Hi all,

I have just found a proper patching tool. I hope I'll finish 2.0 RC in a few days.

I need a web space for the file. Could anyone help me about it?

What's new in RC?

NEW: Windows 2000 Desktop Icons as optional feature.
NEW: Generic USB Mass Storage Device Drivers as optional feature.
NEW: "DOS Prompt Here" as optional feature.
NEW: Better Notepad.
NEW: Fixed REGEDIT.EXE.
NEW: More than 10 new hot-fixes.
NEW: Some small fixes and improvements.
ADDED: Uninstallation.

I'll just ask two questions. First, do you have a messenger like AIM or MSN? Second, how big is the file?

if memory serves beta 2 was around 12-15 MB
this will be a bit bigger i imagine
also i will test this and see what happens

Been in contact with Gape and will attempt to get something worked out. Finals this week (until Thursday, Dec 9, 04) so time is precious.

so the final will be released this week?

U can try to contact www.softpedia.com.

Anyway, look at this.

It's and old one.. The beta version, not the release candidate.
The file has been last updated on November 12th, 2004 10:58.

****, I can't wait for 2.0 RC...

same here
this will be better than the beta 2 thats posted

Now only Desktop Icons feature is missing. Notepad and Regedit patching seems working properly. Desktop icons feature is not difficult, but I try to add 98lite-SLEEK compability. Hope it will finish soon.

couldn't you do like what litepc does n add stuff to the add/remove and if you want it check it or if not uncheck it to remove it?also could you add the Windows 98 Critical Update Notification 4.0 as an optional component?

soldier1st, I have almost finished the SP 2.0 RC, and you're requesting new things.

We can discuss new things for 2.1. Please, wait for 2.0 release, after that, you can ask them, again.

Hey Gape,

You're working now for several weeks on to this release ... so we all appreciate your effort in what are you doing.

10x in the name of all users of this Service Pack !!!

Thanks for your hard work and an amazing result so far. Please add the 98lite-SLEEK compability to 2.0 RC, it will be very appreciated.

that may be in 2.1
when this is done gape deserves a break for awhile

burkgul Posted on Dec 10 2004, 09:02 AM

Thanks for your hard work and an amazing result so far. Please add the 98lite-SLEEK compability to 2.0 RC, it will be very appreciated.



I have just finished giving Gape all of the 98lite SLEEK [V1] stuff I am aware of.

If you are using 98lite SLEEK [V1] or 98lite MICRO, the SP 2 will not update EXPLORER.EXE or SHELL32.DLL, but will attempt to update SHELL32.W98. Thus, the SLEEK [V1] shell will continue to operate normally after the SP is installed. However, the references to ME-type icons, etc. will not apply, as these are wholely contained in those files which are only relevant to plain 'ol 98SE or 98lite OVERWEIGHT or CHUBBY. Since SHELL32.W98 is the original SHELL32.DLL from 98SE, the update is required to fulfill the security problem addressed in Q313829 regardless of your choice regarding the cosmetic ME-type icons.

Other than the bindings-enhanced NOTEPAD.EXE [which has to replace the standard NOTEPAD.EXE as modified by 98lite for SLEEK [V1] operation, thus it also needs to be Sleek-modified exactly the same way, etc.] I don't believe there are any [current] files in the SP 2 that are in conflict with SLEEK [V1].

Anyone running 98lite SLEEK [V1] after the SP2 is applied should report back HERE any new occurences of the shell32 errors that weren't there before in case we goofed on anything else!

As an aside, I can provide patches for various third-party apps to be SLEEK [V1] compatible such as Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.00 and 6.01 [haven't done 6.02 yet]. Please note that Symantec/Norton AntiVirus 2003 and following cannot be made SLEEK [V1] compatible due to internal consistancy check spoiled by the attempt to patch for sleek compatibility [damned if you do/damned if you don't], etc.

Additionally, I have an updated launcher for Windows Update from MS. [It was provided by Windows Update to anyone who used a Windows XP install disk to check for upgrade compatibility issues; if you allowed MS to download to you updated Windows Update files as suggested, you get this newer Windows Update launcher] As it comes with no surprise, this file ALSO needs to be patched for SLEEK [V1] compatibility, this there are patched and unpatched versions. [Note: the "new and improved" Windows Update no longer provides this service, but fortunately I did capture the relevant files!]

I would expect this new launcher to be made part of a future (SP 2.1?) service pack, but I think it needs to wait until we determine what form the SP takes with regard to 98lite SLEEK issues in general, etc. However, there is no problem doing it yourself independently of the SP releases.

Anyone out there have any feedback relationship with the author of Power Archiver? Versions past 8.80 are NOT compatible with SLEEK [V1] and it's at least much harder/perhaps impossible to patch for sleek compatibility. A PAYING CUSTOMER perhaps can explain the problem to him/her/them/it and get this fixed, etc.

The kazaa-lite versions just before 2.43 needed a patch for SLEEK [V1] but the authors were contacted; Version 2.43 IS sleek compatible.

I can also show anyone the CORRECT way to install IE60/IE60SP1 under SLEEK [V1]. Shane Brooks is working on a way to automate my method for future releases, but as of 98lite 4.7 you have to use my manual method and the patched LOADWC.EXE file to get a FULL and UNTAINTED install. [On the 98lite website there are now-proven incorrect references to how the unpatched LOADWC.EXE file is "extranous" along with instructions to eliminate it, which is being updated to be consistent with my method, etc. once it becomes automated/integrated into the next 989lite release; this is a lot of work for Shane because it covers new territory for 98lite not much different from what the SP has to do, namely deal with optional upgrade packages that only MAY be present, compounded with the need to interfere with the MS installer of said package, etc.]

cjl

so they r working on a 4.8 then?as far as i know with sleek you cannot delete anything from the start menu thats the reason i don't use it coz i need to keep the start menu cleaned and organized,the chubby has less web integration and is almost as good as sleek

Well, you CAN edit the start menu, just not "in situ" as Shane describes it. Remember, this is the Windows 95 shell! You use: click on taskbar/properties/start menu/advanced. This puts you into a specialized version of Windows Explorer that starts and ends in the Start Menu folder [even if you have multiple users, it picks the correct menu, etc.] From there you can edit start menu items. Also, in situ editing cannot add anything while this mode allows any start menu editing including creating new groups. In situ cannot paste an item, but it can copy/cut so you can put on say the desktop, etc.

This is a rough summary of the differences between SLEEK [V1] and CHUBBY:

SLEEK has the problems of compatibility with a handful of programs, the majority of which can be patched for SLEEK compatibility. [98lite does most of the work, but the list is close-ended.] CHUBBY is the basic 98SE shell so no compatibility issues per se.

SLEEK has a bug in that all folder sizes are presented modulo 4096 MB in terms of the properties of a folder. Since most folders aren't that big, this is hardly ever a problem in realworld situations. [I have a 10 GB folder that appears more like 2 GB!] CHUBBY has no such bug.

SLEEK has instant recycle bin empty, better than WinXP. 98SE takes a long time depending on how many logical drives/volumes you have.

The above is partially influenced by a bug involving the BROWSEUI.DLL and BROWSELC.DLL files and IE version conflicts. SLEEK is TOTALLY IMMUNE to this problem of instability involving large/many file transfers and related hangups.

SLEEK lacks many frills of CHUBBY that most users turn off anyway. One particular exception to this is the ability to enable via a registry patch the ability to view attributes in details view.

SLEEK seems to lack the ability to "allow all uppercase names" as it is slightly erroneously known as in CHUBBY shell. What this actually means is that if a name conforms to 8.3 short filename conventions, then auto-capitalize the first letter and auto-lowercase the rest of the name. While cute, it can be misleading. CHUBBY clearly has the ability to turn this on and off. Anyone know of a patch to SLEEK to turn this cutesiness off in SLEEK/MICRO?

SLEEK is clearly faster as well as more stable.

To properly install IE60SP1 without any prior IE files, it is marginally harder to install in SLEEK due to the need to do a kludge I personally stumbled upon that will eventually be automated in a future version of 98lite once Shane figures out what the "nicest" way to do it is. To those that know, it involves the so-called LOADWC.EXE problem. [I can elaborate for anyone who needs to know, etc.]

SLEEK ignores all cosmetic WinME icon changes induced by the SP.

SLEEK doesn't support the automatic properties of how you can dynamically move/change where "My Documents" is from that icon directly. However, you can also do this successfully regardless of shell from tweakui Version 1.33 or literally by cut and paste from any variant of Windows Explorer window, etc. 98lite 4.6 shell swap to SLEEK included a dummy "My Documents" kludge that is merely an ordinary shortcut to C:\My Documents. This is true even if your system drive is NOT drive C: ! 98lite 4.7 and up has deleted this "feature" allowing you to make your own kludge. [Note: a nuance of the AUTHENTIC My Documents icon found only in CHUBBY/OVERWEIGHT/98SE-ONLY: When you open My Documents, the path label says "My Documents" and NOTHING ELSE. Assuming you asked for the display of the full directory path on all windows, this is curiously inconsistent. Indeed, should you open a subdirectory contained in My Documents, it will CORRECTLY show the complete path for THAT directory, etc. A standard shortcut to My Documents will CORRECTLY obey the shell setting, etc. Thus, arguably a "homemade" shortcut [the only one available in SLEEK or MICRO] is "better" than the standard one of CHUBBY and co.]

SLEEK may have a bug regarding seeing "Suspend" on the Start Menu which can be fixed as documented on the litepc website. Implementing a registry patch may cause your machine to be faked out into believe you have Automatic Power Management even if you actually do not and/or have ACPI instead. Ignore it, since all it does is install support for non-existent hardware which is harmless. Once this is done, the patch can be used to remove the "Suspend" or even put it back by "reversing" the logic in the patch. I can provide Suspendonmenu.reg and Suspendoffmenu.reg for those who want this both ways, etc.

The following is a SERIOUS LIMITATION of 98lite's ability to invoke Shell Swap:

Regardless of choice, you MUST maintain your shell choice forever IF you also install IE60SP1 over no prior IE version AND the update to Outlook Express Q330994 and/or its "rollup" follow-ons! Any attempt to manipulate the shell once the OE updates are installed WILL PERMANENTLY CORRUPT Outlook Express!!!! [Even doing a Shell Swap from/to the same shell currently will cause the corruption!] Any attempt to install said updates will also kill OE if the shell has changed since the point of install of IE60SP1 [including the shell swap from/to the same shell as above, etc.]

To make matters worse, all of the above ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH to avoid the corruption! The ONLY WAY to get it to work is to:

1) Pick a shell, any shell, and stop changing it forever.
2) Install IE60SP1 over no version of IE. Use my manual kludge of LOADWC.EXE if using SLEEK or MICRO.
3) Install IE60SP1 AGAIN! Use all the same options you selected earlier even though they are bold in the installer [indicating they are already there, etc.]. This will result in a message asking you to exit the install or use "reinstall all of the components" Select the latter.

This will allow Q330994 to install correctly [amazing, isn't it? ]

cjl

i don't use outlook express sousing sleek wouldn't be a problem,the problem i have is i need a 95 disk,i got 95b but from what i read it's best not to use that one,or just use the original or 95c(i used to have windows 95)

No, you are fine: You CAN use the original 95 (950) set of three files, but the preferred are the ones from 95b (which various people are violating MS's copyright and linking to, etc.) and you CANNOT use the 95c files!

cjl

Forget about the Q330994 Outlook Express update, CLASYS. It has been superseded
or replaced by the latest OE update, the Q823353 update from Microsoft security
bulletin MS04-018. The Q823353 update also replaces the Q837009 [MS04-013]
update. Install the Q823353 update which includes the fixes from the Q837009
and Q330994 patches.

The original & SP1/OSR1 versions of Win95 are CRAP because they can't access
FAT32 formatted drives and are slower than the OSR2 versions. 95b and 95c are
faster and allow using FAT32 on HDs. Just use the 95b files if you're not comfortable
using the 95c files.

So Gape, when will the final release of 2.0 be ready?

maybe in a few days,also i do have a 95 disk(the orginal)but 95b would be better

SoftPedia host and will host all the Unofficial Win98 SE Service Pack, and other SP from Gape.

This is not a problem.

Hi Gape, I can host a mirror 2.0 for you. I have a proper hosted web space for my business, with 8GB/month bandwith. Shoot me a PM if you like

I can provide you [4 free] with space + bandwidth [5GB/day] for SP2 @ MDGx.com.
Please contact me thru email for details.

In case you don't have current UNICOWS.DLL build 1.1.3790.0:

Microsoft Windows 9x/ME Layer for Unicode (MSLU) build 1.1.3790.0 (UNICOWS.DLL):
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...A4-2A7EEAEE17E2
UNICOWS.DLL [261 KB, English]:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/b/7...642/unicows.exe

Newer/updated versions for SP2:

MSVCRT.DLL build 6.10.9844.0 [yours is 6.00.9782.0] from Windows 2000 SP4:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downl...rvicepacks/sp4/

MSVCIRT.DLL build 6.10.8637.0 [yours is 6.00.9782.0] from Windows ME Setup CD-ROM.

Older SOFTPUB.DLL build 5.131.1877.9 [yours is newer 5.131.1880.14 *but* it is from Windows 2000 Update and will *not* work properly under Win9x].

Newer RPCRT4.DLL build 4.71.3336 [1.39 MB]:
http://ftp.mdgx.com/files/Q269874.EXE
RPCLTCCM.DLL [same build you have but different file size] from Win98SE TCPIP/PPP Update [?], not from Windows ME Setup CD-ROM [which is the one you have].

All 4 files above [195 KB]:
http://ftp.mdgx.com/spx/MSVCRT.ZIP

Windows 98 SE USBHUB.SYS build 4.10.2227 Fix:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=306453
Direct download [166 KB, English]:
http://ftp.isu.edu.tw/pub/CPatch/msupdate/.../306453usa8.exe

I have tested all these files with Win98 SE on my PC = they work OK.

Hope this helps.

Any chance of getting a working link for Gape's other project, namely the PowerArchiver update?

here is the link
http://exuberant.ms11.net/archiver.html

You're wrong on the softpub.dll file, MDGx. Version 5.131.1880.14 of the
softpub.dll file is from the NT4 MS04-011 (835732) update. It can work ok
under a Win9x system after you register the newer softpub.dll file with the
regsvr32.exe tool.

Uh, Gape are you close to releasing v2.0 of the Win98se SP. The year is
almost over.

Forget about the Win95 files. All versions of Win95 are in the graveyard
and MS already ended ALL support for it.

windows 95 is dead but windows 98 is not dead,it will live on past win me

Dear Gape,
Let us know what's happening ...

i think he is still sick or maybe he got over it
he musta by now

Ill or not, how much time or effort does it take to post a short progress report.

My bad, I didn't know.

I just got one question

Why not put in updates for explorer 6?

i mean if you do a fresh install of windows 98se , then go on line to micro$oft updates then the first update to be done is explorer 6.

i can understand not installing Dx9c & only using Dx8 or Dx8.1 for some older games or software\hardware but not installing explorer 6 , i don't see why not?

if you ask me he should include ie6 and all updates,i know it would increase the size by maybe 35-50MB but it would be worth it,most apps now need ie6,the ie that comes with 98 is ie5 and thats very old now,adding ie6+updates would be a very good thing but the newest directx+Updates aren't always needed as some win 98 users don't have directx 9.0c hardware(i have dx 9 hardware but i dl dx if i need it(i don't need to as i keep it around)

I agree with you 100% he should put ie6 in his service pack

i don't care about the size since i got a 5.1 Mb/s connection i usely download around 600 KB/s

but even for someone with a slower connection it would be worth it because once you got it on your HD you just have to burn it on a cd & then you don't have to download it again.

you format your HD install Win98se then take your updates cd (hopefely made by gape) then click to install the updates & your done , this would be just great.

Edit: i hope we gona here from him soon because his last post was the 10 of this mounth

he said something about partial slipstreaming meaning i hope we can soon make slipstreamed windows 98 se installations with ie6+the service pack and give the option to install the updates
yeah he said he was sick but maybe he has given up on the 98se sp 2.0 or maybe he needs a very long break

I think Gape is too ill to use his PC and make a post on this forum.
I agree with soldier1st as Gape needs a long break to get well.

Get DirectX 9.0c if you use certain hardware like DV camcorders.
My younger brother got a Sony Handycam DV Camcorder that
contains a software CD bundling DX 9.0b. I think MS said in its
DirectX FAQ that games, including older ones, work better with
the latest version of DirectX available.

It would be nice to include IE6 SP1 as part of the Win98se SP,
as long as it does NOT contain the fix for the deletion of large
files in Win98. I know about the problem of deleting a very large
number of files in Win98/ME + IE6 causes a hang in Explorer.
Just do NOT delete too many files at once. Deleting too many
files that way can lead to 'incorrect free space' errors which must
be fixed by running Scandisk either in DOS or Windows.
Incorrect free space errors can sometimes cause Windows 9x/ME
to hang and only occurs on FAT32 partitions. Windows 2000/XP
systems can handle FAT32 a little better than 9x/ME systems.
If you need to delete a ton of files with IE6 installed, use File
Manager as it does a better job of removing files than Windows Explorer.

or use norton disk doctor to fix the free space error
even if your hardware doesen't support dx 9 it seems to make a difference even if you use the latest dx

If you are one of the vast majority of internet users that still use slow dialup connections, adding monsters like IE6 and dx9c would force users to into a massive download of which they already might have anyway. If Gape included IE6 and dx9c in sp2, and then for sake of argument, say he released sp2.1 two months later with a few small fixes. That would force everyone to download IE6 and dx9c again, which would be a major kick-in-the-nuts for dialup users.

For simplicities sake it is best if very large OS updates be kept separate, letting Gape concentrate on the smaller core updates/patches that everyone is going to want. If you want to grab the full IE6 sp1 admin install, there is very brief guide on how to do that here. After its downloaded, it can be easily added to a custom 98se cdrom.

i would love to have ie included on my windows 98 se custom cd instead of having to dl it or install it from another source,same goes for dx i bet
have to find out how it';s done
but the ie i got is the full one is ie6+sp1 and i don't need to do those steps to dl it
just the updates i don't got

I totally agree with ssmokee. If you folks want to download large files with
a dialup connection go install a third party download manager like Download
Express, Star Downloader or LeechGet. These download managers can pause
and resume downloads so you don't have to start your downloads over again
if you lose your dialup connections. The creator of Spybot S&D has written
an article about download managers here:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/article...d-managers.html

The IE6 SP1 updates should be left out because MS always comes out with
a newer update for IE6 SP1. Also if you want to delete or shred files, Spybot S&D
has a built-in file shredding tool. I use it to 'shred' confidential files.

Two things:

1) Not clear just how much longer they will continue to do this considering their cavalier attitude about leaving all but XP behind at IE60SP1+ while XP gets IE60SP2+ etc.

2) To my knowledge, there have been 28 updates to IE60SP1/OE and while many are redundant in the rollup sense, some are apparently NOT ever included in any other IE update, and are thus "stable". If we have a base package that includes all of what gets us to say, Dec. 04, then everyone is at most a recent rollup release or two away from current for the foreseeable future, etc. [One for IE and one for OE.]

cjl

since gape includes ie 5.5 updates he should include ie 6 updates
the sp would detect what ie you got and install the proper updates,hey updates are better than no updates

I think you realy missing the point here

let's just say that you got dial-up & after installing win98 you go a M$ to do your updates (not DX9 or WMP) but all the rest included ie6
that would take you a long time , right? would wont to do this again


But then later on (could be days or weeks) got something wrong with your pc like a big & harmfull virus or you just want to do a fresh new install because your windows is to mess-up or you just want to re-do your partitions
you'll have to go back to M$ to download the updates again


But what if you could download the SP2 from Gape with already the ie6 & some updates & put it on a cd?
maybe long to download from a dial-up but it be only one time & no more after (execpt for new updates that could come out after the SP2 from gape) but those would be small size anyways (althought M$ doesn't support Win98 anymore)

Then if you go & reformat your hd with a fresh new installation of w98 then all that you will have to do is take out your win98 cd from the cd-rom then put in your cd with the sp2 from Gape & do your updates from the cd (much faster)

So that's why it would also be worth it to the dial-up users

Anyhow i dont care much about it because i got a good high speed connection & i'm always using XP Pro (wich i prefer a lot better) i RARELY boot back to Win98se because i'm only using it for older games that wont play in XP even with the compatiblety mode or the VDMsound emulator & that is the only reason why i'm keepping W98se.

BTW: already got the ie6 SP1 on a cd with Dx9c & WMP9 (for win98se) so these goes in to windows 98se right after the installation.
But i really dont see why gape would not at lest put in ie6 , dont see the point of continue using ie5.5 (way to old , buggy , not safe etc..)


EDIT : Forgot to add , Gape could also use Winzip or Winrar to compress & split his SP2 in to a fiew parts for the dial-up users that way you could donwload 1 small part at the time
Exp: 10 small files or more for the dial-up users & just one big file for the high speed user

thinker your missing the point unfortunately,the sp already has ie 5.5 updates,since it has those ie 5.5 updates it should have ie 6 updates or remove the ie 5.5 updates
it just makes more sense
the point is about the ie updates,if no ie updates were included(before there were none now there is)then there would never have been ie updates but gape decided to include the ie 5.5 updates,win 98 se doesen't come with ie 5.5,it comes with ie 5,windows 2000 comes with ie 5.5 so the updates would be useless unless 98 came with ie 5.5 but it doesen't sorry to say.

All, you should know that Win98 SE is bundled with IE 5.0. SP contains only updates for this bundled IE 5.0. It doesn't contain any IE 5.5 or 6.0 update. Microsoft's SPs have a similar approach.

That's what I thought! However, I don't think there is much call for updates to IE55 here, just for IE60SP1. The "correct" answer is to either leave it at 5.0 as it is, or to bring it all the way to IE60SP1 with all known updates, unless you just want to do the long approach of making anyone happy for all possibilities, which would open a time-consuming door: Everyone might have a pet version they want to see:

IE501
IE501SP1
IE501SP2
IE55
IE55SP1
IE55SP2
IE60
IE60SP1

not to mention various beta releases of any and all of the above.

I can understand doing nothing but updating that which must be there, namely IE50 be brought to the best level possible, since it would usually be there, unless removed by 98lite or IEradicator. But I would also desire updating IE60SP1 to encompass the 28 updates I know of [are there more? ] to get us to as good as it gets, etc.

And again, to make this clear: Some of these updates are NOT part of any cumulative "rollup" updates you get from Windows Update which in turn are generally either IE updates or OE updates. Thus, the SP could do us the service of making it possible to be OTHERWISE up to date needing only any follow-on updates that WOULD be available from Windows Update, assuming there even will be many more of these. I wouldn't have a problem where the SP did all the "dirty work" thus all I had to do was goto WU to get some more recent fix and then expect the SP to "trail" WU by some reasonable period of months, etc. And when MS declares all IE versions obsolete other than wherever IE60SP2 lands at that point, then the SP would essentially be final [other than any other ideas we dream up or other unrelated fixes come to light, etc.]

As to the problem of size, why can't the SP check to see if the need to update what you have exists and also an optional update file to accomplish it it also exists? That way if you really want it you can download it while if you feel it's either burdensome or not to your liking it can be ignored, etc.

Even with all of the versions of IE out there, all fixes to all of them, all of their original releases, the entirety of the SP, and any additional fixes any of us want to dream up, etc., the whole scope of such an item still fits comfortably on a single CD. Distribution of such a disk would be desirable, and I'm sure there are people who would help get such a thing to those who needed it, etc.

cjl ["think big"]

ps: Gape, glad you are back; I was away on vacation and heard you were sick; hope you are better!

Not going to happen, CLASYS. IE 5.5 may be too old for some users but
it still runs just as good as IE 6.

Windows 2000 comes with IE 5.01, soldier1st. Win2k SPs update IE 5.01.
Windows Millennium comes with IE 5.5. Windows XP comes with IE 6.

About the Distribution of the Win98se SP on CD, NO WAY!