menu\Programs

and to these games:

Pinball

Spider Solitaire

under:

%windir%\Startup Menu\Programs\Accessories\Games

LDIDs for system folders used in INF files:

00 Null [This LDID can be used to create a new LDID]
01 Source Driveletter:\dirname [directory from which the INF file was installed]
02 Temp Setup
03 Uninstall
04 Backup
10 Machine (Windows) directory [%windir% (9x) or %systemroot% (NTx)]
11 System directory [%windir%\system (9x) or %systemroot%\system32 (NTx)]
12 Drivers directory [%windir%\system\iosubsys (9x) or %systemroot%\system32\drivers (NTx)]
13 Command directory [?]
14 Control Panel
15 Printers
16 Workgroup
17 INF Directory
18 Help directory
19 Administration
20 Fonts
21 Viewers
22 VMM32
23 Color directory
24 Root of drive containing the Windows directory [system disk]
25 Shared [Windows] directory
26 Guaranteed boot device for Windows [Winboot]
27 Machine
28 Host Winboot
30 Root directory of boot drive
31 Root directory of boot host drive
53 User profile directory [%userprofile%]

In a similar fashion you can create shortcuts to any/all of your shell folders, which are listed in the registry under these keys:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\VarLDID]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\User Shell Folders]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Shell Folders]

[HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders]

[HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders]

Webview.htt you are referring to is probably IMGVIEW.HTT , I modified to make it work under 98SE with 98SE2ME option 3.

But to my knowledge it doesn't contain links to folders.

HTT/HTA files make extensive use of JavaScript and VBScript to allow folder + file manipulation.

I don't have any WSH/VBS experience, so I can't help here.