Revolutions Pack Seven November
This pack will transform your Win98 box into something that you have never dreamed of!
32-bit icons, colorful hi-res bootscreen, elegant new interface, extremely useful tools, skins and NO resident programs, hooks, memory trashing or spyware!
Multilingual [English, Polish, Dutch, Italian, Russian, Spanish, French, German] support.
This is a must-have for any user searching for improved 9x expirience.
For advanced users only!!!
WARNING: Not suitable for any kind of critical environment.
MAY COMPLETELY DESTROY YOUR PRECIOUS WINDOWS 98.
REACHING END OF LIFE. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR RP8.

There is new UberSkin project - nice skinning engine from RP8. It is recommended for casual users.



http://tihiy.ahanix.org/RP7MM.exe


Revolutions Pack Lite 6++ Updated Nov 2006
http://tihiy.ahanix.org/RPLite6PP.exe
MD5: 82bd808932e4ec783e1be900a32c0dc3

I can't wait to test this out! Looks good, and exactly what I thought would happen if you ever undertook the project again.

What Revolutions is, and was. All the kernel-patching stuff should have been separate from the start, and would have been better for you, development-wise. Now that you've taken this new direction, I congradulate you, and hope for the best in the future.

Last Task Manager Version:
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showto...st&p=524137

This looks cool.

I remember that the Revolutions Pack (at least version 3.6 anyway) had problems with systems that included NVIDIA graphics cards. Hopefully, without the display features of the Revolutions Pack, RPLite doesn't have the same problems.

Tihiy (or anyone who knows), can you tell us if there are any problems between RPLite and NVIDIA cards?

Thanks.

Also, here is a VXD keyboard hooker which hooks CTRL-SHIFT-ESC.
I've finally make it to work without extra DLLs and do not conflict with standard task manager.
To install it, copy taskmgr.vxd to \windows\system dir and add
device=taskmgr.vxd to \windows\system.ini in [386Enh] section.

After that, copy taskmgr.exe to \windows or \windows\system.
You can also use any other Task Manager if you want, just name it as taskmgr.exe.

Sorry to be a pain about this (especially if the answer is obvious to most folks here), but if the answer is already known, I'd like to hear it before I try this.

The original Revolutions Pack had problems with NVIDIA graphics cards. Question: does RPLite have the same problems?

Thanks for your help.

Because RP had problems with 32-bit icons on NVIDIA cards and RPLite v3 does not support them (only in toolbar) you should not have problems, especially without toolbar patching. I have no problems on my GF4MX.

Tihy,

What about giving more options to "Appearence"?

Which ones?

Colors

I mean more color options for more items. In particular, the "shadow" and "highlight" colors around the windows, that are being decided by the software alone. It's especialy visible when using dark themes...
Button text colors, msg box color being different etc

It was just an idea...

Ah cool. Thanks for this Tihiy. I will try it right now, and post here again if I have anything to report.

Another Weird concept:



It is a IE-less Vista-like Web View which is going to debut in RP/Lite v5. Super-cool... (more soon...)
Unfortunately I have a collapse in my free time, but i'll try to release RP/Lite Tools package (more soon...) on weekend.
I'm searching a way to return 32-bit icons and/or fade effect into RP because they are super-cool and won't release RPLite v4 without it.

Hi Tihiy

I must say that I think all your work is excellent and some of the things you have done are beyond my wildest dreams.

Some comments:

The taskmanager - looks great and provides all you need (although current CPU % would be lovely - but I'm asking a bit much here) - window doesn't resize though - was this intentional ?

Startbar graphic - Any chance of this being optional ? I do like yours but would prefer something more standardised like the one adopted by Gape in his unofficial SP. I realise that this would probably mean exe patching on the fly or choice of 2 versions of an exe but could this be made an option please ?

Install - Any chance of further install 'subsection' options/choices. I realise that this makes uninstall that much harder - sorry.

Thanks

RP/Lite Tools Task Manager 1.0 (previous was Beta, old one was Alpha).
Simple process managing tool. Hooks CTRL-SHIFT-ESC like XP one.
Requires: VB6 runtime (present in UnSP2). Does not require 98SE2ME or RP(Lite).
Changed:
- Translation support
- Fixed blinking at start
- Fixed description absence
- No longer random process jumping
- Now selects process which was active before TM loading
- Please test CTRL-SHIFT-ESC hook. PFE and some other tools can interpet this hotkey strangely.
Installation:
Copy taskmgr.exe and taskmgr.vxd into \windows\system.
Add device=taskmgr.vxd into [386Enh] section of system.ini.
Uninstallation:
Remove taskmgr.exe and taskmgr.vxd from \windows\system.
Remove device=taskmgr.vxd from [386Enh] section of system.ini.

Thank you tihiy for the great job;
I recommand (work very well with 98se) : process explorer :http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

free download down the page

What's new in Version 9.2:

CPU history in tray icon
CPU history column
I/O delta column
Process security editing
Reports loaded 32-bit DLLs on Windows 64-bit
Support for Windows Vista
Buffer overflow bugfix in v9.25 and higher
Related Tools
Here are some other handle and DLL viewing tools available at Sysinternals:

Handle - a command-line handle viewer for Win9x/Me and NT/Win2K
ListDLLs - a command-line DLL viewer for Win9x/Me and NT/Win2K
PsList - local/remote command-line process lister for NT/Win2K
PsKill - local/remote command-line process killer for NT/Win2K
Microsoft Process Explorer KB Articles
The following Microsoft KB articles reference Process Explorer for diagnosing or troubleshooting various problems:

319034: FIX: Thread Handle Leak in PrintReport Method of Data Report
232830: HOWTO: Determine File Handle Ownership
242131: How to: Display a List of Processes That Have Files Open
216368: PRB: Access Violation During Application Setup When File in Use
166112: PRB: Conflict with EOF When Using #import with ADO
301357: PRB: DLLs Not Unloaded After Calling CoFreeUnusedLibraries
816683: Process Explorer from SysInternals Does Not Start
247957: SAMPLE: Using DUPS.exe to Resolve DLL Compatibility Problems
313735: XCON: The MTA Process Is Leaking Memory with a High Handle Count
276525: Your Computer May Stop Responding When You Monitor Open Handles
In order to help us track its use, please download through the link that represents the operating system on which you will use or mostly use Process Explorer.

Note that the zip files are identical, and Process Explorer runs on all Windows platforms.



Phsh

To Tihiy

Thanks for the new Task Manager - FYI it doesn't always appear immediately after CTRL-SHIFT-ESC unless another app is opened/restored - It seems it is most noticeable under certain conditions after viewing CTRL-ALT-DEL.

As for RP3Lite - this is so cool and I love the CTRL-ALT-DEL dialogue. FYI, problems experienced:
*Properties/Settings - dual monitor images are a little messed up (but probably my Nvidia 6800 71.84 drivers are the cause of this)
*Properties/Background - the 'Windows...' images you provided didn't work for me, reverting back to 'None' but BMPs work
*Lock the taskbar property - this seems to get confused when the tick should be displayed and when it shouldn't making it a little difficult to set and unset, but its still a cool feature

To Phsh

Thanks for the link to the Process Explorer - very cool. I'd forgotten about this site. I've been using their NTFS for Windows 98 for some time. Perhaps Tihiy might make us a VXD hook for the ProcessExplorer app ??! Probably pushing my luck now for asking!!

Cheers

Known bug. Abuses this hook for a minute after Ctrl-Alt-Del. But it is better than BSOD, right?

Not an RP bug, i'm sure.
Please try to test it with other JPGs.

Just rename ProcessExplorer app exe into taskmgr.exe and place it to \windows\system.

Thanks Tihiy - I will try the Jpeg's later. Just noticed problems playing audio files from explorer which were rectified simply by 'restore'ing to pre RP3Lite files. mp3s/wavs were affected. Play and open options had disappeared. Even trying to reassociate to mediaplayer(9) didn't work. Just thought you might like to know....

Any news Tihiy. I just wanted to check on you it has been a couple weeks since your last post. By the way I am a huge fan of your work.

I don't know if this is usefull or not but:

http://www.virtualplastic.net/html/wv_main.html

An example of a very beutifully modified Webview is vebview:

http://www.virtualplastic.net/html/wv_main.html

well if it's not usefull i just hope you enjoy...

EDIT: here's another site (not suprising, is that it's a part of virtualplastic.net) http://wint.virtualplastic.net/index.php this site I'm sure you'll find usefull tihiy, it's a programmers reference to windows gui modification... enjoy!

Have a question about installing. In the bar were is asks you to locate the Windows ME cab files, do I just point this to the CD drive that has the ME disc in it?

If you own original Windows ME disc, you must point to <drive name>:\WIN9X

Revolutions Pack Lite version 4
Download from RapidShare
I've been really busy at work since RPLite3 release, but i've found 2 days to make important step in RP development. This version brings good old features like basic 32-bit icons in shell and fade menu effect *without* extra DLLs, 2-user-module-hooks, wrappers-around-wrappers and other glitchy methods. These features can be enabled from RPConfig (included version from RP4, again). Additional changes:
- Several deprecated/obsolete APIs were removed from user32;
- Several wallpapers changed;
- Masquerade changes in Web Vew;
- Very minor bug fixes.

Next version(s) will concentrate on Windows redesign. Please make sure that you like Segoe UI font.

I'll be designating two separate sections of my Windows 98 Power Pack cd to your Revolutions and RPLite packs. I'm looking forward to testing this latest one out!

I get this error whenever I try to install. I have my Windows ME CD in the drive.

Cannot import C:\WINDOWS\Desktop\Revolutions Pack: Error opening the file. There may be a disk or file system error.

I had an error myself, trying to install version 3 (98SE, SE SP2.02, 98SE2ME with all ME options). As I recall, the Revolutions Pack couldn't extract the necessary files from my (OEM) ME disc. The CD-ROM drive for that particular system is quite old and temperamental, so I wasn't sure whether to attribute the error to it, or something else.

Try extracting RP distro into short-name folder path and/or copying ME cab files onto hard disk.

Hi Tihiy, I`m back
What are the news about Revolutions Pack?
Recently i installed the Mindows (Project) http://winimize.com/min98.html , I really think this interesting, but the project has some problems (missing files). Look my post: http://www.msfn.org/board/Mindows-Project-t59856.html
What do you think about Mindows?
Do you know how to solve Desktop Properties problem?
Graphic and sound driver doesn`t work too. (Strange)

Omg!

Revolutions Pack lite v5 is being developed. It is expected in the preview form this year and in release (i hope last) form next year.

I've seen it.
I don't this this Windows is for everyday use. It'll be much better if it will be used for Live/Recovery/Install CD. I'll surely use it for such purposes if it will automatically detect&use my graphic card&drivers.

To solve Desktop Properties problem, i think you should use Dependancy Walker or desk.cpl/deskcp16.dll/setupx.dll from w95. Graphic and sound drivers probably won't work without DirectX/WDM support.

I tried to install Directx to see if this is the problem, but unfortunatly Directx can`t be installed (error)


Do you know the problem Tihiy?

hi Tihiy,

I've been using the last publically available release of RP4 on my
parents computer and at one time it was running perfectly however
I seem to keep seeing unicode.dll errors and the program seem to
crash (message dialogue with error and everything) but the program
usually will work after awhile if you keep hitting 'OK' to close the
program. (Seems to be mostly Adobe Acrobat and Yahoo Messager
at least those are the ones I've noticed)

I wouldn't have too much trouble ignoring it but my Mom is slightly
freaked out by the errors and would like them gone. I can't do a
fresh install because my stuff is at my place and I can't get to it
from here; downloading everything is not an option on dial-up; so
I need to know is there a way to turn off the unicode stuff? I'm not
(AFAIK) running anything on this box that needs the kernelXP stuff.

I also am downloading the RPLite 3 pack you made..will I be able to
install this over RP4 Final? Or would that be a disaster? Or is there
a simple deregistering of dlls I can do and keep the Lameskin and
start button\taskbar improvements? I'm also hoping to keep your
improved Alt+Ctrl+Del improvements too but without the unicode.dll
if I can keep these without needing that.

Thanks for your input and your hard work over the years with RP!

--iWindoze

You can use rpconfig.exe tool inluded in RP4: uncheck "Use Unicode" or delete unicode.dll entirely.
It's not tested and may be unsafe to install RPLite over RP4. However, you can try to rollback everything if something will be wrong.

Thanks Tihiy! That did it and most things seem back to normal again...(less random crashing) aslthough I must admit that it sucks to lose the firefox icon support and that the Abode Acrobat is now claiming its not installed properly so I'll be unable to fix that until my next visit home.

I had no idea there was a 'rpconfig.exe'! Was this mentioned in the old thread before? I liked it; just had no idea it existed! : )

---iWindoze

This is an almost finished redesigned 'System' Control Panel applet from RPLite 5. There is also several applets which will be reworked/redesigned:
- Add/Remove programs
- Display properties
- Users
- Network
So, how do you like it?

most impressive is there a standalone version ?

Yes, will be.

I'm currently using RP4 and i like it a lot, but some apps (including explorer and other windows components) sometimes crash with it. Sometimes using the compability tab makes those programs work again, but it's not always the case.
Can i request "reversing" the default options for kernelXP.ini, i mean if there is no entry for myapp.exe, then it starts without menu fading, etc. and those features must be enabled first to be used.
I tryed inserting "*.exe=0.111" line in kernelxp.ini, but this doesn't seem to work.

P.S. the screenshot from RPLite5 looks very good

Hi,
First I want to tell you that I respect your work and your idea to implement the new kernel.

Regarding GUI interface and overall system ergonomics, I have some ideas:
I think that it will be great to implement:
- win windows 3.x style with options to align title bar text (to left, right, middle) and also roll-up button. Additionally, options to “paint” title bar with a animated gif and maybe an option to “paint” close button or scroll bar (like winblinds does). Maybe an other good idea will be to use the “bubble” for text in title bar (KDE style)
*Also it will be nice to have options for making menus semi-transparent and fade on drag windows (like winfx does)
- I think that the best start-up screen is the one from win2000. (maybe it will be implemented in the next RP)
- interesting ideas, regarding icons behavior, come from linux. It will be nice to implement some “on mouse over” and “on mouse click” animations/effect (like zooming)
- also for “progress bar” exist some codes with options to choose from. ( for align the % value to left, right or for move the % value together with the progress bar and so on..)
- an option to animate the mouse cursor on mouse click (like cursorXP program form stardoc does)

*I don’t find semi-transparence and shadow effect very useful as long as they are limited integrated and high consuming resources.

BEST WISHES AND KEEP ON THE GOOD WORK!!

Hi, d4nny and thank you for suggestions.
Yes, i hope there will be skinning in next RPLite, however, i'm not sure about animated title bars (it will consume resources which will be hard to optimize) and roll-up button (not sure about usability).

It won't be possible to do since Win98 drivers does not support alpha-blending acceleration, and doing this only on CPU will result in zero perfomance.
Next RP will support that, not sure about w2k style - it's too bright for me.
Standard progress bars do not support "%" and won't because it is aganist the Aero guidelines.
maybe.

I appreciated that you’ve looked over my ideas.

*About roll-up button I think it’s useful because there is more space on the desktop then in taskbar and the opened windows can be identified and accessed more quickly and more precise

*About start up screen, the progress bar is useful because (for me) it seems like “more control” over the windows loading part

-I forgot to mention about sinkable buttons for the “message windows” (linux style – with graphic symbols and roll-over effect)

Best Wishes !!

System properties from RPLite 5 - preview
Click to view attachment

- System language changing works! It's an unique feature that allows to change windows/dos locales, fonts and config entries in one click.

Install: copy dlls into \windows\system directory. run regsvr32 sysprops.dll. run install.reg.
UnInstall: run regsvr32 /u sysprops.dll. run uninstall.reg. delete cpuinfo.dll & sysprops.dll from \windows\system directory.

Not tested without ME shell. Adds new 'System properties' to My Computer (if you have enough skills, you can move them to Control Panel or other place you like.

Nice Tihiy

Did run it for fun on Windows XP and it works!

It was developed on XP
However, it won't propertly work on XP and it is not planned now.

that was sweet expect the call to everest thingy .u continue to make the neatest progggies for 98/me well done mate.

great work, can i request something PLS.. can you make the NEW C-A-D Dialog to option at installing it? it looks irritating and heavy to me. prefer the original one that came from windows 98

No (although it is VERY easy for me to do this).
If you don't like it, reshack 9xsp3res.dll.

any mates can post rp latest version to some other site, i have problem downloading from rapidshare..

I installed this Revolutions Pack. It was very nice. Nice work. Now Windows 98 SE looks a bit like Windows ME and XP together.

One thing I didn't really like though, where the side of the window displaying the folder information, had an ugly black spraypaint like image. Can you change it by the way?

Anyway, I rate this product a 9/10.

Thank you for trying RP Lite!

Yes, it will be changed in future version. You can change wvlogo.gif&bmp in \windows\web folder. Google it and you will find some nice images.

Thanks for the advice. I tried it and it worked.

Just one question: I like the Windows ME shell and GUI being implemented on Windows 98 SE, but I thought the Windows XP icons looked a bit weird on 98. Is there a way to keep the original 98 icons without changing it? Sorry, I know this is a stupid question so I was wondering. Anyway, I really like this project of yours so keep up the good work.