I was missing the Internet Explorer Channel Bar from windows 98, so I decided to try to install it in windows xp.

I found an article about how to do it on windows 98, and I decided to try it on windows xp (using a win98 cd).

I did the following:

Added to the registry:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components]
"DeskHtmlVersion"=dword:0000010f
"DeskHtmlMinorVersion"=dword:00000001
"Settings"=dword:00000001
"GeneralFlags"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components]
"Source"="131A6951-7F78-11D0-A979-00C04FD705A2"
"SubscribedURL"="131A6951-7F78-11D0-A979-00C04FD705A2"
"FriendlyName"="Internet Explorer Channel Bar"
"Flags"=dword:00000003  

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"Show_ChannelBand"="Yes"

Then I extracted the Win98\Chl99.cab file on the Windows 98 Second Edition CD-ROM to a temp folder and executed the Chl99.inf.

Everything worked more or less as expected, but when I enable the active desktop, the icons don't have the transparencies any more (see pic).

Does anyone knows how to solve this icon transparencies problem?

Edited February 21, 200719 yr by volvox

I found the solution: TransDesktop!

This program wasn't intended for Windows XP, but it works fine.

The only problems with it are:

- the PC becomes slower

- the text colour setting is independent from the windows theme engine, which means that if you change your desktop theme, you'll have to ajust the text colour yourself

- Pricy, Outdated??

Edited February 21, 200719 yr by volvox