1.1:
- Better Scandisk.
- A minor bug fixed.

1.2:
- 13 new hot fixes.
- Solves 512 MB of RAM problem.
- Dial-Up Networking 1.4.
- Microsoft Installer 2.0.
- Windows ME desktop icons.
- Some bugs are fixed.

1.5:
- 4 new hot fixes.
- Adaptec ASPI 4.60 drivers.
- General USB 1.x Mass Storage Device support.
- Supports 98lite 4.7 Chubby and Overweight.
- Visual Basic 6.0 SP6 runtime library.
- Visual C++ 6.0 SP6 runtime libraries.
- Updates JET 3.5 files to JET 3.5 SP3.
- Supports custom "Program Files" directory.
- Some additional tweaks.
- Some major bugs are fixed.

1.6:
- NEW: 3 new hot fixes (249635, 835732, 840315).
- NEW: Microsoft Layer for Unicode.
- NEW: Visual Basic 5.0 SP2 runtime library.
- UPDATED: 1 hot fix (Roots Update).
- FIXED: Registry corruption problem.
- FIXED: MSI installation problem.
- FIXED: New command missing in Windows Explorer problem.

1.6.1:
- UPDATED: Windows Scripting Host 5.6 (Build 8825).
- FIXED: Internet Explorer related problems on some systems.

1.6.2:
- FIXED: Cryptui.dll problem.
- FIXED: Internet connection problem on some systems.

2.0 BETA 1:
- NEW: Optional components support (Windows 2000 Color Scheme, Performance Tweaks, and Adaptec ASPI are optional now).
- NEW: 3 new hot-fixes.
- NEW: IE updates for bundled IE 5.0 (This is especially useful for 98lite users).
- NEW: Semi-slipstreaming support.
- NEW: Shows attributes column in details view on the Windows Explorer.
- UPDATED: Roots Update.
- FIXED: Some bugs (Only WindowsUpdate bug is major).

2.0 BETA 2:
- NEW: 1 new hot-fix.
- NEW: TweakUI as optional feature.
- NEW: New animated boot logo (adds "Second Edition" label) as optional feature.
- UPDATED: HTML Help Update (taken from XP SP2 which is compatible with Win98 SE).

2.0 BETA 3:
- NEW: More than 10 new hot-fixes.
- NEW: "Dos Prompt Here" as optional feature.
- NEW: 98lite Sleek support.
- NEW: Fixed REGEDIT.EXE.
- FIXED: DCOM98 registry problem.
- ADDED: USB Mass Storage Device support (same with 1.6.2).
- ADDED: Better Notepad, 256-color tray icons features.
- ADDED: Uninstallation.

2.0 RC1:
- NEW: 1 new hot-fix.
- ADDED: Web Folders update.
- UPDATED: HTML update..
- UPDATED: UNICOWS.DLL.
- UPDATED: MS VC++ runtime files.
- FIXED: All reported problems.
- FIXED: Uninstallation problems.

2.0 RC2:
- NEW: 2 new hot-fixes (192425, 246817).
- ADDED: All cosmetic enhancements of SP 1.6 such as Windows 2000 Desktop Icons. (Sorry, but they are not optional).
- FIXED: Lots of bugs are fixed. (MaxCachedIcons typo bug, %DosNameHere" bug, Verinst.exe uninstallation bug, 256-color tray icons bug, Notepad patching on Sleek bug, Executing SP from different drive bug).
- REMOVED: General USB Mass Storage Device Drivers.

2.0 RC3:
- ADDED: 2 new hot-fixes (319571, 320798).
- UPDATED: MDGx's HTML Update.
- FIXED: Annoying restart bug.
- FIXED: Annoying reinstallation bug.
- FIXED: GDI.EXE uninstallation bug.

2.0:
* Added four new hotfixes [Q307004, Q888113, Q891711, Q891781].
* Added unattended installation support.
* Added missing DCOM98 1.3 registry information.
* Added localizable strings into the SPUPDATE.INF.
* Added free FIND.COM.
* Replaced modified WINBOOT.SYS with the original one.
* Replaced ATTRIB.EXE with better free ATTRIB.COM.
* Replaced NOTEPAD.EXE patcher (PATCHNP.EXE) with better free Notepad
replacement: MetaPad 3.5.
* Removed 2_4DATE.EXE, REGEDIT.EXE patcher (PATCHRE.EXE) and
CTL3DV2.DLL files.
* Updated EXTRAC32.EXE (WinXP SP2), RICHED20.DLL (WinXP SP2) and
REGSVR32.EXE (Win2000 SP4) files.
* Fixed RUNPOST.BAT goto problem.
* Fixed 98lite Sleek EXPLORER.EXE/SHELL32.DLL uninstallation problem.

2.0.1:
* Added one update [Q870669] and one hotfix [Q295629 (Replaces Q258010
and Q274334)].
* Added ATL.DLL [from VCREDIST].
* Updated ROOTSUPD.EXE [to 7.0].
* Updated HTML32.CNV [to Office XP SP3].
* Updated INFEX.EXE from 0.1 to 0.2. [The new version supports to change
checkboxes' default states.]
* Changed "MaxFileCache=524288" to "MaxFileCache=393216" in SPUPDATE.INF.
* Changed copy method of HARDWARE.HLP in SPUPDATE.INF.
* Changed copy method of Visual C++ [VCREDIST] and OLE Automation [OLEUPD]
files in SPUPDATE.INF to avoid any version inconsistency.
* Added "SmartReboot=N" into the all INFs for preventing unexpected reboot
messages.
* Corrected typo on DELINFS.INF.
* Fixed TweakUI uninstallation bug.
* Fixed 98lite Sleek Notepad uninstallation bug.

2.0.2:
* Added MSMOUSE.VXD from Q254660.
* Added "(Remove Only)" to the uninstall string.
* Removed COMCTL32.DLL from the SPUNINST.INF.
* Fixed ERRORLEVEL bug in RUNPOST.BAT.
* Removed ATTRIB.EXE and FIND.COM from the package.
* Fixed a minor bug in the TWEAKUI.HLP.
* Updated boot logo and added shutdown logo.

2.1:
* Added COMCAT.DLL from DCOM98.
* Added Q212265 (JPEGIM32.FLT).
* Added Q240896 (OPENGL32.DLL).
* Added Q258765 (REG).
* Added Q269604 (DSOUND.DLL).
* Added Q285895 (CIMWIN32.DLL) and Q282949 (WBEMPROX.DLL).
* Added Q314941 (SSDPAPI.DLL, SSDPSVR.EXE, UPNP.DLL).
* Added Q323708 (NSCIRDA.SYS).
* Added Q327517 (REG).
* Added Q885836 (MSWRD632.WPC).
* Added Q887617 (HTML32.CNV, MSCONV97.DLL, MSWRD832.CNV).
* Added Q903235 (REG).
* Added a fix for VS2005 issue (REG).
* Added "No Channel Logging" registry tweak.
* Updated Q891711 (to U891711).
* Updated NWPP32.DLL (to Q250876-v2).
* Updated HTML Help (to Q896358).
* Removed DELINFS.INF.
* Corrected MOUHID.VXD and DISPEX.DLL files.
* Cleaned up some code.

2.1a:
* Corrected timestamps of some files.
* Corrected SCR56.INF version information.
* Added COMPOBJ.DLL from DCOM98.

This post has been edited by Gape: Aug 19 2007, 01:18 PM

but where can i get msdos 8.0
as far as i know msdos 8 is part of dreaded windows me

I'm scanning www.microsoft.com for a download.

About the fixed REGEDIT.EXE for *all* Windows 95/OSR1/OSR2/98/98 SP1/98 SE(U) builds [NOT for WinME!]:
This bug and its fix are explained here:
http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~flibble/regsmall.html
Instructions are not very clear, but the author implies that all regedit.exe versions are buggy, and reconstitution of registry in native/pure MS-DOS may break the registry DAT files if it contains *any* MS Office and/or Outlook keys.
As I recall from the modified regedit author's website:
http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~flibble/regsmall.html
as quoted from his smallreg.rtf [part of smalreg4.zip]:
http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~flibble/reg/Smalreg4.zip

"There is an additional undocumented regedit.exe bug that exists in both the Win95 and OSR2 versions of regedit.exe (as well as all versions of Win98 beta that have been released as of the writing of this procedure). This bug is the inability of regedit.exe to import keys that contain embedded control codes. Although, embedded control codes are very common in modem initialization strings, this bug may have gone unnoticed because many of these registry entries are automatically re-created (with the embedded control codes) the first time they are needed thus no functionality is lost or impaired. However, your registry may also have embedded control codes (such as LF or CR characters) in other registry keys that are not automatically re-created, such as the key used to hold your signature for MS Internet Mail and News or Outlook Express. If such keys are used in your system, after completing this procedure you will have to re-enter the missing data using the program that created the data originally, or you can download FIXREG written by Ben Jos Walbeehm, which is available at http://home.tampabay.rr.com/walbeehm/mrcode.html [not available anymore!].
This program will fix the missing embedded control code keys. The text file included in Ben Jos's fixreg.zip download package gives a more comprehensive description of this problem and the fix."

the buggy regedit [unmodified] cannot properly import certain reg keys that are terminated by CR or LF markers.
Although both authors (Smallreg's and Fixreg's) agree on the same problem, they have a contradictory opinion about Win98's regedit fixing (or not) this bug.
IMHO I recommend to *all* Win95/98 users to get the fixed regedit to avoid any problems.
There used to be more info at http://www.walbeehm.com/ [http://home.tampabay.rr.com/walbeehm/], but Ben Jos's site is gone.
I have Ben Jos's FixReg files [54 KB] for further reading:
http://www.mdgx.com/files/FIXREG.ZIP

another suggestion....

a fast and free mp3 extension.... really good should pehaps included

http://www.mutschler.de/mp3ext/

Sorry to disappoint you soldier1st & Tarun but MS-DOS 8.0 is not
available as a standalone download. Attempting to use the
MSDOS 8 files from WinME under a Win98 or Win98se system can
actually make things worse. Mentioned at Axcel216's Windows 98/98 SE
©Tricks + Secrets - Part 5 page:

http://www.mdgx.com/98-5.htm

In the 'KILLER REPLACEMENTS: ME -> 98 SE' section he mentions NOT
to replace the COMMAND.COM & IO.SYS files. And I haven't experienced
any problems whatsoever with the vmm32.vxd file under my old PC
using Win98se. If there are problems with the vmm32.vxd file in Win98
it's usually a corrupted or damaged vmm32.vxd file in which can only
be fixed by re-installing Win98.

Tarun says it's better to have an empty or non-existent vmm32? I don't
agree with that. Read the posts by HSI and Gape here about vmm32:
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=32526&st=0

Could you direct me to where I said that? As I do not recall saying that, unless it was from an old post dating back to much earlier this year.

"a fast and free mp3 extension.... really good should pehaps included"

Watch out, it has a GNU public license. This can cause big headaches and is definitely not "free".

For example, it means I have the right to make a modified version of them mp3 extension, and Gape must provide me with some SP source so I can distribute my own SP with the modified mp3 extension. Otherwise Gape is violating my rights.

But if you do include it please make it optional, its nonstandard and e.g. some of like oggs not mp3 files.

It is a good tool, but as I said, generally I don't like to add any 3rd party tool into the SP. If I add a 3rd party tool, it must be useful for most of users. So, this tool is not suitable for the SP.

i agree gape
not every1 is into stuff like that
if most were that be a diff story
like for example tweakui,that is very useful for most users if not all users

Never mind Tarun. I may have misunderstood your point. Bottom line is
MSDOS 8 was written specifically for Windows ME and attempting to use
the MSDOS 8 files under a non-WinME system like Win98 can cause more
problems. MS-DOS included in all versions of Win98 is 7.1 and runs well.
Like I said before, I never had any problems with the vmm32.vxd file
and if that file goes bad just re-install Windows.

so that vmm32.dll that tarun said earlier appears to give problems

i would vote to keep the new icons.


but check this out: SWITCH WINDOW (ver 1.0.1)
maybe can find something like it to add, it sure is nice in winXP. just thought on something to add.

NO, soldier1st. Only time if the vmm32.vxd file causes problems is if it
is corrupted by a computer virus, PC crash or a hard drive malfunction
or when trying to fix the HD problems & the vmm32.vxd file with Scandisk
in DOS mode when Windows is not running.

then explain why when my comp was workin fine with no problems and i put this file where it's sposed to and the next reboot it wants msdos 8.0 n thats windows me before it will start means a format of 98
comp is fairly new only 1-3 months old

erpdude8 i guess you can't explain it
remember tarun was talking about Internet Explorer Not About Non Internet Explorer Stuff so next time keep on the subject plz

What file did you put, soldier1st? You're NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT!
It can break your system. You may as well reformat the HD and start
over from scratch. What version of Windows are you actually using?
Just forget about DOS 8 as it is a part of WinME and can never be used
under Win95 or Win98.

tarun posted a vmm32 file that i dled n put it where it was sposed to figuring it would help make windows 98 se faster,i run windows 98 se,windows xp+sp1&SP2,Windows 2000+SP3 then after i installed it it wanted msdos 8 then i reformatted so i deleted that file i dled

maybe add some tweaks from this site:http://myweb.accessus.net/~090/winmetip.html
i know it says for windows me but some of these can be used on windows 98 se
i applied some and they make windows 98 boot faster by not loading some stuff assuming you don't use them the drivespace &compression utilities

Hey, since there is all this talk of vmm32.vxd I should mention I built one last night using the wininit.ini to combine the vxd's. On bootup it said something like "vmm32.tmp integrity check failed, restoring" and then started Windows normally. I renamed vmm32.tmp to vmm32.vxd and deleted all of the vxd's that were combined from the system32 directory, and on rebooting it worked fine without complaint despite the initial "integrity check failed" whining.

I tried the new vmm32.vxd compressed as well as non-compressed (2+ MB). I never noticed any difference in bootup speed or resource usage, but I didn't measure it either. I have backups if you guys can recommend a method for measuring these things so I can try all methods (original + seperate vxds, combined compressed and combined uncompressed).

I was using vxdlib.exe (vxdlib.zip from Axcel216's site) and it seems like a nice tool. It should be very easy to write a program that uses vxdlib.exe to build vmm32.vxd, so you do not have to depend on wininit.ini.

azagahl,

Could you test your system with compressed and non-compressed VMM32.VXDs? You can use a simple benchmark program such as PCPlayer 3D Benchmark or WinTune98.

For testing bootup speed, you can use a chronograph