Dear MDGx

Great Success in this proj. what about silent update for advance user like /q /n in 98setoMe in dos/windows mode.

and kindly post here a full proof proj. just like the one u posted on 15/05/05 with info that it's most tested one so someone can rely better that the beta version i think u like the idea so that u can name it as beta ver for tester.

what about adding xp component i am still waiting for that. 98MEXP Edition.


by4now.

WWW.MDGX.COM

Best Site for All Microsoft Operating System All Latest Updates Patches is There even LINUX tutorials and u dont like GAMES

Best ever Explorer Firefox

MSFN ENJOY !!!

THANKS to all LOVEING people for there sweet suggestions to improve this mission.

Sorry, but I'm afraid this is not currently possible, because the 98SE2ME installer as it is today, is made up of 2 parts:
1. the part that installs in C:\9!M = does not make any changes to your 98SE OS.
This part is compiled with Inno Setup installer:
http://www.jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php
2. the part that installs the WinME system files = does make changes to your 98SE OS.
This part is made up of a bunch of batch, INF + REG files, all of which run from within 98SE2ME.PIF.
Because of this structure, it is not possible to run unattended with /C /Q /T:<path> etc switches, which are specific only to installer executables compiled with MS iexpress/cab sdk and similar tools.
Maybe in the future, and/if/when I have time, I'll redesign the entire installer from scratch using Iexpress or similar tools. And if/when I'll do this, I'll post it all here.

About "fool proof" 98SE2ME:
obviously that is very hard to achieve, because 98SE2ME replaces too many files from the WinME CD [~ 710 as of current release], not to create any bugs, errors, minor annoyances, incompatibilities etc.
So unfortunately there is always a "trade-off" and error margin we need to account for.
But, I can tell you that most major bugs have been squashed as far as I'm aware.
Please read the "KNOWN BUGS + FIXES" chapter in READ1ST.TXT for details:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT

About 98SE2XP:
I'm now experimenting with 2003 SP1, so I think these 2 should be treated as 1 from the point of view of creating install scripts.
As soon as I'm sure all these system files work ok, I'll post some scripts here + at my site, and will let everybody know.
Untill then, you can cut + paste my scripts from:
http://www.mdgx.com/98-5.htm#KRM9S
if u wish to install XP SP2 components [not available separately as installers] on your computer.
Similarly, u can d/l 2003 SP1 [330 MB ]:
http://www.mdgx.com/ws3toy.htm#SP1
and then modify the XP SP2 scripts at URL above to extract + copy these files from 2003 SP1 to:

- %windir% :

HH.EXE

- %windir%\SYSTEM :

HHCTRL.OCX
HHSETUP.DLL
ITIRCL.DLL
ITSS.DLL
MSHTML.TLB
MSHTMLED.DLL
MSHTMLER.DLL
RICHED20.DLL
USP10.DLL

- %windir%\FONTS :

ARIAL.TTF
ARIALBD.TTF
ARIALBI.TTF
ARIALI.TTF
COUR.TTF
COURBD.TTF
COURBI.TTF
COURI.TTF
GEORGIA.TTF
GEORGIAB.TTF
GEORGIAI.TTF
GEORGIAZ.TTF
MICROSS.TTF
TAHOMA.TTF
TAHOMABD.TTF
TIMES.TTF
TIMESBD.TTF
TIMESBI.TTF
TIMESI.TTF
VERDANA.TTF
VERDANAB.TTF
VERDANAI.TTF
VERDANAZ.TTF

HTML Help files above can also be installed separately:
http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#HHU
or as part of Gape's SP 2.0.1:
http://exuberant.ms11.net/98sesp.html

Also, if you're wondering what actual files I'm going to include inside 98SE2XP/98SE22K3 installers, I need to tell you that I'm not going to add any files from XP SP2 or 2003 SP1, but only the scripts which will allow you to download these service packs, a dos console command line tool which will extract the files to a temp folder, a couple of DOS detection tools to make sure they can't be installed on anything else except 98SE [see the 98SE2ME free DOS tools I'm using], and that's it.

Note that all these files are from the English releases, and are meant *only* for the English release.
I'm not familiar with any other language releases, so I don't know which files work or which don't.

Hope this helps.

Dear MDGx

Thanks for u'r well explained answer.

As u mentioned in http://www.mdgx.com/98-5.htm#KRM9S



FIRST install the "WINDOWS 98 SECOND EDITION (SE) ESSENTIAL FREE UPGRADES + FIXES" AND the Unofficial Windows 98 SE Service Pack (SP) 2.0.1 [15.5 MB, English, free], and ONLY AFTER that replace Win98 SE system files with the ones from WinME listed below!

Is unofficial SP2.0.1 dosenot contain all updated so we still require
"WINDOWS 98 SECOND EDITION (SE) ESSENTIAL FREE UPGRADES + FIXES"
before killer replacement.

i have found these updates if u like i can send it's around 50 files 58MB

273991_A3D4C8D71DDD5905F41EF36B5BB3E07C73C1EAE6[1].EXE
323172_98_8C18CC16D21737816C36ABE51EB16E21A190BEB5[1].EXE
323255_W98_edcf77d7d30b955b4b251552ee51748[1].EXE
329115_W98_E99E3479AB8198E03FE5A107BDBBC962BC6C333E[1].EXE
811630_W98_CF47941DB1D6B7747FE9FB7EEA966E0198E88326[1].EXE
823559USA8.EXE
823559USA8_0e714506b380e4be11ff07b31da9da9[1].EXE
DirectX9-KB819696-x86-ENU.exe
DirectX9-KB819696-x86-ENU_977f8cc86c1e151a0168d1296210913[1].exe
JS56MEN.EXE
JS56_15B3577990DA7650A1E79DCAA51851CD0E041639[1].EXE
MPSetup.exe
Q320920.EXE
Q330994.EXE
Q824145.EXE
Q832894_a56d1a98d775e1031c72934a0baa9d7[1].exe
WindowsMedia71-KB817787-x86-ENU_d7d598b87d35de7e883e07a6b786c8f[1].exe
273991USAM.EXE
msjavwu_8073687b82d41db93f4c2a04af2b34d[1].exe
q313829.exe
q313829_5EEDD33FA704078BE5873EFA6E8C3D62B82C2EFF[1].exe
q316059.exe
q329414_mdacall_x86.exe
q329414_mdacall_x86_6455F9E15D1FD876A354AC196BCE848B4EA39180[1].exe
259728_1F6BE1EC0FCD72AB4A8D0FBB4E6A82918E888392[1].EXE
q824145_76dd839870a655458701c0b937b91d6[1].exe
q824150.exe
q827667.exe
scr56en.exe
vbrun60sp5.exe
wm320920_64.exe
wm320920_71_24C932549D7BCFAB6954D52590DB7C146A42E8BB[1].exe
256015_A570D63F5E6B4F80CC852D2C802AC7D14B32614F[1].EXE
245729US8_4D1A7A9CD3703E514D051595BB16A3BC69A0ABE8[1].EXE
238453US8_CFED25E588C85FDF548557F04A09892055011D7C[1].EXE
WindowsMedia9-KB819639-x86-ENU_bfd620da8e1529c3e4ffadfb93f33fa[1].exe
190656_98UP.EXE
216641up.exe
220460_98up.exe
240075UP.EXE
241134usa8.exe
242975USA8.EXE
243450USA8.EXE
256015USA8.EXE
263044USA8.EXE
4756US8.EXE
811630USA8.EXE
dun14-98.exe
310695usam.exe
wucsp.exe
y2k.exe
273991USA8.EXE
98ZAK.EXE
q330994_257f5a9aeead109bc4c764ae1b5b00f[1].exe

is it sufficient before installing sp2.0.1 and 98se2me.

thanks and bye

MSFN ENJOY!!!

About your RASPPPOE problem, try this:
After installing 98SE2ME, replace these files from %windir%\SYSTEM :
Replace these files in small groups, for example start with:

NDSWAN16.DLL
NDSWAN32.DLL

if that doesn't work, then replace:

RASAPI16.DLL
RASAPI32.DLL

if that doesn't work, then replace:

RNAUI.DLL

and only after that:

NETAPI.DLL
NETAPI32.DLL
NETDI.DLL
NETOS.DLL

Reboot normal back into Windows.
See if that fixes your DSL modem problem, and then please post here your findings.
If that is the case, and those files are the "culprit", please let me know so I can remove them from 98SE2ME.

About links to "my documents", "my networks places", "my computer" not working after installing option 3: I need more details:
what language is your OS?


[/quote]

Hello MDGx,
thank you very much for your reply.

I replaced the files you said, under pure DOS, but the problem continues.
I'm sending a few screen captures for you.
My OS is Win98SE English version + SP2.0 + 98SE2ME
Tihiy package NOT installed.

Thank you.

Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment

reguerra:
I have received this feedback from a concerned 98SE2ME user who tested his ADSL modem in a similar environment, with 98SE2ME option 1 or 2 installed [they both install exactly the same ME files], and his conclusion is...

98SE2ME option 3 files have nothing to do with the internet/network connection, because installs only UI + Shell controls [quoted from READ1ST.TXT]:

Exception:
NETPLWIZ.DLL = only maps remote drives/UNC addresses as local drive letters.

Please try to reset/reconfigure/reinstall/repair TCP/IP protocols + Client for MS Networks, and see if it works. These may help:
Winsock/TCP/IP (DUN/RAS) + Layered Service Provider (LSP) 32-bit repair tools (freeware):
http://www.careyholzman.com/netfixes.htm
- WinsockXPFix for Windows 9x/2000/ME/XP:
http://www.iup.edu/house/resnet/winfix.shtm
Direct download [1.34 MB]:
http://www.iup.edu/house/resnet/WinsockXPFix.exe
- SockFix for Windows 9x/ME:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
Direct download [33 KB]:
http://digital-solutions.co.uk/lavasoft/whndnfix.zip
- Winsock2 Fix for Windows 98/ME:
http://www.bu.edu/pcsc/internetaccess/winsock2fix.html
Direct download [60 KB]:
http://www.bu.edu/pcsc/internetaccess/w2fix.exe
- LSP-Fix for Windows 9x/NT4/2000/ME/XP/2003:
http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm
Direct download [179 KB]:
http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.zip

Unfortunately I can't test your environment because I don't have a DSL modem.

Hope this helps.

-reguerra: let us know if and how that ADSL/network prob gets resolved, I have a friend who could REALLY benefit from 98se2me...
>;]

You don't need to wait for reguerra to do this.
You [or your friend] can always install 98SE2ME on your friend's computer, because it backs up the entire OS into C:\W98SEOLD , where the original OS can be always restored from, just in case.
Just allow 98SE2ME to create a new backup when u run option 1 or option 2 [those are the only options that need full backup].

Hope this helps.

-true; I just thought, if Reguerra is already working this out, why duplicate the effort? Just wait and see what he comes up with, take it from there... But if he takes too long, I will give it a shot, too...

roger that

-uh oh, looks like broken link for 98se2me download, MDGx.....

-I'll try it on another puter, to make sure, but both browsers here failed...

Sorry for your trouble.
I just tried it and works ok.
My web provider might have had problems at the time when u tried.
Please try again at a later time.
98SE2ME [2 MB]:
http://www.mdgx.com/4

Hope this helps.

Hi, a quick question for MDGx if I may...

I have just done a comparison between your current list of ME files known to work with 98SE with the list you had on your site from about a year ago, and was surprised to see some omissions:

C:\Windows :
GRPCONV.EXE
HIMEM.SYS
IFSHLP.SYS

C:\Windows\System :
DESK.CPL
POWERCFG.CPL
DOCPROP.DLL
DSKMAINT.DLL
FONTEXT.DLL
MFC42.DLL
MSAB32.DLL
MSASN1.DLL
MSNSSPC.DLL
MSVCIRT.DLL
SNMPAPI.DLL
REGSVR32.EXE
FIOLOG.VXD
MSSP.VXD

C:\Windows\System32\Drivers :
JPEGIM32.FLT

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Grphflt :
JPEGIM32.FLT

C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Ole Db :
MSDATL2.DLL

Not many, but I guess some problems were found with these and they were left out of the updated list?

Thanks,
PJ

Hi PJ,

I believe most of these files + explanations why I removed them are listed in READ1ST.TXT:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT
under the "NEWS + CHANGES" chapter [it's a long read thou ].
READ1ST.TXT also installs into the C:\9!M folder as part of 98SE2ME.EXE [2 MB]:
http://www.mdgx.com/4

The only files that are not listed in READ1ST.TXT are:
GRPCONV.EXE = In 98SE2ME I'm using the one from MS IE 6.0 SP1, it's the same build but newer date stamp. If u install 98SE2ME, you'll find it into the C:\9!M folder.
HIMEM.SYS + IFSHLP.SYS = these are identical with the ones from 98SE setup CD.
JPEGIM32.FLT = much newer build [from MS Office 2003] is installed by MS Paint Add-on Import + Export Graphic Filters Plugins Pack:
http://www.mdgx.com/add.htm#PNT

Hope this helps.

Doh! So thats what its for !
Once I get out of work, I can read it (no websense blocking)
Thx!

MDGx,

Hi. I set up my old SiS5598 board and found that my D-Link DCM202 Cable Modem has a problem with the USB drivers with the 98SE2ME installed.

With no driver installed previously, Windows will not find a driver for it when directed to the folder with the USB driver.

With the driver previously installed and working, the driver will show that it could not be started after 98SE2ME is installed. When updating the driver, it finds the files (one of which it asks for and I direct it to the folder with the files). When it asks if I should let it keep the newer (Me) versions I tell it to keep the newer versions, it asks to reboot, and it reboots to an unstarted driver same as before. If I tell it to replace the files with the older (98SE) ones, the same startup with an unstarted driver. No difference, except when I did that and it didn't work I removed the device and reinstalled 98SE2ME so I would have all the newer files back (just in case).

I'm writing now because I removed the 98SE2ME (not the program, the actual 98SE Windows files restored with the restor.bat), plugged in the USB modem again and it works perfectly. I guess that's because all the files in the Windows directory are now as they were before installing 98SE2ME.

Why doesn't the driver work with the Me files? You can see what they are, and take a look at the inf as well, by downloading it from the support area for the DCM-202 Cable Modem on the d-link.com website. It's the USB driver. The one posted is the same one as on the cd, but I used the downloaded one this time. I didn't want to wonder whether it was a problem with getting the driver files to transfer from the cd-rom drive. I extracted them all to a folder and at least that's one potential bug I know is not the problem.

If you look at the inf and the files, do you think you can figure out why the newer OS files that Me has somehow don't let the driver work?

MGDx,

What procedure do you use in 98SE2ME to backup/restore windows?

Is is a batch file? If so, what does it look like?

I want to do some hardware benchmarking on a windows 98SE system and I want to have an easy way to go back to a "clean slate" after installing and benchmarking each hardware device.

I think the Microsoft Police have kidnapped MDGx. They want to keep him locked away for two reasons. First, to stop him from making 9x so bug free and updated. The WMP10 installation batch file was the last straw. Second, they need him around to tell them how to get one guy to fix bugs in a day, when it's been taking a mult-billion dollar company months or years to patch up some stuff.

Free MDGx!

Hi,

Sorry about the delay, been a lil busy lately.

Please try to replace these files [they all go into %windir%\SYSTEM] from native MS-DOS outside Windows:

SETUP4.DLL
SETUPAPI.DLL
SETUPX.DLL

If that doesn't work, replace these:

CFGMGR32.DLL
CFGWIZ.DLL
FINSTALL.DLL

If that doesn't work, replace these:

MSNET32.DLL
MSPP32.DLL
MSTCP.DLL

If that doesn't work, replace these:

NETAPI.DLL
NETAPI32.DLL
NETDI.DLL
NETOS.DLL

If that doesn't work, replace these:

NDSWAN16.DLL
NDSWAN32.DLL
RASAPI16.DLL
RASAPI32.DLL
RNAUI.DLL

Please let me know of results, and if it works, which exact files fixed your problem.

Hope this helps.

The 98SE2ME backup/restore procedure is explained in READ1ST.TXT [78 KB]:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT
which is also part of 98SE2ME [2 MB]:
http://www.mdgx.com/4
Please see these chapters for complete details:
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
FAQ
98SE2ME.PIF COMPLETE GUIDE

Backup is only automatic:
must be run from within 98SE2ME.BAT options 1 + 2 [u have the choice not to back up].
Restore is only manual:
must be run by user from 98RESTOR.BAT.
This is the entire system backup/restore function.
Options 3 + 6 have separate backup/restore functions [only replaced fiels are backed up]:
restore must be run from Control Panel -> Add/Remove programs.

Hope this helps.

yes i heard mdgx was recruited by apple to built the 9xmesp2.x

So, I boot into Command Prompt Only or an unfetterred Ms-Dos Mode and copy the files from the system backup made by 98SE2ME to the System folder, right? And when dos asks to overwrite the existing newer files (if Dos even mentions or knows they're newer), I say okay or Y (whatever it asks for)?

I'm just so used to the GUI!

The thing's running fine with what was left after undoing 98SE2ME. I almost hate to mess with it. Of course I'll let you know as soon as I do so you can not replace whichever files are needed for the use of at least this USB modem's drivers.

I noticed first hand that some things are left updated when restoring 98SE's original files. Interesting. I hadn't read the readme for several versions of 98SE2ME but was still surprised to see the new MSCONFIG still here, as I had never ran the restore before. I don't understand why the new version is better for 98SE. If we're still using autoexec.bat and config.sys then why is it better to have an MSCONFIG that will prompt just once that it noticed the Path line there in the autoexec so it will move it to the registry. Then it won't notice any other change after the initial check. And it leaves out access to those files there. The old version lets folks edit them within itself instead of in the original files or Sysedit (though I never did. I never liked looking at stuff like "user edit" and "restore" there). But, really, it seems that the new one is made for WinMe where the config files aren't used and the environmental variables really are in the registry. As far as I can tell, whatever is in my autoexec and config files are the commands that are active, and not what the new MSCONFIG has entered in the registry as environmental variables.

I don't know. It's late and tomorrow is another day. Perhaps I'll mess with it then.

Geez, that old Riptide soundcard/modem sure plays my mp3's nice with my headphones. I wish the megabucks Audigy 2 ZS and M-Audio Revolution 7.1 sounded this good! I do need to use the EQ in WMP (no bass or treble with the Riptide), but once it's the way I like it it's all so much more of a balanced sound than any of those advanced soundcards. Of course, with this weak 366MHz AMD K6-2 processor that's all I can do at one time. The KT7A with 1.2GHz was, of course, somewhat better but the music still skipped when browsing. No internet browsing while listening to music or this machine slows to a crawl. It didn't do that with a dial-up connection, but broadband doesn't agree with it. The music will skip and browsing is impossible. But, just playing WMP is great (gotta turn off the visualizations, possibly because of the always connected internet. They don't move. They did when I used just the Riptide's modem and dial-up). The speaker out is powered, so it's like a built-in headphone amp too! The card and drivers are definately not up to snuff for the modern age with multi-speakers and the bandwidth demands of broadband internet. But it plays music cleaner than any modern card I've used (and I've used way too many of them -love music and soundcards). And it plays dos games in Windows and Dos-Mode (and doesn't need emm386 loaded like the SBLive does, though most of the time I use an exit to dos pif that uses that but also have one for stuff like Ultima where I can leave it out and it works). The dosgames that will run in Windows run with my autoexec and config files clean of anything except my path statement and that ZoneAlarm thing. Bass, highs, mid, it's all there! How come modern cards don't sound this good?

Okay, since I'm just playin' with this box I'm going to see if I can find out what causes the problem.

First I'll disable the cable modem device in Device Manager and turn off ZoneAlarm from running at startup and reinstall the 98SE Service Pack to be sure most is the same as before. I also now have McAfee VirusScan 7.03 added to the equation. I'll use the control panel to stop it from running at startup and hopefully that's enough. I have no idea how it's going to react to the OS system file changes though. I need to use the 7.03 version on this old box because the new one I subscribe to slows this old box to a crawl so it's useless. The older, better designed way of VirusScan doesn't do that. I do turn off all logging so that alogserv thing doesn't run.

Then I'll install 98SE2ME.

When the modem can't be reenabled, I'll start replacing files in the order you instructed. I assume that when one set doesn't solve it, you want me to put back the files from 98SE2ME that I had replaced with the backed up older ones and then proceed to replace the next set of files with the older ones. Otherwise I'll be stuck with the older files when the new Me ones are fine! So I'll need to backup the said Me files before I overwrite them with the original 98SE ones.

Ya know, every so often I'm getting a system crash and when I reboot the HP 3970 Scanner doesn't reset itself at the Windows splash and Windows then installs an Unknown Driver for it. To fix, I need to remove the Unknown Driver, unplug the scanner's USB from the computer, shut down, unplug the scanner's power, replug it and the USB connector and upon reboot the scanner driver is back but I need to reboot one more time for the scanner to properly reset itself at the Windows splash again. The scanner is brand new. I have installed it on my main box with XP (the A7V880), but hadn't had it installed for long before I unhooked that machine and started playing with this old thing. So I really don't know whether the scanner is a lemon, my 350Watt power supply on this box can't handle the thing, the known problematic SiS 7001 USB Controller on this board is losing things, the new updated files have a problem with this scanner, you name it. Or, my power strip has every outlet being used. Perhaps the thing gets overloaded and turns off the scanner's outlet. To find out I'd need to at least use my super duper computer for a while to see if everything stays normal. I would suspect the power strip but that may be fine, since Windows is detecting a device there, where if there was no power then this scanner is not detected even if pluged in. Okay, so I decided it's not that. I highly suspect the SiS7001 USB Controller as the culprit. Plus, the fact that the board has only USB 1.0 ports, not 1.1. Hmmm, perhaps 1.0 just wasn't completely stable, eh?

Okay, I'm a gonna get to work now. If I fubar Windows completely with this I'm just going to give up. I'm already missing my speedy box! Hopefully I'll figure out the needed files for you so you can patch up 98SE2ME so it lets drivers like this modem's run properly. Don't know what's gonna happen though!

I'll post back whatever occurs to let you know.

Ha! (Thank you Chris Matthews for the Ha!) OMG it F'n works!

Okay. The only files that needed to be replaced by the older 98SE backed up files were the set with NETAPI, NETAPI32, NETDI, and NETOS dll's. The sets before that didn't work so I returned the Me files to the System folder.

So, whatever those 98SE versions do is not done properly on 98SE by the Me updated versions.

I did have to update the driver. For each set I updated the driver and at the end of the update it would say I needed to reboot. Then I would boot up to the same unstarted situation. However, the last time with this set of files, it did not ask to reboot. But I needed to so the driver would work. I was pleased to see the modem lights return. The exact message in the Device Manager properties tab for the unworking DCM-202 USB Modem was: "The NDIS.VXD, NTKERN.VXD device loader(s) for this device could not load the device driver. (Code 2) To fix this, click Update Driver to update the device driver."

What does this mean for 98SE2ME? Would not updating these files in 98SE2ME adversly effect anything else? I'm sure if the Me files effected my USB Cable Modem driver this way then other folks would run into the problem as well.

Now, if I could figure out why sometimes when clicking "Add" to add files to a multi-session cdr with Nero 6 Express turns the display off and I need to either ctrl-alt-delete 2x to reboot, or if that doesn't work then reset the tower. And although previously this had made Windows turn my scanner into an Unknown Device, the last time it did not lose a thing. And then Nero worked properly. I was adding the folders BKUP (with the 98SE versions of the dll files) and BKUPME (with the 98SE2ME versions). I wanted to make sure I had them on a cd just in case. (Although that wouldn't have helped in Command Prompt Only Mode, I would have been able to use my Ms-Dos Game Mode shortcut with the cd driver on it if Windows had some problem. I don't know, I thought it best to be prepared.)

Well, it was fun to discover that my HP Recovery Disc worked on my generic Asus SPAX-M motherboard with an HP bios that reads for a Pavilion 4440. My discs came with my first computer, a Pavilion 4430. Apparently the software for both models is the same. The 4440 simply came with a 333MHz K6-2 and 64MB SDRAM whereas my 4430 came with a 300MHz K6-2 and 32MB SDRAM. I'm using a 366 with 256MB Crucial SDRAM now, and a Jaton Video 118 G-Force2 MX400 32MB PCI. I also have a Lite-on DVD-ROM, CDRW Combo drive. PowerDVD 3.0 is the latest that will play DVD's semi-okay. Heh, it struggles to get the video to match up with the lips synch and never really gets it. This MB just can't cope. Everest puts the memory latency at over 700ms! Far worse than anything else on its chart.

I do uninstall nearly everything on the HP disc, but it was fun to see some of the old stuff. And I have a 98SE updates (the $20 thing) cd so that's how I make it 98SE. The HP disc comes with 98Gold. I now have my original computer and 2 Asus SPAX-M boards and also 2 366MHz AMD processors. I mean, the stuff was so cheap (except for the new memory) that I couldn't resist.

Now, I do have a question regarding the HD size. I noticed that the Bios reports my Western Digital 80GB HD as 65,535MB. However, using the updated FDISK Windows does detect the entire drive. To try to negate possible file corruption I only partitioned the whole thing the first time just to see what would happen. I now only have 64,400MB partitioned as a single Fat32 formatted partition. I leave the rest unpartitioned. I'm using the last Bios HP provided for these boards, the Puma 2 1.04 Bios of January 1999. I have a feeling, since it is a Pheonix Bios, it is using that Phoenix workaround instead of Int13. So that's why until the 98SE Service Pack was installed I was getting extremly sluggish file copying whether within the folders on the HD or from CD to HD. It would copy some files, then wait for the HD to catch up, then copy some more. I was like when I used to use GoBack. The system would wait until the HD stopped working before continuing. After the Service Pack and probably the HD over 32GB Microsoft Patch for Pheonix Bios's it probably has, this problem went away.

The question is, did I need to restrict the partition size? Or since Windows and even format at the end recognized the whole thing, is it safe to use the whole drive? The Bios reports the lower number but Windows will see the whole thing if I partition for it. Or did I do right by just setting the partition to a size within the Bios reported number?

And, of course, thanks so much for helping me to get the modem driver working. And I think this helps since you now know that that set of dll files stopped it from working.

! NERO is CRAP! (I say as I'm burning a CD w/Nero rite now... )
-Nero's had NASTY lockup bugs thru "Add Files" function for quite some time... I still use Nero 5.5..., thought the lockup bugs would be fixed in your newer Nero, but apparently not! Earlier 2nite, it locked up again when I tried to resize the "Add" window (forgot for a moment that it often locks when ya do that; arg!), and had to re-do a LOOOOONG list of files for a homemade win98se reinstall CD (also forgot to Save every now & then, just in case! arg again!)...
-A good FREE replacement is CDBurnerXP Pro (not just for winXP; good for all OS's); it has -plenty- of options, including burning to DVD...
>;]

ived burn hundreds of cd using nero with no lockups and i like it now other cd burning programs the lite one work great as well.

1. Thanks a lot for taking the time to figure out which files are not compatible with 98SE. I'll remove them from 98SE2ME in the next edition [sometimes tonite].

2. HD size = issues to consider:
- If your mobo BIOS is of an older generation [~ before 2000], it probably doesn't support LBA [Logical Block Addressing] int13h [28 bits] for disks > 32 GB [max 137 GB] or LBA int13h 48 bits for disks > 64 GB [max 2 TB].
In such case you may want to consider installing a so-called "BIOS extender" like Easy Disk or Ontrack which install their own extended boot sector, usually provided by the drive manufacturer.
- 98SE scandskw.exe supports disks > 32 GB only if you install the fixed ESDI_506.PDR build 4.10.2225:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=243450
- 98SE needs the updated FDISK.EXE to recognize disks > 64 GB:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=263044
Gape's SP 2.0.1 installs both these files.
But I digress, you should ask Petr about this.

On a personal note:
As far as disk partitioning is concerned, I use only Partition Magic [retail], currently at version 8.0. PowerQuest was bought out by Symantec [maker of Norton Anti-Virus] a couple of years ago, so Partition Magic is now sold under the Symantec name:
http://www.symantec.com/partitionmagic/
This baby can do anything to any hard disk you throw at it.

Hope this helps.

LBA addressing is necessary for disks > 8.4 GB, I'm not sure when it was introduced but it is present in the first ATA specification (1997) http://www.t13.org/project/d0791r4c-ATA-1.pdf
INT 13 extensions are necessary for disks > 512 MB and were introduced in January 1995 http://www.23cc.com/free-fdisk/specs-edd11.pdf
48-bit LBA is necessary for disks >137 GB (128 GiB) (max. 144115 TB) and was introduced in ATA/ATAPI-6 standard in October 2000 http://www.t13.org/project/d1410r3-ATA-ATAPI-6.pdf
This is valid just in this case: "This problem may occur on computers that use a Phoenix BIOS and use the Phoenix BitShift translation algorithm to report the geometry of large IDE hard disks." - this is very rare condition.
Yes, I was able to partition even 200 GB HDD with this updated fdisk, there is only cosmetical issue with displaying sizes above 100 GB.

Petr

-MDGx, when you remove files from 98se2me, how do we restore the orig win98se files properly? -just copy them back, or do we need to Register/un-Register? Perhaps, when you do this, you could automate the process for us? Or would that get a little messy...

PsychoUnc,

I restored them by entering Command Prompt Only on the Windows startup menu (hold down Ctrl when booting), and copying the files from the backup folder 98SE2ME creates to the Windows\System folder and answering yes to dos when it asks to overwrite the files.

MDGx,

I ran into a problem with trying to install WMP10 on that box. The files would download and extract, but the WMP Bonus Pack for XP would go through the install then say on the last screen that the installation failed. Then, instead of bringing up the installer for WMP10, the batch file would do whatever it does then rebooted the computer. It made the backup of WMP9 system files as you said, but the installation was never done.

Is this perhaps because I always install WMP7.1, WMP Bonus Pack for WMP7.1, and WMEncoder7.1 before installing WMP9? Maybe the Bonus Pack for XP can't install if the 7.1 Bonus Pack is on the system?

I tried a couple of times and made sure to use the updated batch file on that thread (I always seem to lose where that is so that's why I'm posting here). No go. Then I tried to reinstall WMP9 in case something was done to it that would break stuff and the installer would make Windows bring up a Close Program Error saying that the installer caused a Stack Overflow. So I tried uninstalling WMP9 and got the same Stack error.

Heh, so I tore apart the old slow machine (well, took it out and wrapped the board nicely) and put my KT7A into that box. I don't think I'll try that WMP10 install yet. I also usually install the WM9 codecs and WM10 codecs for the 6 and 7 players. Maybe all that stuff has something to do with the Microsoft installer's failing?

Anyway, thanks for patching 98SE2ME. I came here before installing it and there it was. Good deal! I'm using an ethernet connection now (nice having more than 2 PCI slots), so I don't think I would have run into the problem but it's better to keep the files that work.

As far as the HD bios limitations, it did read 64,535 of the 80GB HD. Then Windows would detect the whole size when FDISK'd with the new version. I still didn't like seeing that 64,535 thing in the bios so to be safe I went back and partitioned just 64,400MB as I said before. It's weird that the bios would read that much but not the whole thing, but Windows could detect the whole thing if I had it partioned that way. I have a feeling that the Phoenix bios was one that used that method of detection that Microsoft made that patch for. The system was having copying problems unless that patch was installed. Too limited for my taste anyway. It was fun to see the old programs when I used the recovery cd. Since I uninstall them anyway, I won't miss them. And I'm all legal now since I own a couple of full 98SE retail cd's.

I also use Partition Magic, but not when using one big partition of the whole drive. I purchased the newer Norton version so I can play with bigger drives. But do you know that FDISK is actually more compatible with the larger drives if its limited features will suffice for what you're doing? FDISK will work with the whole drive whereas Partition Magic will leave about 30% unused to work with very large drives.

PsychoUnc,

Oh! I just went back a page and noticed you commented on my Nero problem.

Well, I bought the Nero 6 Ultra Edition for about $100 on the first day it came to CompUSA. I had been using Easy Cd Hard Drive Reformatter through version 5, then started using the Nero 5 that came with my old (and now dead) TDK burner. Then I managed to, um, use a full version for awhile on a new drive. I felt nice getting all legal again when I bought the new one!

It's funny but this is the first time I ran into the add files crash. I just thought it was the weak excuse for a motherboard I was playing with! Jeez, I hope it doesn't appear again now that it's been introduced to me. The only problem I had with the Nero 6 suite was the off again on again working status of Nero Showtime. Since I use PowerDVD, it didn't matter much to me that for the longest series of version updates that thing had all sorts of playback problems. It seems to work now, but I only test it once when installing Nero then I install PowerDVD and never see it again.

That add files crash is a bad one. My computer monitor blanks and I need to reset. Then, a few times Windows had lost my scanner! That stuff is something we don't need. I'll be hitting the Next button gingerly for now on, worrying whether my computer is gonna be fried by Nero! You'd think that with once a month updates they'd figure that thing out.

Alright, I've gotta get back to creating my roster set for Microsoft Baseball 2001. The files are on my super duper computer (the A7V880). I decided to stop fooling around after I was just checking out Device Manager for something and Windows froze. It was for no apparent reason, as after booting up everything was fine but I said to myself, "This is why folks like XP better," and unhooked the Abit KT7A and rehooked my Asus A7V880. (It is the only one with XP. I only have one cd of that and I like to do things proper.)

Ahhh. I even plugged the USB stuff into different slots, as I had forgotten which ones I had used, and XP simply detected a new HP 3970 scanner and I now have it listed as HP 3970 #2! I don't know whether this matters, since it works and I'm not gonna try to figure out how I had it before. But, you see how easy? 98 would have given me fits. XP (Palpitine) is more forgiving than 98 (Darth Vader) is.

And, the M-Audio Revo 7.1 sounds almost as good as the Riptide! (Ha, ha.) Riptide gave more bass. The Revo is more accurate though. I just got used to how the Riptide sounded from years of using it. Not really usable with broadband internet though. That's why I put an SBLive into the KT7A as well. I can't deal with the skipping. And forget about it on XP. It can't even handle dial-up on that. Howdy, Dosbox! (Works great with a 2.2GHz processor.)

Edit - Fixed the scanner #2 problem. The original didn't show in Device Manager but it did show up in HP's Diagnostic program that comes with the scanner. It works just like Device Manager. I right clicked both and uninstalled the devices, rebooted, and XP installed just the one where it is now connected.

Still easier than it would have been in 98, which would have gotten thoroughly confused I suspect.

MDGX,

I noticed that last week on my computer that add/remove windows components was
In add remove programs was blank. Since I have 98SE2.01 and 98SETOME installed on my computer
I restored my system from a backup that I made last December. After this add/remove windows
components worked normally, I then installed 98SE2.01 and it continued to work normally.
When I installed 98SETOME (6/11/05) add/remove windows components was once again blank?
Has anyone else seen this? And do you have any ideas about this?

RJM
System

HP vectra VL-600
600 MHz P-III EB
256M rdram
Maxtor 10G (partitioned c (windows), e (programs))
WD 80G (partitioned d (windows), f(swap), g (programs)
TDK 32X CD R/W
ZIP 100
Phillips sound card
Matrox G250 video card

I mainly boot off the D drive and only boot to the
C drive to back up and restore the D drive

Are you using Regseeker to clean your registry ? If you choose to autofix all errors it finds, the above systematically happens. To avoid it you need to add this line to the exclude list :


Not sure of course this is the cause of your problem.

PS : I am a Win ME user.

[QUOTE] Are you using Regseeker to clean your registry ? If you choose to autofix all errors it finds, the above systematically happens. To avoid it you need to add this line to the exclude list :

No, I use ccleaner and after the last install of 98SE2ME I did not clean the registry before trying the add/remove windows components.

I've also added this guide to READ1ST.TXT, under the "FAQ" chapter:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT

How to restore original Windows 98 SE system files manually:
1. If you have made a backup of your original OS into C:\W98SEOLD when you ran
98SE2ME.PIF for the 1st time, search for the file(s) you want to restore by
running a File Search with the C:\W98SEOLD folder highlighted from within File
Manager [FM = %windir%\WINFILE.EXE].
2. If you have not made the C:\W98SEOLD backup and if replaced system files
you wish to restore are of SAME version/build as the ones from Windows 98 SE
setup CD CABs, create a DOS mode BATch file using Notepad or better plain text
editor/viewer and name it EXTR98.BAT [example]:

-----Begin cut & paste here-----
@ECHO OFF
C:
IF NOT EXIST C:\TEMP\NUL MD C:\TEMP>NUL
CD\TEMP
EXTRACT/Y /A D:\WIN98\BASE4.CAB %1 %2 %3 %4 %5
EXTRACT/Y D:\WIN98\PRECOPY1.CAB %1 %2 %3 %4 %5
EXTRACT/Y D:\WIN98\PRECOPY2.CAB %1 %2 %3 %4 %5
EXIT
CLS
------End cut & paste here------

and then run EXTR98.BAT followed by exact file name or use DOS wildcards [*.*]
to extract multiple files at once. All files will be extracted into C:\TEMP in
this example.
More info here:
http://www.mdgx.com/last4.htm#EXTRACT
and here:
http://www.mdgx.com/newtip15.htm#CABEX
Make sure you replace D drive letter and/or WIN98 folder name above if your
CAB files are located somewhere else. You can also modify all C:\TEMP
instances to point to any other valid location.
3. If you have not made the C:\W98SEOLD backup and if replaced system files
you wish to restore are NEWER than the ones from Windows 98 SE setup CD CABs:
A. (re)install Gape's Windows 98 SE Service Pack (SP):
http://exuberant.ms11.net/98sesp.html
B. OR install desired files separately from appropriate Windows 98 SE patches:
http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#98SE
Most system files into %windir% [usually C:\WINDOWS] or %windir%\SYSTEM MUST
be replaced ONLY from native MS-DOS mode.
How to exit/reboot into native/true/real/pure MS-DOS mode:
A. by holding down Shift + F5 at the same time during BIOS boot POST (Power On
Self Test) sequence.
B. OR by scrolling down using the down arrow to the "Command prompt only"
option and then pressing Enter from the Windows 98 Startup Menu:
http://www.mdgx.com/msdos.htm#MEN
C. OR from a Windows 98 SE Emergency/Bootup/Startup floppy/CD/DVD/USB/external
disc/stick.
Last step:
Copy back the files to their appropriate locations: %windir% [usually
C:\WINDOWS], %windir%\SYSTEM, %windir%\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS etc.
Run WIN or reboot one last time.
To learn which system files must be registered using the REGSVR32 command,
open C:\9!M\2G.INF into Notepad or better plain text editor/viewer and look at
the REGSVR32.EXE lines.
Then run this command from within Windows to register a system DLL or OCX
[example]:
%windir%\SYSTEM\REGSVR32 /S %windir%\SYSTEM\WHATEVER.DLL
If the respective REGSVR32 line you found inside 2G.INF contains the /I
switch, then run [example]:
%windir%\SYSTEM\REGSVR32 /I /S %windir%\SYSTEM\WHATEVER.DLL
Make sure you replace WHATEVER.DLL with appropriate file name AND extension.

Hope this helps.

I have no idea why u get that WMP10 Bonus install error.
Did u first install WMP9 and then WMP10 in this order?
They are both required by the Bonus.
Also make sure both DirectX 9.0c:
http://www.mdgx.com/dx.htm#MDX
+ MS IE 6.0 SP1:
http://www.mdgx.com/toy.htm#IEX
are already installed.
As far as I'm aware WMP7 + WMP10 codecs should not interfere with Bonus.
Codecs upgrades do not modify WMP detection strings in the registry.
I did not try this with WMP7 Bonus pack, but it should not interfere.

Stack overflow related issues and how to solve them:
1. MinSPs=x
http://www.mdgx.com/lastweek.htm#MINSPS
2. Config.sys "STACKS=m,n"
http://www.mdgx.com/last2.htm#OVER
or see MEMORY.TXT, part of W95-11D.EXE [1.15 MB]:
http://www.mdgx.com/95.htm

About PM:
Do u use an older version of Partition Magic?
I use 8.0 Pro and did not encounter that issue.
I used it so far on five 120 GB disks [I don't have HDs larger than that].
PM8 is way more compatible/reliable with all MS/Linux/IBM OSes/drives out there than any DOS based fdisk [or similar] tool.
The only disadvantage is u have to pay for it.

Hope this helps.

You got me, never heard of this error.
I've also installed 98SE2ME personally on more than 10 PCs, and never seen this.
IMO it must be related to some other software you've been using prior to installing 98SE2ME.

Also noted, that when you click on ok in the blank add/remove windows components window the error window

rundll32

hit ignore to save your work or hit close

and when you hit close

rundll32 this program has performed an illeagle operation and will close

I'll go back and try removing programs this week end when I have more time.

Thanks.

That's more of the exact symptoms I had when using Regseeker to clean the registry. In fact Regseeker removes several apparently dead entries under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\VarLDID key. Those corrrespond to path to MS programs folders that do not exist on my machine such as Outlook, Movie Maker or Hyper Terminal that I do not use and I normally remove through the add-remove programs. I took me some time to figure which out of around 300 MS related entries containing the words Setup that Regseeker removes were responsable for the Add-Remove programs applet crash. As all registry cleaning engines work more or less the same (they mostly remove entries pointing to non-existant folders or files on your disks), you might have removed similar values under this key with another Registry cleaner you use if this key is not on that cleaner's exclude list.

I don't think removing any programs will cure your problem. I don't see how it could. Reinstalling windows on top of itself should but I am not 100% sure about it.

So I suggest you look into all backups generated by registry cleaning engines you use to see if there is any removed values under the above quoted key and restore them back to see the functionality of the Add-Remove Programs back after rebooting.

In case this is not possible (You haven't got backups anymore), I suggest you download RegDat

This is a slightly crippled nag shareware but is the only soft I know who can read and export data in REGEDIT4 format from .dat registry files (such as the ones routinely archived as rbxxx.cab as backup by scanregistry at startup and present in the C:\WINDOWS\SYSBCKUP folder) or .1st registry files (First copies of your registry generated during the Windows Setup process and normally present in your root drive as hidden and/or system file.)

You should compare the values under the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\VarLDID of your system.1st file (and which contains for sure all the right entries (provided it is the one generated by the initial Windows Setup and not one generated by a Windows reinstall, in which case the original .1st files are replaced by new ones reflecting the content of some of your old registry including possible errors)) with those in your registry and correct accordingly. You may not have this very usefull initial system.1st file anymore as many people delete it at some point or another of their bloat cleaning. If so you can look for the oldest scanregistry backup you've got but bearing in mind that this system.dat file might already contain the error.

As a title of example I give my own Setup\Varldid key ( As a title of example only as I am on ME and the values are slightly different in 98 and ME if only for the reason that Movie Maker does not exist on 98).


If I remove any of those entries in the registry (even those pointing, as I have said above, to non existant locations such as the Outlook folder) the Add-Remove Programs applet crashes with aproximately the following error message : Rundll32 caused an error in SetupX, Rundll32 will now close.

It is only by restoring the deleted entry and rebooting the machine (A quick reload of explorer.exe will not do) that the full functionality of the applet is restored.

Maybe this will help you sort out your problem .

eidenk,

Thanks, I'll look into that. I was browsing the web and came accross the same
.reg file and I think I know what might have happened. You see I like to keep the size of my windows directory as small as possible and last year had used COA2 to move my program files directory to my E drive. I am wondering if some how they were changed back to my C drive. I will try moving my program files directory back when I get home tonight and start from there. Again thanks.

I have not used 98SE2ME since one of it's early first versions. Back then, as MDGx promised, it delivered super speed, with Windows 98se ready to go as soon as the desktop appeared. But the latest version is actually slower than a clean install of Win98SE followed by Gape's service pack. The cursor stays busy for a good 10 to 15 seconds and windows don't open as fast either. Any other folks having this problem? Has speed been sacrificed for compatibility and latest file versions?

Hi again.

My brain is somewhat fried from just finishing installing my system on the A7V333 for the last couple of days. I came to check on my post here and saw the reply. Okay, let me sort for a minute. (Finishing was hard to spell! I must need coffee.)

Bottom to top (since this one's easier), Partition Magic will lock out about 30% of a big, big drive. I'm talking over 160GB (or whatever the limitation was on the last PowerQuest version). I think Symantec found it still worked perfectly well on larger drives so they enabled the feature in 8.0 but only with locking up the 30%. So, on my 250GB Sata Maxtor Fdisk will be able to use the whole thing but Partition Magic 8.0 will not. There's no error or anything like that, but it will not let me size anything that doesn't leave about 30% of the drive unpartitioned. That works out to about 200GB usable to partition. This is not a bug. It's the way it's designed. I won't call it a feature like Microsoft would! I've used PM since PM7. Love it when I need it. But if I just make one big partition of the whole drive I just use Fdisk.

WMP is a little more tricky. Brain must think. Okay. (I am getting close to bedtime here!) Before installing WorksSuite, I install WMP7, the Bonus Pack, the wmencoder7, and WMP9. Then I go through the rest of the system setup with 98SE Service Pack, 98SE2ME, etc. Then, after all was set up that time, I ran the batch to install WMP10. It extracts everything it needs from what it downloads and proceeds to start the Microsoft Bonus Pack installer. I click through the installer and it runs but on the last screen it says the installation has failed. The batch file then runs whatever it runs and reboots the computer. I don't know what the batch has removed or installed but WMP9 is still there and so is the WMP7 Bonus stuff. No WMP10 except in your folder that it extracts all its files to. By the way, it runs the Bonus Pack installer as soon as the files are extracted, not the WMP10 installer. Bonus Pack first.

I had run plenty of installations of software on that system as I was setting it up to get to the point of trying out the WMP10 batch, and never got any installer errors. The first sign of trouble was when I was attempting to run the WMP9 installer so it would repair whatever might have been done by the WMP10 batch that I wasn't aware of. The installer went partially through the process but Windows stopped it with that Stacks error. Trying to uninstall it also gave me that error. At that point I just got peeved off and put the machine away and started on this one.

I have no idea if that Windows is damaged or not. I had never received an error like that before the WMP10 try. My memory management and the MinSP's is as it usually is. I believe that the 98SE Service Pack puts the MinSP thing into System.ini so that's probably not the problem. I've read the Microsoft KB about that before. The 98SE Service Pack tweak is basically the solution they suggest. That was present.

I'm having fun now running the Riptide card on the A7V333. I just wanted to see what would happen on a really fast system with plenty of processor power and memory. I do know that I played some mp3's with the old Willowpond WillowMedia and got no skipping whatsoever while my ethernet was online. It also showed in the About box 100% free Windows memory. Hmmm, I'm sure WMP (that I'll need to use-that or Winamp-so I'll have an EQ) won't provide that! DVD's played fine with both Nero Showtime and PowerDVD 6. Other program's videos played fine with both audio and video going on. (All while cable internet connected.) Dos games work both in Windows and Dos Mode. They sound great within Windows (better than the SBLive), but the Live does a better job in Dos Mode. Music sounds quite a bit better than the SBLive. It's funny. I got the Live way back when because all I read was folks saying the HP Riptide sucked and get a real soundcard. Well, I've found that this cheap little card provides better sound. Not better, of course, than the cards today but better than the Live. I've even got Wavetable Midi! Sometimes I feel like it's my personal Soundcard since everyone else in their right mind throws it in the garbage real quick. Worthless card on XP because of the skipping and removal of features from the WDM drivers but it's great on 98. But I won't really know until I try actually using WMP, the G-Force Visualization, and Firefox at the same time. If it can't do that without the skipping then the experiment is over. Ahh, I'll just uninstall the card and put a different one and a modem in if that's the case. Easy when they're sitting in boxes over there.

I sure keep from getting bored with this stuff.

I think I'll wait on the WMP 10 stuff until I see what other's might post about trying it. I don't want to risk going through that again. But I would like it if I knew it would work and if I could figure out what went wrong. I tried running it several times and got the same (negative) results.

So, to get back the msconfig from the backup file before updating to the latest 98SE2ME, do I need to do the same as before with the Network driver issue?

Do I go into the Command Prompt Only and copy msconfig.exe from the backup file made by 98SE2ME to the System folder and overwrite the Me one there?

Isn't it strange to have 2 versions of Msconfig on the system? Which shows up in the toolbar of System Information? What about the Environmental Variables that the Me Msconfig said it moved from Autoexec to the Registry? Is that just ignored by Windows 98, which just pays attention to what's in autoexec.bat? Ummm, this is too complicated before bedtime. I'll check back tomorrow and see if my worries are answered.


EDIT- Oh! I suppose the only change besides msconfig is the way 98SE2ME reboots the computer? So I could just go into Command Prompt Only, rename the existing msconfig to MECONFIG.EXE and copy the 98SE one over to the system folder from the backup done when 98SE2ME was installed.

No need to reinstall the thing, right?

I do think more clearly in the morning!

Okay, a new post because I tried it.

The one installed by the 98SE Service Pack appears to be the same as the one installed by 98SE2ME!

I went to Command Prompt Only and renamed msconfig.exe to meconfig.exe, and copyed msconfig.exe from W98SEOLD\system to the system folder.

Both versions are the same. So I now have 2 identical msconfigs except one is named meconfig!

This can't be right. Both say they are version 2.0 and work the same way, with the Environment tab instead of autoexec.bat and config.sys. But right click properties on all of these files show 4.10.3000! Every msconfig on my system is the Me one, even in the 98SEOLD folder!

So unless someone installs 98SE2ME without installing the 98SE Service Pack they are going to get the Me Msconfig.

I suppose it doesn't make a big difference. However I don't see the point of the change in the 98SE2ME keeping the one that is there if they are both the same.

Ahhh! And the Riptide is able to handle WMP 9 with the EQ and Visualization playing mp3's while browsing around the net without any skipping or hesitating. It must be the AthlonXP3000+. The T-Bird 1.2 couldn't handle it.

So, that is a driver problem with the WDM's that never got fixed before HP stopped using the Riptide in their Pavilions. The VXD's work fine as long as the computer has plenty of processor.

I even pull a fast one with the drivers. After updating them, I uninstall just the modem driver from add/remove, reboot, and direct Windows to the original modem driver. This gives me a full duplex speakerphone voice modem, who's voice feature was removed by HP in the updated drivers. So I use the updated audio driver with the old modem driver. When I used dialup I never had a problem with either modem driver. I just used the old one to get the voice and speakerphone functions to work. HP claims the Riptide is a half duplex modem without speakerphone. They should read the old Conexant literature which says otherwise. And HP's own original driver on the recovery cd installs the voice modem serial wave device that activates it. The new updates change the name of the modem and do not install the voice feature.

The only thing this card lacks is EAX support. But it does have a3d and a sort of virtual ear for 2 speakers or headphones that gives a 3d effect to waves. I think it's just an ACM97 codec, but it sounds great and apparently has extremely high quality D/A convertors.

If it had 5.1 support and better WDM drivers it'd be perfect. Sounds better than many expensive cards.

Is this the audio forum? Ha! If I posted in those I'd be ignored or flamed out of existence. They think this thing is a piece of junk. I know what my ears are hearing.

I have installed WMP10 bonus on my 98SE PC twice using the same batch file, in 2 different configurations, and worked both times.
I have no idea why the installation aborts on your computer.

MECONFIG.EXE build 4.90.3000 installed by 98SE2ME is modded by Tihiy to eliminate the nagging prompts, it is not the original files from WinME CD CABs.
Tihiy's file is posted here:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=38021...ndpost&p=263314
Plase see READ1ST.TXT, the "98SE2ME.PIF COMPLETE GUIDE" chapter, the "* ALL MANDATORY Components listed below" paragraph for more info:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT
If memory serves, Gape's SP 2.0.1 installs MSCONFIG.EXE build 4.10.2223 from official MS patch for 98SE:
Microsoft Windows 98 SE Shutdown Supplement TSHOOT98.CHM, MSCONFIG.EXE build
4.10.2223, APMBATT.SYS build 4.10.2223, CONFIGMG.VXD build 4.10.2222, PCI.VXD
build 4.10.2223 + VPOWERD.VXD build 4.10.2223 Fixes:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=239887
Direct download [504 KB, English]:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/d/d...b2c/4756US8.EXE

The only actual change to 98SE2ME 6-14-2005 edition is the MSCONFIG.EXE [the 1 modded by Tihiy] file name which is now renamed to MECONFIG.EXE when it is installed into %windir%\system , so u can have both: (1) the 1 from MS 98SE patch or if u haven't installed the MS patch or Gape's SP, the 1 from Win98 SE CD CABs and (2) the 1 from WinME CD CABs, again, modded by Tihiy.
If u open MECONFIG.EXE [from 98SE2ME] and WinME MSCONFIG.EXE [from CD] in a hex editor/viewer/compare tool, you'll notice differences.

The only other change is purely "cosmetic", and transparent to the user [u won't notice any difference], the computer has to reboot one way or another, in order to install system files which cannot be replaced while in use, and the reboot sequence is now the one built into the OS, no more NirCmd or fake virus reports.
And as added bonus for dial-up/56k/analog modem users, after removing nircmd.exe 98SE2ME.EXE file size decreased by ~ 250 KB, because if u use dial-up every byte counts.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for your feedback.
I've never heard of such problem before.
To my knowledge the differences [added WinME files] between early + current 98SE2ME editions should not slow down UI loading.
This is true only if 98SE2ME option 3 is not installed, in which case you would have the slower ME explorer + shell.
I'm testing + using all files from 98SE2ME on my PC, and also personally installed 98SE2ME [various editions] on 10+ other computers, and never noticed slower performance, unless option 3 is installed.

What slows down UI loading [only few examples]:
- added hardware + drivers that need time to load
- added programs/processes/TSRs/DLLs/etc that load as memory residents at every startup
- less free HD space from installing/downloading new stuff, which slows down overall performance in the long run
- various tweaks that make changes to the registry/system files, and which do not necessarily speed up performance
- invalid clusters scattered throughout the HD if not scanning the HD on a regular basis to repair all errors, especially before installing new software.
Of course none of this applies if installed 98SE2ME on top of a "from scratch" 98SE install, on an empty HD.

But if anybody else can confirm similar experience, I'll look into it.

Hope this helps.

It's strange that the file MSCONFIG.EXE in the W98SEOLD folder is a 4.90.3000 then. I installed the 98SE Service Pack 2.01, then did the Maximus Decim MDAC 2.8 install, Office Update and Windows Update, installing all the critical updates for both. Then I installed 98SE2ME. Then I installed the Maximus Decim USB native install.

So as far as I know there should still be a 98SE version of MSCONFIG somewhere. It should have been in the System folder, but if it was then 98SE2ME would have backed it up. It seems the only places now would be the Win98 folder (where I copied the 98SE cd to so I wouldn't need to insert the cd when stuff needed to access it), or the 98SE Service Pack 2.01 package. Before I ran 98SE2ME, MSCONFIG showed the normal Autoexec.bat and Config.sys instead of the Environment and Static VXD's tabs. But somehow the WinMe version is in the W98SEOLD folder!

So now I have the Microsoft WinMe version as msconfig.exe, and the Tihiy version as meconfig.exe. I think. Since I copied the one in the W98SEOLD file to System and renamed the one 98SE2ME (prior to the current one) installed to meconfig.exe.


Another note. The version of Themes.exe installed by the Microsoft 98 Plus! cd is an updated one that fixes the issue of the program not displaying the Title Bar colors correctly. When running 98SE2ME this is replaced by another version (probably from Windows Me) that fixed other problems in the original 98 version of Themes.exe. However this again breaks the title bar color. They appear solid dark blue instead of the correct dark blue on the left fading to light blue. I now must extract the version on the 98 Plus! cd to fix the problem.

Perhaps you can use the one from the 98 Plus! cd as one of the forced updates in the 98SE2ME batch file? It works perfectly, fixed the same problems that the one in Windows Me fixed, but it doesn't have the title bar color problem.

Just a suggestion. All seems real good as far as the system is running. Much improved from all the Me updates!

Heh, heh, my dos games seem to need a reboot to start again after I close them. If I try to run them again, the screen goes to black (trying to open the game full screen-it does this for most games whether or not I check the pif's full screen box), then immediately returns to Windows desktop. Then Explorer crashes (I think it's related to winoldap. I remember having problems with that in the days before XP and Dosbox and vdmsound). So, if I exit a dos game I need to reboot to run it again. Even with clean booting using msconfig (whatever version it is I have) with just the Windows stuff running. Perhaps it's my Radeon 9550 driver getting confused with the resolution changes, who knows.

-Eck: radeon 9550? Do ya have it cranked up to 500mhz (main clock, not mem)? I recently bought that card for my nephew (but I chose the Gigabyte version, $70, for the much bigger heat sink, but no fan, then I put a fan on it and doubled the std. 250 clock, no prob)

? -option 3 slows down performance? Then it's only there for increased stability? I thought it was there for both... ?