jus' luvin' all this work and effort in this package....... but methinks i do have a wish....

in the windows restart drop down menu is it possible to 'see' RESTART IN SAFE MODE..... as opposed to the F8 key or using meconfig...??? [color="#800080"][/color]

That would be a redesign of the software, something that 98SE2ME does not do.

Do you often need to go into Safe Mode? If so, just set the option in msconfig to show the startup menu. I used to leave it like that when using BootMagic. It was hard to time my pressing the Ctrl key so that BootMagic would boot me to the startup menu. To make getting to Safe Mode less of a pain if I did need it, I set the option in msconfig to always give me the startup menu.

@MDGx:

I've a problem with 98se2me...
after installation of option 1, control volume in sounds and multimedia is disabled.
Then, I don't succeed to remember reproduction and recorder devices, in tab voice, clicking on Apply.
This is a general problem of localized version of 98se2me....
it is happened also in english version?

THX.

PS: Italian localization of 98se2me is fully updated with your last update.
I've tried with Microsoft Windows ME Control Panel Sounds + Multimedia Tool Errors MMSYS.CPL 4.90.3001 Fix and Microsoft Windows 98 SE Disabled Sounds + USB Devices WINMM.DLL 4.03.2201 Fix.
After extraction, I've installed infs, no change, same issue.

Maybe I must remove 98se2me modifications, to install 98 SP + Microsoft Windows 98 SE Disabled Sounds + USB Devices WINMM.DLL 4.03.2201 Fix and then to reinstall option 1 of 98se2ME?
No, tried also this....

Problem is occured during installation of 700 win ME files.

It has been a while since I have installed 98SE2ME. I was just wondering if it still uses a batchfile based installer. It seems like it would be "cleaner" to use an inf based installer. Also it would be nice if their were an option to not make backups.

Thanks

1. I still use a DOS batch system [and an INF sub-system where applicable], INF system by itself is too primitive to cover all functions.

2. Backups are created only if you wish to [you have 99 seconds to press N (No) if you don't want to backup], and only if you install 98SE2ME for the 1st time [and if it doesn't detect any older backups].
Complete details in READ1ST.TXT, the "BACKUP + RESTORE WINDOWS 98 SE" chapter:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT

HTH

I'm not sure to 100%, but these problems are present also in english version.

Not possible, unless you're willing to hex-edit C:\IO.SYS .

And 98SE2ME does not replace IO.SYS, because the 1 from WinME is incompatible [again, without hex-edit].

Please see this guide for more details:
http://www.mdgx.com/msdos.htm#MEN

HTH

This has to do with your sound card drivers, which may need [depending on the particular sound card you have] to be reinstalled after you installed 98SE2ME.
This is because 98SE2ME options 1, 2 + 8 replace [among other files] the *.SYS files in %windir%\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS with newer WinME drivers [WDM style].
I'm afraid that there is no fix for this problem. ;-(

HTH

Sorry, my contact hasn't solved this problem (reinstalling old&new drivers for win98se of Avance AC'97, sound card is integrated in mobo).
The system is K6 II 450@500 on motherboard MS-5187, 512 MB ram and HDD 60 GB.
If you are any idea... or you can create one option to exclude replacing of *.SYS files in %windir%\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS with newer WinME drivers.

Ah, I've tried with my machine Pentium II 400, win98se + 98se2me (sound card: soundblaster live value), the problem is identical, drivers reinstallation is useless.

All I can do is create a new option to install WinME files without USB/WDM/FireWire *.SYS files [basically without option 8] in the near future.
Stay tuned, I'll post it here when it's done.

HTH

I notice after installing 98SE2ME that C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS still
has older files versions like explorer.exe for example.
Will it be wise to replace those as well with newer version, just curious?

OPTIONS\CABS directory is there for backup purposes only, for when you install Windows components, accessories, network items, drivers etc, and contains original system files from the Win98 SE setup CD-ROM compressed in CAB format.
I don't recommend to replace those CABs or files inside them with other versions.

But what you can do, is zip up all [newer] system files you want into a new CAB, call it something like MY98SE.CAB , and place it in C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS .
This way, whenever you install some drivers, components etc, the installation routine [usually based on INF files] will search also thru your custom CAB file(s), and will find newer system files. And if the install routine is properly built, newer files will not be overwritten by older ones [you should get a prompt dialog box to select if you want newer file(s) to be overwritten by older one(s) or not].

Gape's 98SE SP2 also uses this method, SP2.CAB contains all newer files installed by SP2, and copies this CAB to your %windir%\INF directory, if I recall correctly. This way, whenever you install components, drivers etc, newer files from SP2 will be installed instead of older files from original CABs.

HTH

@MDGX:

A great problem, selecting two times option 2 (win me files without wdm drivers), I've still problem of volume disabled in sounds and multimedia......
This is on a pc win98se (fresh installation) with soundblaster 16 live value drivers correctly installed.

Maybe you must edit something...

Which Enable48BitLBA patch would you use with 98SE2ME, the 98SE or ME version? I had the 98SE LBA patch on my system already then ran the 98SE2ME full load, no problems just wondering.

Just check the current version of esdi_506.pdr after having installed 98SE2ME and apply the patch accordingly, if needed. I.e. if the current version is 4.90.3000, then apply the ME patch; if it's 4.10.2222/4.10.2225(6), then apply the 98SE one.

Thanks!

As stated in the 98SE2ME READ1ST.TXT guide [please see the "FAQ" section]:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT
none of the files installed by 98SE2ME change the OS core or kernel from 98 SE to ME.
Therefore Win98 SE OS remains the same Win98 SE OS, WinME core/kernel/drivers files won't work, they will only lock up your computer.Moreover, this link [found in the quote above]:
http://www.mdgx.com/98-5.htm#NEVER
clearly states:HTH [Hope This Helps]

Have you tried to install option 9 [the new option without WDM drivers]?
Option 2 does install the WDM drivers [*.SYS] into %windir%\system32\drivers , but option 9 does not.

Quoted from READ1ST.TXT [the "98SE2ME.PIF COMPLETE GUIDE" section]:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT
HTH

Unfortunately I've followed instructions, but the problem remains.

Thanks MDGx

hello. just wanted to say thank you for all the hard work on 98se2me. my system really feels more stable with this addition.

also wanted to let the people know that i had the same problem initially with my system regarding sound.
my system was win98se clean install then i put on 98se2me and my sound drivers didn't work anymore and i couldn't access the sound icon in control panel. tried several different things; none worked.

but here is my solution. this worked for me. may not work for you but try it.
clean win98se then direct 9c and ie6sp1 then 98se2me. everything installed cleanly and .... i have sound! yeah!

anyway, thanks again. hope my little contribution helps some of you out there.

Infact doesn't work for me..... some file surely makes troubles with volume control.

Make sure when you install option 9, your Win98 SE is "clean", without any other older 98SE2ME installs.
If you have previously installed 98SE2ME options 1 or 2 in the past, make sure you backed up your OS, and then restored it.
If you don't have a backup from before installing 98SE2ME, you may need to reinstall Win98 SE "clean".
Only after that install 98SE2ME option 9.

HTH

Windows 98SE is absolutely clean... then another user on my forum has same problem installing first time 98se2me on a clean Win98se.
Italian 98se2me is aligned with your last release.

Sorry, mate.
I can't test this, I don't have the necessary hardware.

Please try to eliminate 1 file at a time if you have the time, and then post here if you find which file(s) cause this problem.

HTH

Deleting WDM files does not solve the problem, for experience.
I can restore image of Windows 98 SE (clean) and to create a modified version of 98se2me that excludes all files suspected.

I've tried all, I don't think that the problem is 98se2me but soundblaster 16 live value drivers... removed more times (also manually drivers files).
when I can, I'll try to format and reinstall Win98 by zero, installing audio drivers after 98se2me.

Recently I did an install of everything(a relative term) on a computer I acquired. I installed 98SE2ME as part of that process. I used Maximus Decim's Cumulative Update ver.2.30 during the install instead of Gape's SP. Am I missing anything I should be installing? Should I install Gape's SP now or if not should it have been done at some other point?
What are the consequences of doing that now? Could I run 98lite now or should that have been done earlier in
the process? Where, in the following install order would you put Office 2000? I used Maximus Decim's install
order up to but not including .net before installing 98SE2ME.

1. Win98SE
2. Maximus Decim Cumulative Update ver.2.30
3. PCI098(included in MDCU)
4. DirectX 9.0c
5. install drivers for MB, sound card, net card, video card and other devices.
6. IE6.0SP1
7. q313829fix.exe (included in MDCU)
8. MDIE6CU ver.1.1
9. update macromedia flash player
10. MDDACU ver.1.1
11. Windows Media Player 9 and updates 816044, 917734 install codecs WMP 10.0
12. reinstall DirectX 9.0c
13. 98SE2ME

I have not experienced any issues with this setup but I am not able to put it online at this time.
There are a lot of variations on the install order from many respected contributors to this site. I have previously used and been happy with Bristol's install order http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=38193-the last post on page 4. It would seem that there should be an optimal install order for all this but I don't believe it has been defined here yet.

This install order works, as well as others, I don't think there is a strict order list.
As a rule of thumb, try to install older updates/packs/enhancements/etc first, and newer last.
Also, I recommend to install most official updates first [contain older files anyway] and unofficial ones last [contain newer files].

HTH

MDGX!

I found problem, it's systray.exe 4.90.0.3002 and sounds.cpl !!!
Now volume icon is visible, before this was not possible.
However it is always necessary option 9 to install win me files.

You can exclude systray.exe (including 4.10.0.2224 version) and remove sounds.cpl only in option 9.
Practically in this way option 9 keeps original audio settings, without sounds and multimedia for recent sound cards I suppose.

Thanks a lot for finding the "culprits".

About systray.exe:
I don't even use systray.exe [M$ bloat ] anymore. Not necessary on my computer. I've deleted it.

About sounds.cpl:
Sounds.cpl from WinME [renamed from mmsys.cpl] is the additional multimedia + audio CPL [control panel applet], but the default one from Win98 SE called mmsys.cpl is still there in %windir%\system , so no problem, if sounds.cpl doesn't work for whatever reason, you always have the original mmsys.cpl to play with. After all, sounds.cpl is there to perform only 1 function: to access the Voice tab, otherwise not available in Win98 SE mmsys.cpl.
Quoted from READ1ST.TXT [from the "98SE2ME.PIF COMPLETE GUIDE" section]:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT
So please let me know... if I understand correctly, the WinME .SYS [WDM] drivers installed in %windir%\system32\drivers by options 1 + 2 work ok on your computer with your sound card chipset?
Because if they do, option 9 is not necessary at all, and I'll remove it when I post the next update.

I'll also remove systray.exe 4.90.3002 and replace it with modded 4.10.2224 from NUSB 3.1 English, in which I have replaced the ugly IDI_PCMCIA icon group with SHELL32.DLL icon group 312 from WinXP SP2 [feature requested by PROBLEMCHYLD a while back, and implemented also into WinME systray.exe 4.90.3002].

HTH

Yeah, you can delete option 9.
Sounds.cpl doesn't work for me, in particular Voice tab and Sound effects tab (the first before Audio tab).
Original Mmsys.cpl is ok.
Systray.exe 4.90.0.3002 must be removed.

About 98MP10, see also this topic:
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=89934

Done:
* Replaced systray.exe with older 4.10.2224 from NUSB = and replaced ugly IDI_PCMCIA icon.
* Deleted option 9.

HTH

Ok, however in my italian release I remove sounds.cpl.

Thanks for the latest update!

If you've seen some of my recent posts you can see I'm not sure how, when, where I'll be using 98SE but it's nice for one and all to see that things are still being continually worked on to increase optimum 98SE usage and minimizing bugs in the works.

I noticed when clicking the link to the 98MP10 page that there was an update there I hadn't seen before, regarding a cumulative WMP9 patch.

Should that be applied before or after 98SE2ME, 98MP10? And what if one runs the Auto-Patcher, skipping the 98SE2ME and 98MP10 stuff, rather wishing to install the full latest versions afterwards? Should that new cumulative WMP9 update be run (necessary)? And again, before or after 98SE2ME or 98MP10?

Just want everyone to get this done right with minimal problems, including myself.

I found a page with a little info about systray.exe...

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms790410.aspx

"The SysTray program (Systray.exe) is responsible for displaying the speaker icon when it is turned on and for hiding the speaker icon when it is turned off...If your sound card's volume level can be changed under software control, a speaker icon appears on the taskbar."

For this win me systray is not compatible with certain sound cards.

WMP9URP was created by erpdude8:

* WMP9URP: Unofficial Windows Media Player 9.0 (WMP9) Update Rollup Pack (URP)
for Windows 98/98 SE/ME installs ALL previously released WMP9 Hotfixes,
Patches + Updates [8.56 MB, English]:
http://www.mdgx.com/spx/WMP9URP.EXE
How to install WMP9 on Windows 98:
http://erpman1.tripod.com/cmptips2.html

Because it installs only WMP files, WMP9URP should be installed after official WMP9 [without which doesn't install ] and before unofficial 98MP10 [which installs WMP10 files].
98SE2ME does not install any WMP files, therefore it can be installed anytime.

And I'm sure erpdude8 will answer these questions better when he returns to the forum.

HTH

98SE2ME UPDATED 4-19-2007

Updates:
- Removed option 7 [winfile.exe].
- Renamed option 8 [USB + WDM] to option 7.
- Now 98SE2ME has 7 options total.

Well then it doesnt make sense to install 98se2me last, since it will copy 7-years old (!!) files from WinME CD, right?
;-)

IMHO correct order should start with:
1. Win98SE
2. 98SE2ME
then probly
3. DX90c
4. IE6SP1
5. WMP9
6. net 1.1
(then i'd do windows update, then run newer updates pack of your choice etc)
and WMP10 last...

Uh, uh.

Please read the manual! IE6 SP1, WMP9, all 98SE updates, etc must be installed BEFORE using 98SE2ME.

Just wanted to get this in here before someone actually tried to install 98SE2ME, and then update Windows. The files installed from the Windows Me cd by 98SE2ME are the latest file versions available for 9x systems. Some IE and WMP files are later replaced after running 98MP10 by using certain files from Windows XP, but besides that any fixes applied will be OLDER than what is replaced by 98SE2ME.

The vast majority of XP era fixes and files are NOT compatible with 9x and no updates include them. The exceptions are the specific files tested and included in 98MP10 and some of the work around unofficial Internet Explorer security updates. So there is EVERY reason to wait until you've finished ALL other updating of your system files, including installing Microsoft Office, BEFORE installing 98SE2ME.

Just read the readme, do things as it states, and you'll be fine.

And MDGx, thanks for clarifying the WMP updates for me.

Eck, with all due respect... "the files installed from Windows ME CD..." certainly ARE NOT the latest file versions available (if you didnt knew: Windows ME had plenty of newer files available from Windows Update). Yes, I agree that *many* of them will be newer (not only by aversion stamp), but don't forget: these are the files that went to WinME's CD printing in July 2000. Most updates for Win98 released past that date may (and should IMHO) contain newer (better?) files, even if by version number (4.1x.xxxx) they seem to be "older" than those from WinME (4.90.3000).
Tell me my logic is flawed?

Clarification:

I strongly recommend to install 98SE2ME among the last on your updates list because it upgrades to system files newer than the ones from Win98 SE setup CD-ROM [doesn't matter that WinME setup CD-ROM files are 7 years old].
It's like installing a whole new mini-OS on top of 98 SE.
98SE2ME has nothing to do with WU [Windows Update] nor any other updates/(hot)fixes/patches, new, old, official or unofficial. It does not overwrite/replace any such files [to my knowledge; please let me know if it does, so I can remove them from 98SE2ME]. It only installs files that are *newer* than default ["stock"] Win98 SE.
Complete details in READ1ST.TXT [see the "FAQ" section]:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT

HTH

Which should I run first? Autopatcher or 98SE2ME? What about the XP SP2 stuff?

I'm currently experimenting with all this fun stuff on my old, slow laptop. Already ran Autopatcher and had it install everything it's got. Just the bare bones Me stuff it installs has already made a big speed difference!

My plan is to eventually (sooner if something goes *foom*) wipe the hard drive and start fresh on the laptop.

Auto-Patcher installs all [or almost all] available 98SE updates, including 98SE2ME.
But some people complained that installing 98SE2ME from within Auto-Patcher results in errors.
Therefore, to avoid such problems, you should (1) install Auto-Patcher without 98SE2ME, and (2) then install 98SE2ME separately [3 MB]:
http://www.mdgx.com/4

98MP10 [I assumed that's the 1 you are referring to: "XP SP2 stuff"] is an unofficial WMP9 update to WMP10.
Complete details:
http://www.mdgx.com/98mp10/98MP10.TXT
Download 98MP10 [7.5 MB]:
http://www.mdgx.com/98mp10/98MP10.EXE
98MP10 forum:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=89934
I recommend to install 98MP10 among the last updates, because it requires WMP9 + IE 6.0 SP1.

HTH

Have you tested Sigverif.exe?

98SE2ME · UPDATED · 4-28-2007

Please see the top of this topic for most recent 98SE2ME update.

_________________________________

Update:
- Added SIGVERIF.EXE + SIGVERIF.HLP from WinME:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/UPDATES.TXT

I have.

Your wish is my command...

It seems to work ok, except for 1 problem:
Added BUG + FIX in READ1ST.TXT [under "KNOWN BUGS + FIXES" section]:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXTHTH

Hi, this looks really promising! One question: What do I have to UNinstall first (if anything)?
I already have 98SE2ME done some six months ago or so.

Do I need to uninstall anything from that before doing the new one?

If you wish to uninstall 98SE2ME [I assume you're refering to options 1 or 2 = which install the ~ 700 WinME system files], just follow this step-by-step guide from READ1ST.TXT [the "BACKUP + RESTORE WINDOWS 98 SE" section]:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT
Just make sure you have a backup [which you should have created whenever you installed 98SE2ME for the 1st time to preserve original 98 SE system files] to restore from.

But it is not necessary to uninstall anything, because 98SE2ME is always a full install package, and always performs the same full install which also include all current changes/updates [in this case the only changes are installing WinME SIGVERIF.EXE renamed file, WinME SIGVERIF.HLP + 2 shortcuts].
Just run the current 98SE2ME.EXE 4-28-2007 edition, as usual [3 MB]:
http://www.mdgx.com/4
and install option 1 or 2.
That's it.

This will copy SIGVERIF.EXE from WinME CABs to %windir% as SIGVRFME.EXE, in order to keep Win98 SE SIGVERIF.EXE .
After reboot, you can run either 1 of these tools from their shortcuts:... excerpt from UPDATES.TXT [4-28-2007 update]:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/UPDATES.TXT

HTH

Since you have slimmed down the options can you add a option to only
update the latest files so we don't have to go thru the process all over again
for those who already have 98SE2ME installed.
Please and thank u very much.