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Tihiy
First hack.
I've rewritten USER32.DLL.
Compare:

32-bit icons with alpha channel are ugly in Windows 9x/Me/2000


32-bit icons with alpha channel in Windows XP (yes.. no! 9x sreenshot with hack applied)

So, i've made a hack which allows 32-bit icons with true shadow to be propertly displayed in Windows 98/Me. Cool? Very! I need some help.

Now this hack is very limited - due to limited GDI implementation in 9x, works propertly only with white background. But i can make proper hack - it will be even somewhat better&faster than XP version.

So i need to rewrite COMCTL32.DLL and i need the most recent version - may be
from IE6SP1 w/hotfix. I have 5.81.4704.1100 - if someone owns more recent 9x version, upload it somewhere or send it to me by mail.

Due to illegality of this hack it won't be commercial in any way, but if anybody can help me with hosting/testing, i'll appreciate.

Second hack
Animated 640x480 boot logo (XP like) instead ugly 320x400. Cool? Oh, yes!
Now this hack is limited too - doesn't animate rolleyes.gif .
I can write animating logo pure assembler so it won't consume conventional memory, but i need any fast&small graphical library for it.

If anyone interested in current hack version(s), i'm here.

Third hack
Actually a driver i've written somewhat ago which hooks CTRL-ALT-DEL and launches selected program (task manager) when they are pressed. Now: eng version not ready.

Fourth hack
Small program, similar to "Welcome screen" in w2k: due to system dll hack, loads before any processes - so can check registry for critical/virus threads, select shell for using, change session preferences & more. Now: eng version not ready.
SiMoNsAyS
****! that would be really interesting for the deskmod comunity! thumbup.gif

... i'm just imaging the new XPize for w98se lol ...
Tihiy
QUOTE
... i'm just imaging the new XPize for w98se lol ...


Sure will work in Win2k too. I think it's not fair Microsoft to deprive Windows of beauty.
soldier1st
or of win9x for that matter
98 may be old but many still use it still.
Tihiy
Ok, got 5.81.4916.400. Stay tuned.
MDGx
QUOTE
Tihiy:
but if anybody can help me with hosting/testing, i'll appreciate.
I can provide you with free space + traffic to host files, and I can test them if u wish.
I am interested to test what you have so far, if u prefer u can send them to me by email.
Please contact me by email if you're interested.
I'm also considering including your files in 98SE2ME, if OK with you [full credits given, of course].
And we can also tell Gape [up 2 u], maybe he'd like to include them into SP 2.0.

IMHO: the last COMCTL32.DLL ver issued by MS is the one from MS IE 6.0 SP1, which you already have. cool.gif

PS: Have you considered using GDI+ [GDIPLUS.DLL from MSDN] instead? Maybe it has extra necessary functions Win9x GDI doesn't [just a thought, I'm not a programmer].
smokeyjoint
woot.gif wow costmedic changes to jazz up old drap 9x its about time u guys amazing,why not transform 98se into the 21st century because if u ask most people after multi tasking issues the complaint is 98se is so dape boring maybe instead of including it on 98se2me u could cobime the user32 the browseui hack plus miko logos etc into a bat. and create a enhancement package sp1?gapes has got the sp2 update covered mdgx gor me conversion covered so a enhanement packages called 98se enhanced sp1.0 sound cool .just a thought instead of indivially installing hacks all in one? feel free 2 comment
Tihiy
QUOTE (MDGx @ Feb 6 2005, 12:01 PM)
I can provide you with free space + traffic to host files, and I can test them if u wish.
I am interested to test what you have so far, if u prefer u can send them to me by email.
Please contact me by email if you're interested.
I'm also considering including your files in 98SE2ME, if OK with you [full credits given, of course].
And we can also tell Gape [up 2 u], maybe he'd like to include them into SP 2.0.

IMHO: the last COMCTL32.DLL ver issued by MS is the one from MS IE 6.0 SP1, which you already have. cool.gif

PS: Have you considered using GDI+ [GDIPLUS.DLL from MSDN] instead? Maybe it has extra necessary functions Win9x GDI doesn't [just a thought, I'm not a programmer].

If I ever write this I think it 'll be valueable in any way. But: modifying windows files is illegal !
I've thought about using GDI+ - actually it is used in Windows XP comctrl32.dll v6; but... dunno now.

Attached version is almost unusable:
- breaks 16-color icons
- breaks drag/overlay cursors
- still prefers 256-color icons, so draws 32-bit icons only if no 256-color icons in file (test on Music.ico - included in zip).
Installation: !!!haven't checked dlls now - may crush system!!!
- copy user32.dll&dll.dll into \windows\system - USE ONLY IF YOU HAVE 4.90.3001 version of USER.EXE - download@MDGx.
- clean shelliconcache (hidden file in \windows directory)
...

Edit: download removed. Updated version is coming.
horsecharles
Tihiy you are some talent-- esp. because this won't extract a resource-usage penalty.
Tihiy
QUOTE (horsecharles @ Feb 6 2005, 01:18 PM)
Tihiy you are some talent-- esp. because this won't extract a resource-usage penalty.

Sorry... Didn't understand - it won't be a resource hog only if it won't. cool.gif
I think if it'll be written well, it won't - not more that 1-2% system resources.
horsecharles
Yeah, i meant from the point of view of apps(likely resource hoggers) we regular / square consumers would need install to get the effects/results of the various hakz you just metioned....... thumbup.gif
miko
QUOTE (Tihiy @ Feb 6 2005, 08:01 AM)
Second hack
Animated 640x480 boot logo (XP like) instead ugly 320x400. Cool? Oh, yes!
Now this hack is limited too - doesn't animate  rolleyes.gif .
I can write animating logo pure assembler so it won't consume conventional memory, but i need any fast&small graphical library for it.

XP startups may be 640x480
but they are 4bit
9X are 8bit and not that hard to make with XRX
seems alot or work for not much (2-3 sec) gain...

on icons, here's some stuff -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Advanced\IconBPP]
"Text"="Icon Colors"
"Type"="group"
"Bitmap"="SHDOC401.DLL,6"
"HelpID"="update.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Advanced\IconBPP\VeryLow]
"RegPath"="Control Panel\\Desktop\\WindowMetrics"
"Text"="16 Colors (below default)"
"Type"="radio"
"CheckedValue"="4"
"ValueName"="Shell Icon BPP"
"DefaultValue"="16"
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001
"HelpID"="update.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Advanced\IconBPP\Low]
"RegPath"="Control Panel\\Desktop\\WindowMetrics"
"Text"="256 Colors"
"Type"="radio"
"CheckedValue"="8"
"ValueName"="Shell Icon BPP"
"DefaultValue"="16"
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001
"HelpID"="update.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Advanced\IconBPP\Medium]
"RegPath"="Control Panel\\Desktop\\WindowMetrics"
"Text"="High Color (16 bit)"
"Type"="radio"
"CheckedValue"="16"
"ValueName"="Shell Icon BPP"
"DefaultValue"="16"
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001
"HelpID"="update.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Advanced\IconBPP\High]
"RegPath"="Control Panel\\Desktop\\WindowMetrics"
"Text"="True Color (24 bit)"
"Type"="radio"
"CheckedValue"="24"
"ValueName"="Shell Icon BPP"
"DefaultValue"="16"
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001
"HelpID"="update.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]
"Shell Icon BPP"="16"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Advanced\IconCache]
"Text"="Icon Cache Size"
"Type"="group"
"Bitmap"="SHDOC401.DLL,6"
"HelpID"="update.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Advanced\IconCache\Small]
"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer"
"Text"="1024 Icons"
"Type"="radio"
"CheckedValue"="1024"
"ValueName"="Max Cached Icons"
"DefaultValue"="2048"
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000002
"HelpID"="update.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Advanced\IconCache\Medium]
"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer"
"Text"="2048 Icons"
"Type"="radio"
"CheckedValue"="2048"
"ValueName"="Max Cached Icons"
"DefaultValue"="2048"
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000002
"HelpID"="update.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Advanced\IconCache\Large]
"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer"
"Text"="4096 Icons"
"Type"="radio"
"CheckedValue"="4096"
"ValueName"="Max Cached Icons"
"DefaultValue"="2048"
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000002
"HelpID"="update.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Advanced\IconCache\Huge]
"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer"
"Text"="8192 Icons"
"Type"="radio"
"CheckedValue"="8192"
"ValueName"="Max Cached Icons"
"DefaultValue"="2048"
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000002
"HelpID"="update.hlp#51140"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer]
"Max Cached Icons"="2048"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24 bit is a valid color depth in 98, thats 32bit with no alpha channel,
most people don't know this...
miko.
Tihiy
QUOTE
XP startups may be 640x480
but they are 4bit
9X are 8bit and not that hard to make with XRX
seems alot or work for not much (2-3 sec) gain...

Believe, now it's very easy. I like 640x480 startup logo much better.

On icons: that registry values doesn't work propertly in 98 - it still prefers 8-bit (256 color) icons if more than "16" bpp is specified. But thanks for your help anyway.
miko
with above reg file, 2 minutes ago on WIN98SE.

this example shows two standard icons,
one from a program (IE6) and one from an XP extracted icon assigned to my docs,
both show a difference/improvement in 24bit over 16,
the problem is not the setting but probably the icon format.
afaik 24bit icons are enabled and included in the 98SE plus pack as well...
Tihiy
QUOTE (miko @ Feb 6 2005, 05:37 PM)
with above reg file, 2 minutes ago on WIN98SE.

this example shows two standard icons,
one from a program (IE6) and one from an XP extracted icon assigned to my docs,
both show a difference/improvement in 24bit over 16,
the problem is not the setting but probably the icon format.
afaik 24bit icons are enabled and included in the 98SE plus pack as well...

Looked wery carefully through the image and saw no difference, only jpeg artifacts. Anyway XP uses 16-bit as default value and draws 32-bit icons within. laugh.gif
miko
the image is a .png converted from 4 .bmp screen captures,
the conversion is lossless, there are no artifacts. no.gif
there is a difference. yes.gif
Gape
Great job. Thanks for your efforts. thumbup.gif

We can add these hacks into the SP 2.1.
Tihiy
QUOTE (miko @ Feb 6 2005, 11:47 PM)
the image is a .png converted from 4 .bmp screen captures,
the conversion is lossless, there are no artifacts.  no.gif
there is a difference.  yes.gif

Ok, you're right. I'll look after that key.
Gape: it'll be an honor, sir. When it'll be ready (if it'll be ready) i'll publish it here.
Tihiy
Some good news. I've done a lot of hard work and haven't found unsolvable problems so far, there's may be a pre-release tomorrow. If everything goes fine, i'll also add new icons/bitmaps (including xp toolbar buttons patch) to final version, as optional components.
Tihiy
Ok, some good news again. I've almost rewritten it. Although currently there are some stability/perfomance problems, but i sure they're all fixable. 32-bit color is now supported almost anywhere in 32-bit app: in toolbars (i'm making new toolbar hack too), listviews, treeviews and such. It wasn't so hard (about 1000 lines of code) and that proves again that Microsoft is playing unfair game. I'm going to take a break now (passing exams) and i think i'll release it on the weekend.

Any name suggestions?
Tihiy
Ok, very good news: i've been tracing nasty bug that not allowed dragging icons for 3 days, and now that bug is gone. I'm so ******g happy! Expect a BETA release today.
tim_horton
thumbup.gif excellent news cant wait . well done.
aLeXis
Nice work welcome.gif
horsecharles
QUOTE
Any name suggestions?
"Unofficial True 32bit Visual Interface Upgrade for Win9x"

News Flash!

Computer User Group trumps Microsoft at their own game: adding a slew of improvements to Windows, that have long & wide been clamored for-- but that Microsoft has been unable and/or unwilling to make!!!!

An unlikely & motley crew of computer enthusiasts, most of whom spend the bulk of their time speeding up the performace of the various Windows Operating Systems, shoring up their inherent weaknesses-- AND as well helping the public resolve their problems with numerous Windows bugs thru free tech support...... have re-tooled Windows to run much faster, and have plugged up many of its security vulnerabilities, all while simultaneously adding key functionalities missing from the Operating System.

Excerpt from a CNN interview last week with Paula Zahn:

Now, guys what led you to do all this?

Well, Paula-- we have just grown weary over the years of being spoon-fed one version of an Operating System, with someone else's idea of what components should be inside it-- and to boot they often don't mesh harmoniously-- thus necessitating frequent computer restarts: each of several minutes duration-- its not like flipping your tv On/Off without skipping a beat. We have been asking for decades now, for many changes made & components added-- all to liitle or no avail.

HHmm, is what you have said really true, and if so is it that serious? My computer at home rarely breaks down.

To address your first question: the internet is chock full of forums & independent software distributors dedicated to the sole purpose of correcting weak Windows components & adding missing ones. Those who will be using their computer to perform significant work, usually spend days after initially installing Windows, changing settings, replacing weak components, and adding missing ones. Just to even be able to have a computer system on & connected to the Internet for hours at a time requires a Herculean preparation effort: you're in the news business, you must see the daily reports of computer security problems!

Well--

Sorry to interrupt you Paula-- to answer the second part of your question: assuming that what you do with your computer at home is to turn it on, check some email, maybe type a memo for work, click on an ad or two, then turn it off... that's like claiming your car purrs like a kitten when all you do is occasionaly drive it at residential speed to your corner deli. What about those who have to race over our nation's highways for hours at a time each day, often through inclement weather and/or subpar surfaces?

So what is your main purpose or goal in all this?

Paula, what we have been postulating essentially is this:
How would you like if 90% of all cars in America were one entity-- imagine most folks buying say, a Ford Pinto, and you decide you--actually, let's backtrack and change buy to Lease-- we don't buy Windows, it is not ours to do with as we wish, we only lease its use from Micros--

What, come again?

Yes, Paula: stated right on the licensing agreement-- and one is not free to: after having paid the not so low price, do with it as one wants-- recompile it, change computers and reinstall--

You mean--

Yes, Paula: imagine if you go to Blockbuster and buy a movie-- but you wouldn't be allowed to alter / apply special effects to it once you got home, and if you were unlucky enough to have your tv break down: that it would be illegal to watch that movie on your new tv-- you'd need to buy a new copy to go with your new tv.... and what's so outrageous about this is that we're not talking a few dollars' price of a movie, but a few hundred for a new OS.
To continue our Pinto story: they've decided that is the type of car useful to the largest number of folks. Those in rural areas & harsher climes clamor for a different model-- say a Blazer-- or at least options for off-road tires, windshield wipers, rear heated windows, independent suspension, etc.-- all which are turned down as being cost-prohibitive because not in wide demand by the majority of users. Additionally, the cars come from the factory with their speed limits capped at 45mph(through various engine & system caps) to minimize non-expert drivers damaging their cars.
This means, that right off the bat, many customers have to spend more than the initial purchase price re-outfitting their car, as well as considerable time re-adjusting various settings-- all this in a gray area as far as 100% legality.
On top of all this, every two years the Pinto gets upgraded to a GrandAm, then a LeSabre, then a Park Avenue......

We're running out of time-- we've got about 30 seconds left. Can you quickly sum up what you are doing to change this status quo?

We've cobbled together the best parts of the various latest 'models' of Windows to basically eliminate most weaknesses & utilize most strong points of each. We've created a Windows 'auto' that should win most road races against the original / latest factory models. We've eliminated a lot of the causes for random engine shutdowns, & steering lockups, we've increased performance by uncapping some system limits such as physical ram amount maximums & internet cruising speeds, etc. And to top this off, we've also worked up the most superior exterior & paint job ever seen on a Windows OS with the:
"Unofficial True 32bit Visual Interface Upgrade for Win9x", surpassing that of even WinXP's-- which is not entirely 32bit, as widely claimed.

We're labeling our finished product: Windows 98SE2ME2XPto2K3

Sounds like you have a winner on your hands guys. Now, what could you tell our worldwide audience to back up your performance claims-- some may be wondering if your speeds function as claimed, and even whether stability has not degraded further as a result?

Paula, we invite the public at large to submit any program they have whatsoever. We will conduct performance & longetivity tests on identical brand new computer models: one will have the very latest Windows release, the other one our 98SE2ME2XPto2K3 version-- we do reserve the right to tweak our system in any way we see fit. We will demonstrate how some tasks can run 10-20 times faster on our custom Windows systems.

Well, we'll be looking forward to that in the coming days & weeks-- maybe we can even have you back to conduct some trials Live! On CNN!

Paula, we look forward to that and to be of service to the general public: it will mean an awful lot to us to know we have improved the daily lives & work experience for so many folks.

Thanks guys. That about does it here at the studio for us today, we'll be turning it over to Bill Hemmer on location as he reports on this year's Super Bowl pre-festivities. Good Morning, Bill!

Good Morming, Paula! I was listening in-- that is some group you just had on! Taking on an American behemoth like that.

Yes, we'll be watching to see what develops. Courageous bunch of guys. So, Bill have you got a prediction for us on the game?

End of transcript.

Spread the gospel folks.......... and check back here often for further developments.
tim_horton
cool.gif Holy dogbiscuits batman a new day in os history has arrived.many thxz to the people responible and all i can say is Bring it on!!! MSFN ROCKS!!!!!
smokeyjoint
ohmy.gif wow when the release date for this puppy? any idea how big the install?and lastly will it work on 98se 2me already installed? uxthemes?
Tihiy
Ok, i've a problem and can't release program without solving it. Restorator 2004 suddenly corrupts 9x/Me DLL files if replacing icons with 32bit analog, so i can't create universal ResPatcher... Any ideas?

ALSO: didn't understand about UXTHEMES. I don't sure, but it will provide additional compatibility with WindowBlinds, and not any other theming engines now.
smokeyjoint
welcome.gif hows its comming along this pinto needs a paint job
Tihiy
QUOTE (smokeyjoint @ Feb 13 2005, 02:50 PM)
pinto
*

why?! is it a question?
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