Some further good news on my install, all prgms[3rd party] that load at startup now reinstalled[11], my time from click the restart OK to fully loaded desktop went from "1 min 33 sec"[w/just sp2] to "57 sec" w/98se2ME[opt 1] installed Quite an improvement I'd say! The only time I get to see the new shutdown logo is if I do shutdown Nary a prob so far

Update:

After booting Windows with no registry loaded, the problem with accessing MS-DOS persists. I assume this means that it is a bad file(s) or some incorrect setting. AVG and ad-aware turned up no errors either, so now I'm left wondering what kind of registry tweaks I did in the past that may have triggered this problem. On the net, I read something about incorrect video IRQ's sometimes cause conflict with the MS-DOS ones. I did update the VIA chipset/bus a while back. I can't uninstall them though because the the registry was restored from an older version once and some of the add/remove entries are no longer there. Fuzz. I wish there was some way to reinstall/replace only some files and not the whole windows directory. java script:emoticon(':wacko:')
smilie

-yes, but why would systray do that? the mouse icon in systray? can't just the icon be disabled? or are there inherent probs w/systray itself?

-yeah, my total boot time is down to 42 secs! niiiice... (celeron 1.8ghz) -mine was around 1 minute, then I saw/tried that MDGx tip "kill TapeDetect in registry", and that shaved 20 secs off! ALL PRAISE MDGX, AGAIN...

-have ya tried the tweaker X-SETUP, for the Enable DOS box/regedit? GREAT prog... but be sure to get the slightly older 6.6 (FREE) version, mdgx has a link for it... maybe it will succeed where your other tweaker didn't... -also, any chance some security software is cranked up a bit too high? Preventing those functions?

Glad it all worked well in the end.

I didn't see any of these errors, and can't test these configurations, so I'll have to trust you guys that it [finally] worked ok on your computers.

Hi tk323, and welcome to MSFN forums.

Sounds like you have been using some other program to modify security settings.
98SE2ME does not touch security settings.

To properly use 98SE2ME, please read READ1ST.TXT before replacing any files:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT
and also see the list of system files which should *never* be replaced:
http://www.mdgx.com/98-5.htm#NEVER

That's a big no-no: WINOA386.MOD should *not* be replaced.
The only version that works with Windows 98 SE is the 1 that installs from the 98 SE setup CD [build 4.10.2222].
If u do, DOS box mode will be either disabled or messed up, and there is a chance your OS will lock up.

I have a bunch of DOS tricks + guides at my site. Please see this page which contains the entire list:
http://www.mdgx.com/newtip.htm
U can find more info in these text files: MEMORY.TXT, MYTIPS95.TXT, REGIONS.TXT, EMM386.TXT, all part of W95-11D.EXE [freeware for non profit use]:
http://www.mdgx.com/95.htm
All online tips are also included in the text files from W95-11D.EXE if u wish to read offline.
It's a lot of reading, but u may find what u need.

Complete list of Registry keys + values for security permissions:
http://www.mdgx.com/newtip9.htm#RESTRICT
System + Registry tweakers [99.99% free(ware)]:
http://www.mdgx.com/toy.htm#SYS

Hope this helps.

And thanks a bunch for your kind appreciation.

Good news.

If u want to see your boot logo [even if animated] from within Windows, get the XrX logo screen saver [shareware]:
http://www.xrx.ca/logoutils/index.htm#Saver

Hope this helps.

MGDx not complaining about no sd logo, thats great! When clk "OK" it goes blink to boot screen, figure that shaves seconds off reboot, am now gonna see what can be shaved off backkend PsycoUnc's got me beat by 15 sec

if u mess with WINOA386 the Dos Gods of war will lock your pc and banish you to win3.1 lol

lol -yeah, but I cheat: I never use USB, so I disable all usb devices in Device Manager, and it REALLY speeds up boottime, for some reason... probably my cheap mobo... (it also frees up resources, IRQ's, etc)... same thing for serial/parrallel ports, couple unused soundcard devices, disabled 2nd "dual" monitor of vid card, etc... but it's the USB disable that really speeds me up...

(ps: I'm currently working on my first "fresh" clean w98se install in over a year, so I'm hoping I'll be able to shave a couple secs off that 42, soon, too... >;] )

Waaal, I got cordless Kb & moose so no go on USB disable, but had forgotten about serial ports, printer on parallel port. I'll keep lookin tho

-MDGx, about option #3 and customizing the windows explorer toolbar:

-? when I use option 3, I can customize, but w/out #3, the "Customize" drop-menu-option (or right-click on toolbar) is missing... ?... is the ME-Explorer the only one which allows you to customize the toolbar? Or have I forgotton how to "unlock" that option? I've been searching, and no luck... (frustrated)

(I can move things around, but can't get rid of buttons or add em, unless #3 is employed...)

-oh, btw, that Winoldap page fault error is back (your Shell..exitwindows... again), and this time I had the Shell...2048 already in config.sys, and my autoexec/environment was not big (working with new clean w98se install now) (note: gape's sp reboot does not error; perhaps use his way?)

-EDIT: WINOLDAP error: may be coincidence, but error went away after I copied config.dos (shell...2048) from my old install windir to new install windir (it didn't have any config.dos in there); -only problem is, I tried removing that file again, to see if the error would return, but it DIDN'T...!...?... now, I can't reproduce that error, just like with the old install, it just went away... ?... -maybe, does having config.dos in windir somehow get copied into the registry, so that if the file is removed, the reg still keeps the data, preventing the return of the error? I didn't do anything else to either install... weird... (again, I don't think the error caused any damage; puter still rebooted, just looked like your .bat file didn't wanna quit, for the reboot...)

ps: -I can't get rid of option #3! I didn't know that, when trying out your new versions of 98se2me, we need to FIRST UNINSTALL OPTION #3, not just uninstall 98se2me itself, otherwise the backup files made during option 3 get OVERWRITTEN, preventing an option 3 uninstall! -now, I gotta go grab those dozen or so files manually, copy them over to *.w98, then uninstall #3 again, rite?

--just my personal opinion here, but I really like the old (trippy) blue logo best...

Ex, I got "corrupt file" message for these RAR files. Could you check them?

Well, my WinRAR claims that this rar-file would be corrupt...
The rar-file of two eaarlier logos by you was ok, however.
Best regards
allesok

Well, this is the rar-file I mean, that seems to be corrupt.
allesok

That's odd... I just downloaded them from that link and they extracted fine. How many times did you try downloading? Maybe server was acting funny for a while?

Same here still... I downloaded 4 times in 3 days, no success...
Please check the files.
Best regards
allesok

The problem is in the web server where these files are located - it declare them as text files and therefore some browsers change Unix <lf> to DOS <cr><lf> sequence.

Here is the header sent by the server:
You will probably see that the size of the file on your disk is bigger than 125194 bytes.

What the server owner should do: If rar file type is not listed, then use default binary file type in config file - it is line:

or better to add the rar file type to the list of know types, usualy it is /etc/mime.types configuration file. There is no standard for it, but here is what is sent by rarlab website:

What you can do: Try what browser/download manager does not change the file, my favourite command line tool is wget, it is originally for linux and Windows port is here: http://xoomer.virgilio.it/hherold/ .

If you want to check what headers are sent by the server, very simple tool is graburl (output shown above), the original webpage http://www.kiraly.com/software/utilities/graburl is being reworked but you can download it here: http://www.cmdtools.com/files/graburl.zip

Petr

Finally, I downloaded it.

I think the server has hotlinking protection. So, you have to copy the link manually into the browser's address bar.

1. Windows Explorer toolbar can be customized only in ME, not in 98SE, unless you install 98SE2ME option 3.
In 98SE without 98SE2ME, u can customize only the IE toolbar, no matter which IE version u have.
This was another step towards achieving "perfect internet integration" [together with "Active Desktop"] MS implemented into ME.

2. Please post your config.sys + autoexec.bat [if u have any in C:\ root] contents here, maybe I can fix your winoldap problem.
Config.dos doesn't do anything [it's 9x backup of MS-DOS 5/6 C:\config.sys], unless u rename it to config.sys and place it in C:\ root.
Steps u can take to try to fix winoldap errors [without knowing more details about your specific error(s) I can't help too much]:
- if u run older DOS programs/games from within Windows, make sure u create appropriate PIF files fo each of them, eventually following the manufacturer guidelines on which kinds/amounts of memory are needed for each.
Note that there are certain DOS based programs/games that will NOT run from within Windows. In such cases, u need to exit/reboot Windows to native MS-DOS mode.
More info here:
http://www.mdgx.com/newtip23.htm#WDBT
- scandisk all your HDs and fix all errors [if any].
- check device manager for errors/conflicts, red/yellow marks, try to fix them by (re)installing current drivers, or by enabling IRQ steering if not enabled.
- use Startup CPL [freeware]:
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml
to disable, and use Ctrl+Alt+Del to close all running apps/TSRs/processes/DLLs, except necessary ones for Windows to run properly.

3. Option 3 backs up a bunch of system files in %windir%\system\*.W98 and explorer.exe as explorer.W98 in %windir% the 1st time u install option 3.
But if u reinstall option 3, those *.W98 backups will be overwritten with the new backups made every time u install option 3, which means all 98SE backups will be replaced with ME backups, which means u can't restore option 3 anymore *if* u reinstall it.
Therefore, try to install option 3 only once.
I've added a new choice into 98SE2ME.BAT for option 3, to *not* install it [press N to not install it or Y to install it], only if previous *.w98 backups are detected in %windir%\system.

4. I have been able to reproduce the BMP, GIF + JPG file open errors, and found out how to fix them.
This is due to installing shimgvw.dll from ME into options 1, 2 + 3.
Please get 98SE2ME.EXE the 6-26-2005 edition to fix this.

Hope this helps.

MDGx:

-winoldap error: it's no biggie, 98se2me is the only prog that gives the winoldap error, and only when you changed the reboot code back to the way it was before (when it also errored). -must be something to do with executing that reboot command, within a batch(dos) prog... -Also, somehow, the error "goes away" after running it a couple times (strange), it coincided w/my action of copying that config.dos file into windir, but that was probably just coincidence... I haven't bothered to verify/research that, since the error goes away and it doesn't seem to cause any probs... If I get exceptionally bored, I'll research that reboot code/batch thingy, see what I can find out (I've always been extremely good at experimentation/figuring stuff out, when motivated... it's the only exercise my severely-rusting 159 iq gets these days >;])

-btw, I run scandisk at least once/wk, just to be safe, and it never finds probs (unless a bad shutdown, which is VERY rare nowadays, thx to YOU! )

-and yup, I do run old dos games and progs sometimes, no errors... and I keep my startup/background progs very clean/lean (hate background progs)...

-device manager: -no probs/conflicts (as per SysInfo, as well), other than the USB, serial, etc. I've deliberately disabled (20 second boot-up gain, and extra IRQ's/resources), which haven't caused any probs in 2 yrs...

-option #3: -ok, I'll get out of the habit of running it every time a new version comes out... -and I'll make sure to uninstall #3 first, every time I do run it (or, again if I get bored, maybe I'll add some additional protection/generational backup code to your #3, make sure it keeps the original 98se files safely backed-up... already got an idea, rite now: if it IS the first time it's run, give the backup a slightly diff name, like *.98a, and subsequent times, make it *.98b, to make sure at least the original 98se files are safe... that'll work... and use the .98a files during uninstall, too, to get the orig. files back)

-MDGx: -ok, I was bored

-here's a little batch file you can call to do the backing up for each individual file (and it'll save some typing in your backup batch file, too, since it does the work for ya). A sample filename: %windir%\EXPLORER.EXE:

CALL (batch) %windir%\EXPLORER EXE (note the SPACE, not ".")

(batch):
IF NOT EXIST %1.%2 GOTO DONE
set %ex=".98a"
IF EXIST %1.98a SET %ex=".98b"
copy/Y %1.%2 %1%ex% >nul
:DONE

-I've tested it, it works...

(edit: actually, looking more at your batch file, looks like u might be able to move more to the mini-batch file, too... save more repetition... I'll re-post once I've tested it)

Thanks a lot for your cool batch tips.

My idea:
instead of creating a second, third, etc... backup copy of all those files each time the user installs option 3, it seems easier IMO to just detect each *.W98 file version using GETVER, and if all 98SE backed up files are found in the right places, give the user 2 choices:
1. either restore old 98SE system files from *.W98 backup [done by running RSTR3F.INF], then reboot, and finally, after 98SE UI restarts, the user can run again 98SE2ME.PIF to safely install option 3 fresh
2. or proceed to (re)install option 3 with 3 (sub)choices:
2a. create new backup set [not overwrite old ones] and then install option 3.
2b. overwrite old backups with new ones and then install option 3.
2c. install option 3 without creating new backups.

But it's getting late, so I'll probably do this tomorrow.

Laters

-it would only be one more backup set, 13 files, <6mb (since the 2nd set would keep getting overwritten, as it does now, while preserving the orig set), plus it seems a bit more complicated your new way... and allows for more potential user error, as far as possibly overwriting the orig 98se backups. The only additional user interaction my way would be during uninstall of option 3, asking user if he wants to restore the orig (pre-98se2me w98se) set, or the most recent (probably redundant ME) set...

Had a slight prob installing new Zone Alarm, had to back out of 982ME[opt 1] to install and then reinstall 982ME, did screenshot & txt save to desktop, but they went "where the woodbine twineth" during the process so can't post. May be just my machine.

Yes, it has a hotlinking protection. Just left-click (instead of right-click) "Here", and you'll see. Copying the link manually did work well.
Thanks
allesok

Yeah, that's why I said to "right-click/save as" next to the link.

Also, thank you Petr for the info. I added the mime type to the server config file. Can someone who was having trouble with it being detected as txt before, let me know if it's working properly with your browser now?

I think it should be ok cause this is what it's giving me now:


Thanks,
-Ex

@MDGx
Is there a way to do the transplant without installing win98SE first? I mean replace those files on the source disc to get a win98SEME ISO.

I bet there is, but unfortunately at the moment I don't have the time to come up with the scripts.
To abide by MS guidelines, this requires among other things to repack all setup CABs, and I don't have the info on how exactly each CAB depends on/links to the others.
Maybe some day I'll research this stuff...

Hope this helps.

MDGx,

I am trying to create my own windows disc. Is there any way I can alter the batch files etc. so that they read what I want them to say. Because I want all these Win ME files built into it, and the base is win98se.

Then, how do I add altered 98 and ME files (resource hacked) into the installer?

With your permission, of course.

Just a thought.

And also, as posted on another page, I have problem with my pictures folder and some other automatic thumbnail folders after installing 98se2me. Changing the folder to classic in Customise Folder Wizard, then altering the wvleft.gif to match wvleft.bmp, this fixes problem for one specific folder, but how do I make this a global change??

98SE2ME files are open source [more details in READ1ST.TXT + INNOFILE.TXT], therefore u can modify them any way u want for the purpose of using/testing stuff on your own computer(s).
If u plan on improving 98SE2ME, please post your scripts/ideas here so we can all benefit.

To include ME files into a 98SE setup CD, u need to know exactly how CABs are linked so u can properly replace files and repack the CABs. I don't have that info, but Microsoft does.
As long as u do this right, it doesn't matter if u add/replace hexed or original files, u just need to make sure checksum detection [INF code mostly] corresponds with the altered/replaced files code.
The catch is that you're talking about modding an entire OS here, so this will be tedious and lengthy work if u plan on pursuing this project.
I wish u the best of luck.
And please post here your scripts/ideas, so we can all benefit.

Edit:
Added this Q&A into READ1ST.TXT under the "FAQ" chapter:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT
________________________________________

About thumbnail folders:
I need more details, please, like: how exactly happens, which Windows Explorer folder view were u using, do u get any error dialogs, if u do please post them here, which 98SE2ME option(s) did u install right before this happened, which 98SE2ME edition were u using, are u sure it's an 98SE2ME option that caused this, which exact steps u took to fix exactly what.

PS:
thumbnail view errors have been fixed:
please d/l 98SE2ME newest edition:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=46349

Hope this helps.

MDGx,

I've noticed a problem with the FORMAT command in one of the latest releases that I'm using.

It doesn't provide for me to copy system files, which some programs (like Partition Magic Pro 7.0) will pull up that FORMAT window in order to make a boot disk.

I guess when the FORMAT command was substituted for the ME version, they dropped that feature out of the dialog box.

Thanks,

Steve Sybesma

-MDGx, I noticed you removed a lot of font updates, because "Internet Font Packs, XP SP2 + 2003 SP1 install newer builds"... ?

-the only Internet Font Pack I've seen is supposed to be only for win95... ?... and yanking the fonts out of xpsp2/2003sp1 probably isn't the easiest thing to do, for some of your less-technically-oriented fans... -do u have any personally-built font packs, or at least the scripts to do it, or maybe links, etc? Would be nice...

MDGx,

I have noticed a bug for sometime which I wonder if you knew about and has been fixed already.

This happens when I want to do a Search and do a "Browse for Folder".

I always see two "My Documents" folders in the list.

Don't know why. Probably a registry thing.

Maybe one of them represents the folder from 'pure' Windows 98 SE and the
other represents the folder created by components in the 98SE2ME update.

Steve

Steve,

98SE2ME does not replace FORMAT.COM.
FORMAT.COM and most other DOS mode tools from ME will not work under 98SE, unless u load SETVER.EXE from CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT to fake their version number.
Please see this page for complete list of ME files replaced by 98SE2ME:
http://www.mdgx.com/98-5.htm#FME

Hope this helps.

Please post more details about when, how, why exactly this happens so I can reproduce all steps on my PC.
Thanks.

Oooops... busted!
I actually plan on creating a font pack with all updates I can get my hands on.

Until then, u can get these:
http://www.mdgx.com/add.htm

Windows NT4 True Type Fonts (TTF) Euro Patch [2.16 MB]:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/9...1b/OffTTUpd.EXE

Windows 9x/NT4/2000/ME/XP Extra Euro Enabled Fonts [2.48 MB]:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/pub...N-US/PubUpd.exe

Windows 95/OSR1/OSR2/NT4 Euro Enabled Tahoma True Type Font (TTF):
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188081
Direct download [306 KB]:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/off...us/tahoma32.exe

Microsoft Internet Font Packs for Windows 3.1x/95/NT (free):
http://beebo.org/corefonts/

Hope this helps.

Oooops... busted! - Part 2.

Fresh out of the oven...

* Unofficial Windows 9x/NT4/2000/ME/XP/2003 43 True Type Fonts (TTF) Pack [3.75 MB, English]:
http://www.mdgx.com/files/TTFPAK.EXE
These TTFs are part of:
- MS IE 6.0 SP1:
http://www.mdgx.com/toy.htm#IEX
- MS Euro TTF Packs + Patches:
http://www.mdgx.com/add.htm#EUR
- MS Internet TTF Packs:
http://beebo.org/corefonts/
- MS Windows 2000 SP4:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downl...rvicepacks/sp4/
- MS Windows XP SP2:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/
- MS Windows 2003 SP1:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003...rvicepacks/sp1/

Posted here:
http://www.mdgx.com/add.htm#TTF
and here:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=46581

Enjoy.

Short ? What happens if you use SFC[system file checker] w/ sp 2 & 98se2ME installed, will it messup installation & revert things back to disk files?

MDGx,

Thanks for the support, I'll try and get the disc started soon, at the moment I am still modifying 98/ME files.

Can't get the screenshots yet though, but the error message for my pics problem is as follows.

WiaMgr.Devices.Length is null or not an object
Code: 0
URL: file://C:\WINDOWS\Web\ImgView.htt

The solution was to right click folder, go into Customise the Folder Wizard, set folder type to classic view (thus, removing the thumbnails), go into the hidden subfolder (can't remember what it was called now) and delete the wvleft.gif, and then save the wvleft.bmp as a gif. This make it look like other folders. But you have to do this manually for each folder. And then the hidden subfolder had same prob. Repeating customise wizard creates another buggy subfolder, and so on.

The problem seems to be in the main Imgview.htt file although if u try to change it u get lots of funny errors appearing.

Hope this helps
Rjd123

Um, I didn't get the System Properties general tab change back to 98 2nd Edition. It still says I'm running Me.

Also, when the system rebooted following the 98SE2ME batch run it froze while initializing the desktop and I needed to ctrl-alt-delete. When it booted up again the startup screen appeared saying Windows didn't boot properly and offering to start in Safe Mode. I declined, and it started up fine in normal mode this time.

I ran system file checker and the wdm audio files were updated as advertised, so the 98SE2ME did run. I needed to check because for some reason the splash screen had stayed up while the 98SE2ME batch was running so I couldn't view the dos messages (like "so many files copied with 0 errors" etc).

All is running fine, but I didn't get the general tab to change back to 98SE like you said.

I also don't know the effect of the Me WDM audio files since I'm using vxd audio at the moment.

A question. Does 98SE2ME do anything to USB joystick files? I ask because I've never been able to use my Saitek Gamepad P-880 on 98SE. But, since I've had the pad I've always run 98SE2ME so I don't know if the Saitek drivers would mess up Windows if I didn't have 98SE2ME installed. The pad and drivers run fine, but the "About" tab in the Saitek joystick control panel will freeze the control panel and Windows will have restart and shutdown problems with the Saitek driver installed. And they interfere with my USB printer as well. So I don't use the pad on 98SE. I've written Saitek, because I'd like to! We'll see if they reply with anything constructive. The Sidewinder Gamepad Pro USB and the Sidewinder Gamepad 1.0 don't give me any problems. Just the Saitek stuff. I just wondered if the Me joystick drivers are copied over and if perhaps they have something to do with the problem. Funny that the Sidewinder drivers and software (3.02 and 4.0) don't mess up anything.

Same here, but it has been happening since 6-30 ver.--but when you ctrl alt del
and it trys to start in safe mode and you move to normal mode it starts in Windows
and update files. The file it skipped on you was SYSDM.CPL just go to 9me folder
and move it out to replace yours with new 98 2nd Edition title in System Properties general tab.
I thought that their was something wrong on my computer when it keeps hanging
when it rebooted into windows--I get a blank screen with the hourglass that just sits their running until you ctrl-alt-del. Once done everything is just fine.
Glad to know its not just my OS!

Thanks charly. The 6-30 one was the one I skipped. I just replaced setupx.dll myself instead with the one in the backed up 98SE folder.

But I got the same thing you did with the hourglass with this one.

I'll go ahead and copy the sysdm.cpl over, but I'm wondering if anything else is being skipped since Windows skipped that one. I think I'm okay because I've had the 98SE2ME on it for several versions so the files the new one is copying over are just replacing the same versions. But what about those who are installing 98SE2ME for the first time? I wonder if they are getting all the files or whether something is going wrong?

MDGx, something is up with this. Maybe it would help to go back to however it was installing prior to 6-30? That went smooth as silk and I never noticed anything skipped over that you set up to be copied like what's happening now.

Edit- There you go. Windows 98SE shows up after I copied the file over myself. Shouldn't have to do that though.

Edit2- Hey! Windows starts up faster now! But the desktop appears right after the splash screen, not showing the dos messages of my path statements from autoexec loading. It's like Windows Me, hiding dos from us! I'm not sure I like that. Make it go slower so I can see what's going on. (I'm tired this morning, so forgive me if that sounds demanding. Don't mean it that way. I kind've wanted it to sound stupid and funny.) But I did like watching that to make sure the right stuff was being loaded. Like a quick check.

Edit3- Oh. That fast startup only happens sometimes. I guess it's normal for the path loading to be done before the splash screen goes away every so often. I guess that's nothing.

Try this new edition, guys.
Most of the bugs should be fixed now.

Eck:
I can't reproduce the sysdm.cpl error not being copied to %windir%\system you experienced.
Maybe it happened when u interrupted the batch file operation... [?]
Please do not interrupt the batch files, even if u don't see anything on the screen, because you will experience errors, or even worse, data loss. As far as I can tell, none of those batch files will freeze your OS, their code is designed to let them complete, even if errors occur, and so far I haven't seen any errors on my PC [I just spent 2 hours testing options 1, 2 + 3 using the 7-14-2005 98S2ME edition posted below].
Let them finish, it's much easier to fix something afterwards from within Windows, and even if u can't fix something, just let me know, and I'll help u do it.
If u would like to see exactly what those files do, please open them in Notepad. They all reside into C:\9!M .
DOS blank screen upon reboot is normal, I have added "CTTY NUL" + "CTTY CON" into some of the batch code to suppress screen output. I found annoying starring at a listing of files being copied/moved/renamed/deleted.
98SE2ME cannot [even if I want to] implement the "hidden" DOS mode from WinME, because it is "hardwired" into WinME [a.k.a. MS-DOS 8.00] IO.SYS, COMMAND.COM + REGENV32.EXE, and 98SE or any other release, will lock up if u replace those files [except regenv32.exe, which doesn't even exist in 98SE].
DOS mode operation [after reboot] may seem different [eventually slower] because I have added more batch code, which means more files are moved/copied/deleted/renamed/etc around.

VWIMaster:
I was able to reproduce the "WiaMgr" thumbnail view errors u experienced, and which occurs ONLY IF u install option 3.
A Google search and an hour later, I can tell u that it is due to a bug in WinME Movie Maker [C:\Program Files\Movie Maker\MOVIEMK.EXE], a tool which is installed and can be used *only* by WinME OS [I can't add it to 98SE2ME without further research, because it is tied up into other apps/tools/DLLs, specific only to WinME OS].
The WinME only fix is to install MS hotfix Q262806 [available only from Windows Update], listed here:
http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#WME
So I removed all buggy JavaScript code from IMGVIEW.HTT, and copied it over into %windir%\WEB . Your original 1 is backed up as %windir%\WEB\IMGVIEW.HTO .
If u would like to see the IMGVIEW.HTT changes I made, please open C:\9!M\IMGVIEW.HTT into Notepad.
There was also more buggy code into imgview.htt which was tied up to scanners + digital cameras image transfer + slideshow, which is used + installed by ME, and known as WIA [Windows Image Acquisition] Manager, another tool specific only to ME OS. WIA Manager is also tied up into Movie Maker.
Note that every time u run [after u installed option 3]:
regsvr32 /s %windir%\system\webvw.dll
IMGVIEW.HTT will be overwritten with a buggy copy from within WinME vebvw.dll.
If that happens, please copy the "good" 1 from C:\9!M over to %windir%\WEB .
Note that most files from %windir%\WEB are HRS [Hidden, Read-only, System], and u need to change their attributes to remove RHS [example]:
attrib -H -R -S %windir%\WEB\*.HTT
in order to be able to overwrite them.

randiroo76073:
From now on SFC.EXE info [inside default.sfc] is updated upon next reboot with all newly installed WinME system files.

Have fun.

-uh oh... XCLONE, which is used here to make the original windows OS backup, has the same flaw as most copy/zip/backup utils: it will sometimes swap the "~1", "~2", Short File Names (SFN's) of files/dirs! (this bug even eludes it's built-in "verify destination files" function...)

-This will screw-up links (inside the Registry, too), sometimes causing instability, functional issues, errors, etc... Backups need to be reliable, always... XCLONE needs to be replaced...

[-but good luck, I've searched/tested looooong and hard, for ANY copy/zip/backup progs which DON'T have that very same flaw, and only XXCOPY and DOSLFNBK dealt with that issue properly!... (and even doslfnbk has limits: very large sub-dirs, like Plus!, X-Setup, etc, need to be done separately, or cross-linked files/errors will result]

-If you (MDGx) write the authors of XXCOPY, asking permission, they might give it, as per the documentation regarding freeware re-dist... -otherwise, the only (reliable) way I know of, is using doslfnbk along with pkzip "-n"...

>;]

R u trying to find more work 4 me? [just kidding ]

Thanks for your advice.
I actually plan [sometimes in the future when I'll find the time] to change the entire backup procedure for options 1 + 2, and avoid backing up the entire 98SE OS. Will slim it down to back up only the files that will be replaced by WinME files, plus the registry [*.DAT] files.
This will also save time + disk space.
And I'll probably use the plain DOS based COPY command [built into COMMAND.COM] to do this, and do away with xclone or other similar tools. This will also reduce the size of 98SE2ME.EXE.

I've read the xxcopy license, and I don't think the author will make an exception just to let me use it in 98SE2ME. ;(
Besides, xxcopy.exe is huge [~ 268 KB in size], and I need to think of everybody, including the people who still use dial-up/analog/56k modems.
But I'll take look at DOSLFNBK, and maybe I find a way to use it to backup the LFNs.
The good part is that I don't need to backup C:\Program Files [I never did], which would be a major pain, due to its many LFNs that would be "translated" into wrong ~1 ~2 etc SFNs.
Besides, as far as I recall, all 98SE files replaced by ME files that I need to back up have SFNs [except the few from %windir%\WEB\Wallpaper = which are now backed up before installing option 3], and that makes it so much easier to use a primitive tool like MS COPY command.

Hop this helps.

-good idea, just backing up what 98se2me replaces/changes... I always wanted to suggest that, but didn't wanna make that much more work for ya

(btw, doslfnbk's license is slightly ambiguous: first paragraph says 30-day trial, but 2nd paragraph relates to freeware re-dist:
"
You are free to distribute unmodified copies of the complete DOSLFNBK package, provided your total charge is no more than $1. The total cost of a compilation (e.g. a CD ROM) including DOSLFNBK must be no more than $1 per package in the compilation.
"
--2nd paragraph doesn't specify that u must have purchased the full license, prior to re-dist... only specifies that ya can't charge more than $1, total... hmmm.... )

...and pkzip, forget about it... maybe I looked in the wrong place, but unless I'm wrong, it mentioned OVER $1,000 for a license! sheesh... perhaps that's just a "commercial" license, not relating to freeware, dunno... but ya don't really need pkzip, anyway... just need doslfnbk... (or get one of the coders in these forums to blast up a quikie mini-replacement for xxcopy, I can already think of the simple logic for it, just not familiar with present day OS-coding...)

>;]

(btw, that latest "experimental" addition to 98se2me, is that still rated as "experimental", or is it now considered completely safe?)