I'm not sure what is better. Jet35sp3.exe installs more files - are they needed? And what if Office 95/97/2K/XP or other software is installed on the system?
Hard to say. Selection of the right ASPI layer seems to be some kind of magic.
I will test the registry size difference but I think it will be below 1%.... BTW, more serious may be low resources for big font files - but I have no idea if it really is.

Yes, it this case it has sense.

There seems to be some small differences, I don't know if they are important or not. Just try to install these packages over the SESP and you will see some differences. Again, I don't know if they are important.

Petr

... continuation

There are many registry entries in this patch, and in case of first edition, not all of them are present already. Please check 835732rg.inf file in fesp201en package, this is complete list.

I already used it :-)

Thank you for your opinions.

Petr

Just a few comments about ASPI. I haven't tried ASPI 4.70 on 98SE (I always used 4.60) but I have tried it on ME and I have ditched it quickly for 4.60 as it seemed to me it was a sucker. What I mean by this is that with 4.60 the rest of the system remains very responsive when accessing or rather working with optical drives which I find is not the case at all with 4.70.

correct ived notice this aswell being a new version doesnt make it better it may help one os and hinder another trial and error .Never surrender 98 must live!!!

Petr,

I've tried your alpha FESP on a "fresh" install of 98FE + IE 6.0 SP1 + DX 9.0c + MS Intellipoint Mouse 4.12.
Works ok so far.
Good job.

Because I have installed DirectX 9.0c prior to FESP, it prompted me to keep these files:
kswdmcap.ax
joyhid.vxd
which are newer than the ones from FESP.
Because I've installed MS Intellipoint Mouse drivers 4.12 prior to FESP, it prompted me to keep this file:
msmouse.vxd

1 minor annoyance [same as you mentioned]:
that mqrt.dll [Message Queue Run Time] dialog pops up the "cannot find" prompt, but installer finishes ok if box dismissed.
I was wondering why do u need to use mqrt.dll? Is it necessary for Gape's infex installer?
So far I've seen very few tools that use it.

Another thing:
I noticed you are using Gape's modded explorer.exe [also patched by Dr. Hoiby to fix 8-bit icons]. When one clicks the Start button, it shows the "Windows 98 Second Edition" banner, only if "Show small icons in Start menu" box is not checked in Taskbar Properties.
I fixed the BMP to show "Windows 98 First Edition" [71 KB]:
http://www.mdgx.com/spx/FEEXPLOR.ZIP
Please let me know after you downloaded the zip so I can remove it.
Replaced BMP using Resource Hacker:
http://www.users.on.net/johnson/resourcehacker/
New bitmap included in zip.

Keep up the good work.

Hi MDGx,

OK, I will add ,32 not to show the dialog.It is installed by Y2kw98_2 update, maybe I could omit it.Thank you, my mistake, I think I will keep the original bitmap showing "Windows 98" only. I used this patched version just for compatibility with Gapes's SESP, I suppose it will be changed in the next release.
Downloaded, thanks.

Thank you for your review.

Petr

Requuest for opinion:

Q266772 contains:

Directory Services Client Update for Windows 98 contains just the 4.10.2228 version that is installed both on Standard and Second Edition.

So what should be in the FESP - 4.10.2000 (with newer date) or 4.10.2228?

Petr

better the 4.10.2228 of secur32.dll file, Petr. DCOM 98 has secur32.dll file v4.10.2177 and using 4.10.2000 may break v4.71.3328 of dcom98 and the W9x DSClient.

powercfg.cpl 5.0.3103.1000 does NOT work under Win98 FE, Petr. Tried using that and loading the Power Management control panel app in Win98 FE did NOTHING! So Powercfg.cpl v5.0.3103.1000 is for Win98 SE only AND the Q258680 patch is really meant only for Win98 SE (NOT FE).

Rather than include the Q199886 smartvsd.vxd fix in the 98 Standard SP:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=199886
Include v4.10.2222 of the smartvsd.vxd file from 98 SE. Win98 FE does NOT include smartvsd.vxd BUT Win98 SE does. Ver. 4.10.2222 of smartvsd.vxd should work ok under Win98 FE.

You are right that it works but it is available on Win98SE CD-ROM only - it would mean Win98SE license.

Petr

So I have checked internal timestamp of the files
4.10.2000 (Q266772): 396BA333h -> 07/12/2000 00:44:03
4.10.2228 (Q266772): 395CAC8Ch -> 06/30/2000 16:19:56
4.10.2177 (dcom98): 36FC8E56h -> 03/27/1999 08:52:54
4.10.2177 and 4.10.2000 have exactly the same exports and imports, 4.10.2228 has 3 new exports:
DecryptMessage
EncryptMessage
SspiLogonUserA
These functions are not used by any other module.
There is an interesting MSKB article 286261 - Conflicts between the Active Directory Client Extension and Windows 98 hotfix files. I will keep 4.10.2228 in the FESP.

Yes, powercfg.cpl needsfunctions unsupported in FE versions:
batmeter,dll: DestroyBatmeter
pwrprof.dll: GetCurrentPowerPolicies
Do you think that it safe to keep in fesp just the desk.cpl? I suppose it could be OK.

absolutely, Petr. The desk.cpl file from the Q258680 patch works fine under 98fe. I even put it on my WinME system and it worked w/out any problems.

Q896358, Q888113, Q835732 patches require IE 5 or better. Those patches break IE 4.x. I know for sure if you run the Win98 Q896358 & Q888113 updates, they may still not work unless you are using Win98 + IE6 SP1. If using Win98, but using IE6, IE 5.5 SP2 or less, those patches refuse to install.

like to see ie4.01 sp2 or even ie5.x or 6.x integrated in Petr's 98 FE SP and Gape's 98 SE SP someday. sure the WinXP SP2 pack is massive (full sp2 pack is 280 Mb in size) but contains IE6 SP2, DX9.0c, MSI 3.0, WMP9, MDAC 2.8 SP1 & other addons included in one gigantic pack.

DSClient Q323455 Win98 update addresses many or even all the issues mentioned in MS article 283261. The older version of DSClient (included in Win2000 CDs) have the problems mentioned in article 283261.

Q896358, Q888113 installs if SHDOCVW.DLL is version 5.50.4807.2300 and newer - i.e. IE 5.5SP2+
Q323255 contains HTML Help 1.4 (5.2.3644.0) and will install for SHDOCVW 5.0.2014.213 and newer, i.e. IE 5.0 (no SP) and newer.
Q811630 contains updated HTML Help 1.4 (5.2.3735.0) and will install for SHDOCVW 5.0.2014.213 and newer, i.e. IE 5.0 (no SP) and newer.
Q896358 contains HTML Help 1.41 (5.2.3790.309) and will install for SHDOCVW 5.50.4807.2300 and newer, i.e. IE 5.5 SP2 and newer.
These are restrictions in the iexpress packages, but what is the reality?
I also don't know how to verify Q891781 DHTMLED.DLL 6.1.0.9231 functionality with older versions of IE, iexpress package will install if BROWSEUI.DLL version is between 5.0.2014.200 and 6.0.2900.0, i.e. IE 5.0 (no SP) to IE 6.0 SP2. But will it work with IE4? And is it important?
And how to verify Q888113 HLINK.DLL 5.2.3790.227 functionality?
Q835732 - it is backported patch from NT Workstation 4.0, in the system requirements, mentioned in MS04-011, there is no information about Internet Explorer version.
Is there any way how to verify the functionlity of updated files?
In fact, I think IE4 is useless today anyway.
It would mean much work with unknown result. As of FESP, I'm sure I won't do it. Several days I have put FESP to rapidshare and now there are 3 (!) downloads only - you, MDGx and maybe Gape. I suppose to fix the biggest problems and leave FESP as it is.Right, therefore all files are upgraded to Q323455 version. Maybe I should add also negotiat.dll, it is not in W98 bas install but if anybody has installed the old W2K client, it would be updated from 5.0.2195.1 to 5.0.2195.4784.

Petr

Things I've done to help spread the word about your SP:
- I put a link at my front page [I have ~ 4000 unique hits/day]:
http://www.mdgx.com/
- I added a link here:
http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#SP1
- and here [98SE2ME forum]:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=46349

Things you can do to spread the word:
- ask Gape if he would like to make your topic a "sticky".
- edit the 1st post here, add the rapidshare link and a few words about the SP at the top.
- email Jim or Tim @ MajorGeeks [they are buddies of mine, u can mention my name if u think it helps]:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/page.php?id=2
- as you should email Danny Boss @ SoftPedia:
http://www.softpedia.com/
- email a few other high visitor hit count news web sites, I would suggest at least:
- WinXPCentral [Digital Dave is a buddy of mine, u can mention my name if u think it helps]:
http://www.winxpcentral.com/
- TechSpot [Thomas McGuire is a buddy of mine, u can mention my name if u think it helps]:
http://www.techspot.com/
- Fred Langa @ LangaList [Fred is a buddy of mine, u can mention my name if u think it helps]:
http://www.langa.com/
- PC World:
http://www.pcworld.com/
- Scot Finnie:
http://www.scotsnewsletter.com/
- Warp2Search:
http://www.warp2search.net/
- BetaNews:
http://www.betanews.com/
- NeoWin:
http://www.neowin.net/

Hope this helps.

Hi MDGX, I suppose it is too soon to sent this alpha version to the general public. I need more test results before this. Too many files are updated, not the same as in SE package.

Petr

Roger that.

Small bugfix: http://rapidshare.de/files/2723154/fesp201en-a2.exe.html
SFV: 4DE59716
MD5: 0abf6d68a3582af75072481a1395c2c3

Changes:
- negotiat.dll added
- powercfg.cpl removed
- kswdmcap.ax, joyhid.vxd, msmouse.vxd 1024 -> 1056
- esdi_506.98G removed
- mqrt.dll from SDK folder removed
- explorer without "Second Edition banner"
- use HKLM,%KEY_RENAME%\IO.SYS,,,%30%
- explorer.exe from ie4.01sp2
- wbemprox.dll update added
- atl.dll 1028 -> 1056
- small correction of KB article numbers in SPUPDATE.INF

Petr

Good work, Petr. I tested it briefly.

BTW, I am going to finish my master degree soon. So, I was very busy in the June. I hope I'll back to work on the SP after the July 8.

tAKE A BREAK ALPER ITS SUMMER!!!

Your new alpha 2 SP works great on my "from scratch" 98FE install.
I've also tried it on a new setup + MS IE 6.0 SP1 + DirectX 9.0c, with same results.

Keep up the good work, Petr.

PS:
If I [ever] find the time, I consider a couple of new projects: 98FE298SE + 98FE2ME.

I'll admit I don't have 98FE but I think the servicepack is an excellent idea. If I only had FE this would be terrific for doing fresh installs. If your tiring of it go ahead and put it on the backburner for awhile.(I'm sure everyone understands it's done in your free time and you have a life offline too.) I would second the motion for a sticky. Keep up the good work.
Jaymo

Just wondering if you can silently install the Win98 FE SP like you can with Gape's Win98 SE service pack?

Not tested, but it should be the same.

Petr

I have just gotten the Q192117 mstcp.dll hotfix from Microsoft though it took 2 tries. First time I tried asking, I got a less than intelligent response from a support rep. that Win98 support has been retired. So I asked again and then a different support rep gave me the patch. Email me Petr and I'll be able to give it to you later today.

So far SP is working great for me

May I also have a copy, please?
U know my email.
Thanks in advance.

Will see if I can find some of the missing hotfixes in my old storage.. A few years ago I found the Windwos Update Catalog or whatever it was called back then and downloaded all the updates for winme win98fe win98se.. And maybe a bunch of junk for 95 or something.. I will see if I still have them somewhere and get back this thread if I got anything. Late now finding this thread and I am going to bed soon so I will do this tommorow if possible.

edit 7-23-2005

Petr:

I would like to suggest to add these newer files to your next 98FE SP release:

Petr suggested we should try Win2000 Post-SP4 Q886765 OLE2 DLLs.
I have tried them with both 98SE + 98FE and so far they work ok:

ASYCFILT.DLL build 2.40.4526
OLEAUT32.DLL build 2.40.4526 = does NOT work, must use older OLEAUT32.DLL 2.40.4522 from Win2000 SP4
OLEPRO32.DLL build 5.0.4526
STDOLE2.TLB build 2.40.4526

Source:
Microsoft Windows 2000 Memory Leak ASYCFILT.DLL, OLEAUT32.DLL, OLEPRO32.DLL + STDOLE2.TLB Fix:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=886765
Direct download [658 KB, English]:
http://www.mdgx.com/files/Q886765.EXE
posted here:
http://www.mdgx.com/w2ktoy.htm#W2K

If you wish to install them yourself directly without extracting them manually, please d/l this unofficial fix:

Unofficial OLE Update build 2.40.4526 for Windows 9x/NT4/ME [446 KB, English]:
http://www.mdgx.com/files/OLEUP.EXE
posted here:
http://www.mdgx.com/add.htm#OLE

________________________________________

I have also tried these 2 newer files from VB6 Post-SP6 Update with both 98SE + 98FE and so far they work ok:

COMCTL32.OCX build 6.00.8106
MSCOMCTL.OCX build 6.01.9786

Source:
Visual Basic 6.0 (VB6) Post-SP6 COMCTL32.OCX build 6.00.8106 + MSCOMCTL.OCX build 6.01.9786 Common Controls Update for Windows 98/NT4/2000/ME/XP/2003:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=896559
Direct download [914 KB, English]:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/3/a...6559-v1-ENU.exe

________________________________________

I have also tried these 2 newer files from Win2000 Post-SP4 Update Rollup 1 with both 98SE + 98FE and so far they work ok:

DHTMLED.OCX build 6.01.9232
WRITE32.WPC build 2004.11.7

Source:
Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4 Update Rollup 1 (UR1):
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=891861
Direct download [31.1 MB, English]:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/8/4...861-x86-ENU.EXE

________________________________________

I got this email from the person who created the unofficial 98FE/98SE KRNL386.EXE patch:
Unofficial Windows 98/98 SE KRNL386.EXE build 4.10.1999 Fix [172 KB, English]:
http://www.mdgx.com/files/98KRNLUP.EXE
posted here:
http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#98SE
IMO sounds like a good idea to add patched KRNL386.EXE to your next 98FE SP release.

Hope this helps.

Hi MDGx,

How do you actually extract manually the files from Q886765.EXE ? Extracting from the exe is OK. But after, how do you convert the _sfx_xxxx._p files into the Oleaut runtime ?

MDGx, I'm gonna try all of these on my machine & will try to post any negs that crop up[Doc't w/any error codes that pop up] It sound like something I might be able to help with since I'm not a Coder.

I have installed the Oleaut 4526 update as well as COMCTL32.OCX build 6.00.8106 and
MSCOMCTL.OCX build 6.01.9786. It seems OK so far here with those.

But it works on W2K/WXP system only.

Petr

This is a Win2000 patch, using newer MS patching technology, files inside it can be extracted only from within NT4/2000/XP/2003/Vista(Longhorn), by running this command:

Q886765.EXE /x

Files will be extracted be default in current directory, but u can change that.

More info @ MSKB:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=823980
Hope this helps.

Hi, I just installed your SP for 98FE and I have to say nice job, it didn't break anything and now it looks nicer to boot. Just one thing though, now the system properties says Windows 98 second edition but it also says 4.10.1998 so it's still FE. You might want to fix that.

Hi, thanks for the information, you are right, this string is contained in the Q272621 fix - SYSDM.CPL file 4.10.2224. Microsoft sent me this file as patch for First Edition but it seems to be intended for SE only originally. I will remove the "Second Edition" string in the next release (if there will be any).

Petr

hey Petr. I'm back from my long break. Have you tried asking Microsoft for these 3 patches for Win98:

Q254087 vmm.vxd 4.10.2000
Q265528 vnetbios.vxd 4.10.2223

Q329128 ndis.vxd 4.10.2001
Q329128 pppmac.vxd 4.10.2003
Q329128 vip.386 4.10.2004

Also, can your 98FE SP be posted at Softpedia.com, Petr? i don't like getting it at that rapidshare.de site.

-erpdude8

Yes, I tried it again today, but I was told they are not available.

I can give you direct download link if you want. But the latest version is two months old already.

Petr

Can I clarify something here?

Would I be correct in thinking that unlike most Service Packs (which include all previous updates) that this does not include the SE update?

Is the reason for this because SE was sold as a seperate upgrade package to those who bought the first edition of Win98?

I have a Win98 FE Installation CD and a seperate SE upgrade CD, but I can't get my FE install to run properly on my new A8N-SLi Deluxe motherboard (which might be coz it has onboard firewire?).

Assuming the answer to the first two questions is yes (SE is not included), can I combine this service pack with my Win98 FE installation CD to make a new Installation CD, and then apply my SE upgrade, and then the unofficial SE Service Packs?

@KerguelanAvon

Theoretically you are correct. This service pack applies only to 98 First Edition (or Gold). If you upgrade to SE, you'll need to use Gape's pack and not this one. But I suppose you could install it on FE, upgrade to SE and then install Gape's as you've said.

OK, I was hoping that I might be able to combine this with my Win98 FE install disc and get right up to date, and that hopefully that it might get me round the problems I'm having in getting Win98 FE to do a new install after replacing my motherboard & Processor.

Can you point me to somewhere that might be able to help with my install problems?

Petr is the man for that. He is knowledgeable both on FE and hardware. He'll probably answer you something. Just wait a bit.

Hi KerguelanAvon,

I'm not sure if I can help you.

You may try some setup switches as described in http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q186111/ to avoid the freeze during setup.

I'm not sure but I think there were W98SE upgrades that just had no boot disk, but they did not reqire W98 Gold installed. Does your W98SE upgrade require really W98 Gold? If not, you may try to install just DOS with CD-ROM driver and then run W98SE setup.

The last possibility is to do semi-slipstraming, i.e. to copy WIN98 folder from W98 CD-ROM to the hatd disk and then extract SP1.CAB from fesp201en to this folder. I never tried this, so I even don't know if the setup will work or not. Little chance, but maybe...

Petr

Good thing I AVOIDED buying Win98 FE and waited for a bug fixed version of 98 such as SE because I knew 98fe would have some y2k bugs & other compatibility problems. Heck, my brother bought a used IBM laptop with pre-installed Win98 SE several years ago. 98 FE has anemic firewire support, 98 SE has better firewire support but requires the Q242975 update to fix crucial problems with SE's firewire support.

First off KerguelanAvon, copy the SE files from the Win98 folder from the CD to the hard drive. Then run SE setup from the HD, and if it asks for a qualifying product, insert your Win98 FE (not SE) CD, and you should be able to complete the setup AND you should be able to use Win98 SE instead of FE because SE supports more hardware.

Well Petr if MS recently told you that hotfixes Q254087, Q265528 & Q329128 are not available, then they are probably not available anymore. So we should give up on asking for those as MS may have already sent them into oblivion.

I managed to get around the set up hang by using step by step confirmation, and turning off the MOUSE.VXD driver at each restart.

The mouse still worked afterwards, and then at one point I forgot to intercept the restart and thought it was going to hang again, but it managed to get past the ususal sticking point, so I guess that the the driver got replaced at somepoint during the SE upgrade.

I managed to get the OS fairly up to date though, but without the chipset drivers, it didn't seem worthwhile continuing.

See http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=56255

Well, can you give me the direct download URL to it? I would also suggest posting your 98fe SP onto a BUNCH of mirror sites, like with what Gape did to his 98se pack. Gape's pack is posted on at least 4 different sites, just in case one or some of them dont work or are too slow.

What's the status of this service pack? I remember there being a download link, but I cannot find it anymore. I was looking forward to installing 98FE and using this pack... especially to get my Channels back!

unfortunately, jimmsta, Petr's 98FE pack hasn't gotten too far so there is very little progress.
Having the 98fe pack posted on only 1 site is nearly deplorable (and barely appalling, IMHO). Gape's 98se pack and Tihiy's Win9x Revolutions pack are posted at several sites including Majorgeeks.com and Softpedia.com. So Petr needs to find a way to post his 98fe pack to other sites. that way, more people will test out his SP.

so I'm not sure how many people have actually downloaded AND tested the 98fe pack. my gut feeling tells me that few to none have really gotten the 98FE SP. in other words, the 98fe pack is almost a bust.

jimmsta, if you need the 98fe SP you can get it here:

http://rapidshare.de/files/2723154/fesp201en-a2.exe.html

It's still in alpha 2 stage so is has NOT reached beta. I'll pass on the alpha and wait for beta 1 of Petr's 98FE pack to come out and hopefully the beta version WILL be posted at sites like Softpedia.com and Majorgeeks.com.

If you really want to get v2.0 alpha 2 of the 98FE service pack from rapidshare.de use a broadband connection like cable or DSL to download the 19Mb file from there; dialup connections take too long and are too slow & more likely to botch your downloads, especially with this 19mb size 98fe pack. Unless you buy a premium account from Rapishare site, you wont be able to download, accelerate & resume your download with any download managers. Free accounts from Rapidshare will only provide slow downloads which is why I am AGAINST downloading ANY files from there if they are greater than 1 meg.

Yes AND No! Yes in the sense that the alpha version of your pack shouldnt be widely available but to post your 98fe pack at the Rapishare.de site was a POOR choice. A TERRIBLE MISTAKE! It is barely impossible to obtain your 98fe pack with a free Rapidshare account with a dialup connection and I and some other people have had a very difficult time downloading the whole pack several times because of the size of the download. I could never complete the download of the 98fe pack which is super frustrating!

very infuriating!!!

THAT'S IT! I now recommend 98fe users to avoid getting the alpha version of the 98fe pack from Rapidshare until an actual BETA [NOT an ALPHA] of the Windows 98 Standard Edition pack comes out AND the pack is posted at a different site OTHER than Rapidshare. NEVER post large downloads at Rapidshare unless users are using a fast broadband connection, not a slow dialup connection!!!