This would be great. Thanks MDGx.

My System Properties comes up with Windows98SE whereas 'Run winver' (as suggested by MDGx) comes up with Windows Millenium! How come so? I have installed W98SE2ME and Gape's latest SP.

1) -MDGx, the poster asking about network speeds I believe was referring to speeds between LAN'd puters, not internet transfers, and I've wondered myself lately, because when running XP on BOTH puters, my transfers between them are very much faster, but if either puter has 98se running it's slow (have tried it w/2 diff routers, and several different network drivers)... I haven't tried it w/OS installs without 98se2me, tho, so don't know if it's 98se2me or just 98se vs. XP (which is probably the case)...
...
2) -thx for offering the additional info in future updates, appreciate it! I've noticed in the past that u also update 98se2me when appropriate, but lately didn't notice this trend (always) continuing, and your update thread's statement of "some [ME patches] have already been added to 98SE2ME" kinda made me worry that we/I might be missing some... but I'll just keep an eye on both threads, as always, and trust that all is well (I'll firmly stamp my OCD worry-instinct into the ground, lol)
...
3) -when u do occasionally remove a (troublesome) ME replacement file from 98se2me's list, how do we know where to get the latest (possibly updated) win98se file? The original OS CD/cab's file(s) may very likely be outdated, buggy, security-flawed, etc, so is there some (easy) way to find out if that particular file has been updated, and which is the latest version, without plying thru every MS official AND unofficial update package to see if that file is listed, and if so, which update contains the latest version? A VERY daunting task, indeed! -the only way I can think of, is to keep two constantly updated OS versions going: one with 98se2me, and one without, as comparison... which is kinda annoying, as well, tho much less so perhaps and undoubtably safest... any other ideas? (I of course deliberately don't mention trusting WinUpdate in this regard)

I've always noticed that internet downloads are zippier when using XP, for some reason. Whether I use TCPDoctor to manually set some of the speeds doesn't seem to make much of a difference. The broadband tests always tell me everythings looking great.

But it's just zippier on XP. I don't get it.

Don't thing it's any Service Pack or 98SE2ME relation. It's just something in XP that is better optimized for broadband.

Yes, it does get a bit confusing just knowing whether you have all the right updates. I guess we just need to do the best we can without obsessing over it. I know I'm not about to look at every stinking file to see if it's the right one. We all have better things to do.

-for several years now on broadband (comcast cable modem, 5mbps) I've always used one quick, easy tweak which has always greatly improved download/surfing speeds (often doubling the average! really!):
TCP receive window: 32120 (the middle-range setting; not the max 64k, not the low default)... I set it using the tiny simple PcPitstop "Autofix" from long ago, takes a little searching these days to find it online sometimes, but it's been absolutely reliable on every comcast-broadband puter I've worked on... quick, simple, totally reliable... -it's the only setting I mess with, since I've not seen consistency with any others on this type connection...
>;]
...
[ps: Eck: ...I don't have a life, so "...obsessing..." about insignificant, petty things is pretty much my primary hobby. ]
...
[pps: hmm, I'm really thinking about doing the "dual 98" OS thing, one w/98se2me, one without, for 3 reasons now:
1) the reason mentioned previously; see 2 posts ago;
2) it would also make a nice testbed for any potential probs w/98se2me, "ME" updates, etc...
3) ...and it wouldn't take much effort, just an additional 2 directories and the occasional extra few minutes to apply the secondary updates each time... worth it
]

A suggestion to MDGx : in your batches you could check for the DOS shell being indeed Command.com and not some replacement, lest people get into trouble; while installing a reduced SE2ME for the USB components, I got caught by such a problem with COPY /Y not understood by my shell being NDOS (a 4DOS variation). Fortunately I spotted the problem and since I'm "fluent" in DOS twas a no brainer to correct for it.

If you don't want to go to the trouble of checking that Microsoft's "command.com" is in memory and is indeed the active DOS command interpreter, a warning on the screen or at least in the documentation is needed IMHO to the effect that this batch must be run by MS command.com *only*.

Regards,

--

Ninho

It's has something to do with 98SE2ME. I noticed it imediately after installing it.
When I copy large files form a coputer with WinXP sometimes transfer starts after a long delay (~40s). During this time I noticed high CPU usage. CPU is used by the program used to copy the file (Explorer window, Total Commander, etc.). After this delay trasfer rate is OK.
If this delay does not happen, transfer starts with high speed but the speed decreases gradually after transfer starts to ~1MB/s or less for ~30s. Then, suddenly goes back to normal and everything is OK for the rest of the transfer.

PS: Sorry for my english.

After you install 98SE2ME options 1 or 2, you'll have WINVER.EXE 4.90.3000 from WinME CD into %windir%. That's why winver returns "Windows Millennium".
This is just a "cosmetic" change, will not affect the way patches/updates/fixes are installed, no matter what.
If you wish to have winver.exe display "Windows 98" [original file], just extract it from the CAB into %windir% to overwrite the one from WinME [example]:

extract /Y X:\WIN98\WIN98_47.CAB winver.exe /L %windir%

Replace X with your actual CD/DVD drive letter or with the drive letter and directory name where the Win98 SE CABs reside on your computer.

But [thank you Petr ] kernel32.dll ["Product Version" is always 4.10.2222 no matter which kernel32.dll (hot)fix is installed or not] gives the most accurate version detection for all 9x OSes. And that's usually the one that MS updates/fixes/patches/etc [most of which are built using iexpress.exe] are looking for.

Hope this helps.

1. I thought of LAN [local network] transfers, but unfortunately I can't test that kind of environment, my only connection is the 1 to the internet.

2. You won't miss any patches, because I always add them to the forum thread when I get [come up with] new/updated ones:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=46581
and I also always test all new WinME patches to make sure they work [or not] properly with 98SE2ME.
If you have run the current 98SE2ME edition [options 1 or 2] you already have the most recent ME patches installed.

3. Whenever I remove a WinME file from 98SE2ME, I always detail how to get back the original one, either by installing Gape's SP2, or the appropriate (hot)fix [if any], or by extracting the respective file(s) from the Win98 SE setup CD CAB(s).
Please see READ1ST.TXT, the "NEWS + CHANGES" section, for all such updates:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT
For example, see 2-14-2006 update to learn how to restore original Win98 SE DEVMGR32.DLL from the CAB.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for your feedback.

I've never used command.com replacements, so I can't test NDOS or 4DOS command interpreters.

But I have added [98SE2ME 3-19-2006 edition] detection code into all 98SE2ME batch files for COMSPEC and COMMAND.COM, and if none are found, then the environment will be set to the current location of command.com, accounting for all 3 possible locations: C:\ root, %windir% + %windir%\command :

Hope this helps.
____________________________________

Sorry to hear about your problem, never heard of this kind of bug.

As I said in a previous post:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?s=&showtopic=46...ndpost&p=481793
unfortunately I can't test a LAN network environment.

If anybody else in this forum can test this on a LAN, please let me know if there is any WinME file installed by 98SE2ME that slows down Win98 SE network transfers.
Many thanks.

3?s
1. Do option 8 installs as a part of 1

2. Do you use option 3 and would you recommend it.
Now i read in ur text sayin it may cauz instability etc..
But u bein tha creator in all u wud kno what is better

3. Since you updated usb should we still install Maximum-Decim Native USB Drivers

Yesterday I reinstalled 98 using a backup copy I made before installing 98SE2ME. Now I do not have 98SE2ME installed. The problem is gone and the computer with XP is exacty the same as before. In fact it was not even restarted.

There is something else I noticed:
After installing 98SE2ME, windows asks for password only once, the first time I enter a remote shared directory. Win98 without 98SE2ME asks for password after every restart when I enter the directory.
The directory on the XP computer is shared for me and is password protected. I created a user account with the same name as my Win98 login, but when I login to Win98 I do not enter a password. XP asks for my password when I access the shared directory.

Maybe this information is useful to you.

1. Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: see READ1ST.TXT under "98SE2ME.PIF COMPLETE GUIDE" section:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT

2. I do not use option 3. As you may have noticed, there are drawbacks and the UI is slower.
I like better the 98 SE UI.
But there are people who prefer the ME UI.

3. Yes, because Maximus-Decim's NUSB contains also added/modified INFs, but 98SE2ME does not [option 8 only installs *.SYS + HID UI files], so you may want to install NUSB, especially if your USB device(s) don't function properly.

Hope this helps.
_________________________________

Interesting.
Because I can't test such network environment, I have no idea if/why/which file(s) is/are responsible.

The only solution I see is to take time [if you wish] and try to replace network files one at a time, to determine which is/are the slow one(s).

About the password request change:
Can't test that either, unfortunately.
Is that a good thing [less typing], XP not asking for your 98SE password every time you access a new folder, or is that a security problem in this case?

Thanks a lot for your feedback.

will u improve option 3 in the future if u get the chance
Its has a really cool look

It's not a question of improving it, it's the way it is implemented, file dependencies, etc, which canNOT be changed, unless some1 reprograms/hexes the UI + Shell files.
And if some1 mods the files, it must be distributed as a separate package [if any], I will not add them to 98SE2ME, because 98SE2ME contains only official files from MS which can be installed by any1 with 98 SE OS + WinME CD.

An alternative is to install Tihiy's Revolution packs.
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=58357

Hope this helps.

Thanks for looking at the question, MDGX !

I believe setting the COMSPEC to point to a copy command.com will not work however : you'd need to spawn an instance of that command.com and have it exectute your batch, in addition. This may be unnecessarily complicated, what I suggested was only : /check/ the current command interpreter is MS Command.com, and if not, bail out with a polite explanation.

A first check which will immediately single out 4DOS/NDOS (but not other non MS DOS Commands, if such exist in the real world) is the following scheme :



HTH

Thanks for the suggestion.

Since then, I've updated the batch code, and also forced all command.com internal commands to "comply" with 4DOS/NDOS [presuming NDOS is similar to 4DOS] or replaced internal commands with external ones.

Please download a fresh copy of 98SE2ME.EXE [2.6 MB]:
http://www.mdgx.com/4
and install it without replacing NDOS/4DOS with command.com.
It should work ok.
Please let me know if it doesn't.

Hope this helps.

MDGx,
I have tried without success in backing out of OPTION 3, but ADD/REMOVE option 3 dosen't work.
I did a fresh install of 98se on new drive and then 98se2me option 1 with backup--then option 3
with backup. Now I tried thru control panel--ADD/Remove option 3 and it didn't work (just a quick
batch window and thats it). I also looked for explorer.98a and any other files *.98a, but their not
there. Is their a batch file I can use with new files off 98 CD to back out of explorer ME on a drive
with OS that I would like to keep. I have tried putting old files back and registering them, but system
has many glitches and seem to be unstable. These were all copies and I have the orig. one I would
like to save if I could backup on the option 3. THANKS, charly

Thanks for your feedback.
Corrected error in O3BKP.BAT.
Option 3 now backs up all files correctly.

Please download current 98SE2ME edition [2.6 MB]:
http://www.mdgx.com/4
and then install option 3 again.
Please make sure files replaced by option 3 are the original ones from Win98 SE before running 98SE2ME.
Files replaced/added by option 3:

%windir%\EXPLORER.EXE
%windir%\SYSTEM\COMDLG32.DLL
%windir%\SYSTEM\DOCPROP.DLL
%windir%\SYSTEM\FONTEXT.DLL
%windir%\SYSTEM\SHSCRAP.DLL
%windir%\SYSTEM\IESHWIZ.EXE
%windir%\SYSTEM\MYDOCS.DLL
%windir%\SYSTEM\PLUSTAB.DLL
%windir%\SYSTEM\SHELL32.DLL
%windir%\SYSTEM\WEBVW.DLL

Please note that DIMM.DLL + DOCPROP2.DLL are not found in Win98 SE setup CD CABs.
DIMM.DLL + DOCPROP2.DLL are installed into %windir%\SYSTEM by option 3 from WinME CABs.

MDGx - Can you confirm that 98se2me only pulls files from the winme cd that have not been replaced by newer versions in windows me updates??
The reason I ask is that virtually every file on the ME cd has been replaced by a newer "bug fixed" version by MS at some point in one of the WINme updates. I read thru the entire thread but didn't see a definitive answer and just thought that I would ask as I wouldn't want to use any files off the winme cd unless absolutely necessary. If your 98se2me includes the updated versions of all the ME files and just pulls "non updated" files from the cd, I am ready to install.

Is there a killer replacement for ME to 98SE, or must 98SE be absolutely installed first? If possible, I don't want to reinstall all ME program applications on 98SE2ME

MDGx,
When installing option 3 it now dosen't ask for backup so no 98a files are created--option 2 does ask for backup. I installed option 2 with backup then option 3 on clean install of 98se/fresh drive and wasn't ask for backup on 3 so no backup files for 3 were created just 2.
Hope this helps the find problem.

-hi MDGX, sry this isn't related to 98se2me, but I wanted you to know to update your main site links:

AIM AD HACK HAS SOLD OUT TO AOL!

-yup, as of today, 4-1-2006, we lost "one of our own"... sigh
...the Ad Hack site posts a "legal message"... check it out...

-so, your helpful links to that site should be updated, perhaps to MajorGeeks' download of
Aim Ad Hack 5.0 beta 20 (I think that may be the latest (LAST!) one made...)

again, sry to go off-topic here... (also just had to VENT this surprise discovery to SOMEONE...)


-----------------------------------------------------------



-There are ways to kill-off the "bad" stuff inside ME, other regular posters here will have more details about that... apparently, it works quite well... try searching these forums for details, or wait a bit, I'm sure they'll post about it here, again, too...
>;]


-yup, he includes the updated files, often updating this project soon after the updated files are available...
...feel safe... it's all good...
>;]

I found that after the second time of settin them you don't have to set them anymore.
Just in case you change your mind.

Have you ever consider replacing Character Map with Extended Character Map.
I got it from your site.I aware of its existence others may not be.

989SE2ME's sole purpose is to replace 98 SE files with ME files. Please see READ1ST.TXT [the FAQ section] for more details:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT
That's why 98SE2ME does not replace Windows files with XP or 3rd party tools.
Extended character map is a 3rd party tool, which abides by the author's copyright license [whichever that is].
98SE2ME uses very carefully a few free(ware) tools, and only to help with install issues.
The only exception is Notepad, replaced by PFE32. That's because I consider MS Notepad useless as a text editor/viewer tool, and must be replaced by something better that can open files larger than 64 KB.

If I [ever] find the time to write + post unattended scripts to replace XP files [something like 98SE2XP], then I will add the GameZone files to it.

Hope this helps.
______________________________________

I believe your questions are answered in READ1ST.TXT:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT

Hope this helps.
______________________________________

Is there a chance that that was an April 1st fools prank?
Please see AIM Ad Hack web site [as of 4-3-2006]:
http://aftermath.dyndns.org:8888/~aimadhack/
or:
http://aimadhack.webhop.net/

Hope this helps.

Please post all non-related 98SE2ME issues here:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showforum=8
Thanks.

After installing 98SE2ME on my Dutch Win98SE (yes, I changed the CAB files), everything still works. Okay, everything except my sound card...

It gives the following error:



(or something like that)

It is a VIA Vinyl (details needed?) on-board sound card, installed with 98SE drivers. Updating the driver does not help, as it IS the latest version. Also re-installing the driver does not help.

Could someone help?

Greets,

Bas

EDIT: Okay, fixed it by manually specifying the location of the drivers, and choosing the VXD drivers, instead of the WDM drivers.

-aimadhack: yup, thought it might be april fools joke, but was scared anyway... lol... these days, ya just never know who's gonna sell-out... (or get legally forced-out)
>;]
...
(-and thx for the off-topic-redirection, I see some interesting stuff there already...)

True.
Glad it was only a joke.

oh MDGx. Fred Langa of Langa.com site has written an article that mentions about your 98SE2ME pack.
here's the link to that article:

http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2006/2006-03-27.htm#3

What does this mean - do I delete old *.inf and replace with the new *me.inf since they are the newer files and this update was to install the new *.inf -- ONLY IF THAT FILE WAS NOT ON DRIVE even if it was older?
THANKS, Charlie

That means the newer INFs from WinME CABs will be installed into %windir%\INF side by side with the existing ones you already have, nothing is deleted, and if you already have INFs with same names, they will be renamed with *ME.INF, e.g.:
HIDDEV.INF => if this INF is already present in %windir%\INF it will be renamed to HIDDEVME.INF and then will be copied to %windir%\INF after reboot.
This way you will have both, because Win98SE INFs may have vendor IDs that may have been removed from WinME INFs [or the other way around].
And when you install a new USB/WDM/FireWire device, Windows Hardware Wizard will search *all* INFs from %windir%\INF for specific vendor IDs.

Hope this helps.

The 98SE2ME work on Windows 98 SE Spanish??

The 1st post [top] of the 98SE2ME forum:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=46349
has your answer:For more details please see READ1ST.TXT:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT
Even more details:
http://www.mdgx.com/98-5.htm#KRM9S

If you wish to mod/adapt/tweak + recompile 98SE2ME for any language other than English, please see INNOFILE.TXT:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/INNOFILE.ZIP

Hope this helps.

Does the Windows Automatic Updating from Win ME work on Win98.
I think its better. If so can you add it and Upnp if possible
BTW I"m using WIN ME for testin if any one need a guinea pig.

As far as I can recall WU from WinME didn't work on my Win98 SE computer.

But please feel free to try this on your computer.
All you need is a WinME CD or CABs.
Then run this batch file [example]:Replace D:\WIN9X with your own drive + folder where the WinME CABs reside if different.

If this doesn't work, you can always restore original WU*.* files from C:\BKPWIN98 + C:\BKPWIN98\SYSTEM [see above].

Hope this helps.

no, PROBLEMCHYLD. Automatic Updates NEVER works under Win98. The ACTUAL Windows Update site does NOT allow automatic updating under ALL 98 systems. Automatic Updates only work under Win2000 SP3/SP4, WinME, XP & 2003.

It's up to microsoft to redo their windows update site to make automatic updates work for other versions of windows.

about UPNP under Win98. copy the netsetup.exe file from the \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ folder onto a floppy disk. Put the FD into a Win98 machine and run the netsetup.exe file, which will install some UPNP files onto Win98.

But maybe its good it doesn't work,cause the Windows Automatic Updating could also make problems on installing updates automatically.
Like with Windows XP and the update from ms06-015 when you remember what happened at many users systems afterward.

? If i'm usin 98SE2ME should i use Upnp from WinME or Win98.
& would it b a problem 2 add DeskMenu from win95 powertoys Its really useful.I ask becuz I like things
2 be unattended so i don't screw up anything.Can u consider it please?.

I presume you are referring to this update:
* Microsoft Windows ME + ICS UPnP Unchecked Buffer System Compromise SSDPAPI.DLL, UPNP.DLL + SSDPSRV.EXE build 4.90.3003 Security Vulnerability Fix:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/...n/ms01-059.mspx
Direct download [223 KB, English]:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/win.../314757USAM.EXE
More info:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=314757

I have never tried UPnP on Win98 SE.
IMO the WinME UPnP files may depend on some other WinME core/kernel/system files, so it's hard to say [without experimenting] if this will work or not.
If you intend to try it, make sure you make a full backup of your Win98 SE OS first.
98SE2ME has a shortcut [which doesn't require to run 98SE2ME.PIF] just for that purpose under:
- Start button -> Programs -> 98SE2ME -> run "BACKUP Original Windows 98 SE SE OS" shortcut.
OR:
- (Double)-click on C:\9!M\CLONE98.PIF .
See "BACKUP + RESTORE WINDOWS 98 SE" chapter in READ1ST.TXT for more details:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT
You may need to download 98SE2ME.EXE again to get all these "new features":
http://www.mdgx.com/4

If UPnP works in 98SE, please post here your findings/bugs/fixes/guides/etc.
Thanks.

Good luck.

I need to know if program 98SE2ME is used for Win98_Español, or if an application for Spanish exists.

rjveral@hotmail.com

Actually automatic updates [WU ActiveX detection + file installation] works ok on my Win98 SE computer and on another PC I know of.
To my knowledge any Win98 SE PC that is properly configured can access and benefit from automatic WU.
WU doesn't work with Win98 FE or older.
The only time it didn't work on my PC, was after I installed newest URLMON.DLL from Q912812 [MS06-013].
After I reinstalled older URLMON.DLL from Q905915 [MS05-054], WU started to work again.
The new registry settings added by MS06-013 patch [even if removed] didn't make any difference.
More details on this bug here:
http://www.mdgx.com/ietoy.htm#IEC

P.S.:
According to an e-mail report I have received recently, it seems that newest URLMON.DLL also screws up MS Office Update [OU] web site ActiveX detection [under Win98 SE OS]:
http://office.microsoft.com/officeupdate/maincatalog.aspx
I don't have any MS Office editions installed, so I can't actually test this.

Hope this helps.

Please see this post:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?s=&showtopic=46...ndpost&p=497317

With the Kernel Update Project installed
will that help improve some of the functions in option 3
or is option 3 not needed if 1 have the Kernel Update Project
installed.

I haven't "played around" with the KernelXP project, therefore I don't know.
But please feel free to experiment [backup 1st] and then post here your findings.

Thanks.
______________________________________

Edit:

On a second thought, KernelXP has nothing to do with 98SE2ME option 3.
KernelXP brings NTx specific APIs to 9x OSes.
98SE2ME option 3 installs UI, Explorer, Shell, Dialog, Folders, Web Browser, Fonts, Effects, Documents, Scrap + Network Drives Integration Controls, OLE DLLs + APIs from WinME setup CD, and as you may already know, WinME doesn't have any NTx APIs that Win98 SE can't handle.
That's because WinME is just another 9x OS, and to my knowledge has no NTx specific APIs, except very primitive NT kernel APIs built into NTDLL.DLL, necessary to handle very basic functions.

The only thing I know MS added to WinME that was "borrowed" from Win2000, was the WDM driver model [*.SYS instead of *.VXD]. But Win98 SE also has some WDM support, so it can handle WinME drivers ok without any help from KernelXP. Please see 98SE2ME option 8:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT

As far as I know, the purpose of KernelXP is to allow NTx specific apps/games/tools, otherwise impossible to install/run on 98SE, to work under Win98SE [and probably WinME].
Please see KernelXP forum:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=71476

Hope this helps.

-yup, AutoUpdate works fine on my friend's ancient Evil Compaq Presario 5461 w/w98se...

Is it possible 2 add the configured settings 2 98SE2ME for Auto Updating, if not can u give
me the instructions on how 2 do it.

-I should have elaborated further: my friend's w98se doesn't have 98se2me on it, so the working AutoUpdate is from win98se, not ME's... and since we're currently not talking ( ), I can't test/verify 98se2me/ME AutoUpdate on it just now... but if I can find the time I'll experiment on my own sys, see what works.
(But I do know it didn't take any special settings/config/tweaks; she's certainly no rocket scientist , just a std. w98se w/IE6)

Please see this post:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?s=&showtopic=46...ndpost&p=497334
That is all I've done so far.
If you wish to add the WinME WU files to 98SE2ME, please open the BAT + INF files from C:\9!M into Notepad and modify/add/remove whatever you want to make WU from WinME work with 98 SE.
Experimenting is good.
Then you must have Inno Setup [see INNOFILE.TXT] to recompile the installer, and for that you need to modify INNOSET.BAT [as described in INNOFILE.TXT to match your own paths for all files listed there] and then run it.
To modify INNOSET.BAT you need to open it in Notepad.

All these files are found after you install 98SE2ME in C:\9!M .

Hope this helps.

Suggestion
Why don't u change the start banner to read
98SE2ME Killer Replacements
I think it would be cool somethin like a signature thing.

Please specify which start banner, eventually post a GIF screenshot.
Are you referring to the Inno Setup BMP [C:\9!M\98LG.BMP] when you 1st run the 98SE2ME.EXE installer?
98LG.BMP can be seen here:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/#1

If this is the screen you are referring to, do you have ideas what to replace it with?

Thanks.