[Offler]

Hi. I am sending this same message to some people in the forum which have participated on the projects. I must say that all the servicepacks which have been released is too much for any user - skilled or nonskilled.

therefore it will be best to create real developer team

such team needs skilled developers:
Xeno86 for kernel
Tihiy for system extensions
XStyle for new design executables and graphics
allseeing MDGX for consulting
Gape, maximus decim and jimmsta for system components analysis and upgrade (DX, Net, VB, IE)
sopofiric for some kind of patcher/Installer
somebody like philco for localizations
"hardware wiseguy" for driver development? maybe

and me and some other guys for betatesting and feature requests.

I know that all these guys can create their own project, but i can imagine what they can create together.

What do you think about it boys and girls?

[Xstyle]

Count me in! It sounds good! I hope the other guys will agree with this too..... I think it will be a great chance to make something really nice!
Let's do this!

This post has been edited by Xstyle: 17 April 2008 - 02:29 AM

[thydreamwalker]

GREAT IDEA ..hopefully some programers are still around after thy "interestin'"sanctions being imposed?***Hopefully can create Win98SE to out do all ever yet created ! ***"IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME!!!" Allow new updates and applications to be tested as before ,by us the REAL home 98SE USER's before decide not proper...it is our system ,our computers at risk...it should be our choice to use or not to use any application or updates at our personal risk for it is us who pay the price of sucess or failure in the longrun!!!I know i have two OLDER computers and if it was not for MSFN/9x-98se forum ...i would be a non-existant decomputer-ized nobody as other systems do not install nor run on these machines (except linux -which eats all resources when runnin' applications too long.....) PRAY thee 98SE programmers stick around-or let us know where they are to keep 98SE in good health........ thydreamwalker P.S.:Thanks to all thee 98SE Gods for their hard work-as all help is appreciated (at least we 98SE users acknowledge thee accomplishments of thee special few!!!*)

[Analada]

So I guess it needs:

-- some good webserver
-- a project leader to make it all happen
-- some cash!

I could offer a little in the third department, and/or maybe someone with a decent existing win98Se oriented website could volunteer.

One project surely must be (ahem) let it be called Open-Source Browser development for win98SE/ME.

[Offler]

at this point it is really only an idea...

but there is a webserver (coming online in few weeks) and there could be place for any further things which are not tolerated here...

right now i think that it will be not good to break this community, but also i believe that request for consolidations are right, and new way of project creating may be more effective - for both developers and users.

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Hey hey hey, hang on. You forgot me.

I can help with the webserver, i am a moderator of a non-steam gaming community, and i can have a talk with our admin to give you a place in our forum.

I'm also more than willing to test on several machines in real-world conditions as my systems aren't exactly stable for some reason or another, and am pretty good in making packs of stuff, doing installers and the such.

My coding skills are limited but i'm learning more, and hey, i'm still in high school. I do have a pretty extensive knowledge of windoze stuff though, so for anything else but coding, you can count me in.

This post has been edited by Th3_uN1Qu3: 17 April 2008 - 01:30 PM

[Offler]

thats why the topic is here and why i didnt sent PMs

[OryNider]

Latest version of Windows (08 Server) was released @ microsoft.com site and can be downloaded for free then you most purcase a licence and activate online in 128 days. So, I think is not big deal now to make a development team and integrate latest service pack in 3 bootable iso (retail, oem and upgrade) with wich we can do same thing and don't include any volume key or keygen. Or?

PS, See my thread so you can test my integration. I only fogot to upgrade some icons in all colors deep like the one for Volume Control.

This post has been edited by OryNider: 18 April 2008 - 05:02 PM

[computerwizkid]

Hey,
count me in to!!!
I could do the graphics design(along with Xstyle).
What would be the first proj?(Maybe too soon? )

[TheRedFox]

OryNider, on Apr 18 2008, 05:57 PM, said:

Latest version of Windows (08 Server) was released @ microsoft.com site and can be downloaded for free then you most purcase a licence and activate online in 128 days. So, I think is not big deal now to make a development team and integrate latest service pack in 3 bootable iso (retail, oem and upgrade) with wich we can do same thing and don't include any volume key or keygen. Or?

I totally agree with this, as I'm worried about if I get some hard drive larger than 10gb, and want to install 98SE on it, but I don't have an install cd, just a system restore, and I do have a perfectly legal key and whatnot.

I hope that we can get a webserver, and succeed at upgrading components. I really appreciate you all's work. I'll try to contribute all I can, though I don't have a whole lot of knowledge.

also, what's this about censorship, I'm presently in the dark?

[patchworks]

Offler, on Apr 17 2008, 08:54 AM, said:

I know that all these guys can create their own project, but i can imagine what they can create together.

To realize a constructive collaboration team, source codes should be available.
It tastes like the "Open Sourcing Windows 9x" idea, but many projects aren't open here, so i doubt you can reach the goal.

BTW you have my support.

[Offler]

ok, i think it is time to clear some things.

projects here have reached many goals separately, which i have sucessfully integrated into my home PC. As you know some people have done jobs which were previously impossible and practically my system has broken many system limitations.

As i said before it can go on like this, but also it cant go on... For example Xeno86 has little time for it althought he is doing great job i am sure that he will need help. Also other guys are releasing patches and new codes and in some cases they are doing the same job, while some new projects will be soon necessary to keep win9x updated...

collaboration will help to speed up development, finish some things and give an ideas for new ways.

all projects have stabilized win in its behaviour. i really dont experience system crashes. that is something unthinkable for many people which have migrated to XP. But you guys DID IT.

for now it is too soon saying that the win9x projects will try to create whole new OS based on freedos and fully Win32 compatible, or if there will be place to create single upgrade pack for all Win9x users, which will give XP apps, skinning, supreme stability and performance.

i think that closest project to this idea is Revolutions Pack or my separate installations in "Immolator" project. RP pack uses files which are not included with my os and Immolator needs hours of separate installations to reach the goal.

the primary idea for me personally is to create new pack, which will combine all possible upgrades in way when all people involved will do the part where are they best. (For example tihiy is skilled coder, and some people are wanting 32bit icons, but he also made graphics while there are other people skilled enough to create good icons and skinning)

the opensourced win9x is also very good idea (i have read topic), but it will more time and also more people which will be skilled enough to reach it.

[Xstyle]

While i was reading and reading severall posts i understood that if we want to make something we must concentrate on only one project...and i must say that RP7(waiting for RP8) it's the best. So...the core must be RP7.... Honest...i don't think this team will work on one project together....Tihiy it's in his element doing what he does best, alone, like other boys and girls that know coding and severall stuff!
Well....hope for the best to come!!
~~Noroc!~~

This post has been edited by Xstyle: 19 April 2008 - 02:15 AM

[Offler]

More heads know more

i dont want force anybody to participate on existing project, i would prefer if there should be new one. For example - some people did good work with some upgrades in libraries, other guys created new graphics, but based on older libraries, or not so good libraries...

also when it comes to use these two upgrades together you may experience compatibility trouble, or graphic/localization loss. this is mainly why i didnt used RP7 and other similar projects because they didnt work on localized versions correctly.

the better way is to create single package, test all its files separately, change their graphics, add upgrades and later localize them all.

[Xstyle]

Offler, on Apr 19 2008, 02:22 AM, said:

More heads know more

i dont want force anybody to participate on existing project, i would prefer if there should be new one. For example - some people did good work with some upgrades in libraries, other guys created new graphics, but based on older libraries, or not so good libraries...

also when it comes to use these two upgrades together you may experience compatibility trouble, or graphic/localization loss. this is mainly why i didnt used RP7 and other similar projects because they didnt work on localized versions correctly.

the better way is to create single package, test all its files separately, change their graphics, add upgrades and later localize them all.

Yes....it sounds good! It will be great to create a new project from scratch! More we are the better!!! Well...we must make the first step now.... the project plan must be made! Let's take it step by step!

[Sfor]

I think, such a project will require a proper database. It will be a good idea to keep track of some information about projects in one place.

The database could contain
- is the language independant? or what languages are supported
- does it depend on some other updates necesary to be installed first
- the list of files/components and their version numbers
- the location/URL one can download it from
- information about how to contact people mintaining the project
- some properties about general purposes (update, enchancement, critical,...)

A database can be used to create an installer able to download files from multiple sources, or to combine all necesary elements in just one single package. Also it will help to join forces while working on the same subject or issue.

This post has been edited by Sfor: 19 April 2008 - 05:27 AM

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Midload? No. Mediafire? Yes.

A database would be a really good idea, so the installer only downloads the files it needs for that specific system, but we'd need a database operator, and maintenance of the database. Personally i think it's too risky, someone might forget updating the database when releasing something new, and possibly messing up peoples' computers.

Yes, we will need localization, but first let's focus on getting everything done in English. Then translating the stuff won't be so hard.

Btw Offler, you got a PM two days ago. Did you read it?

[herbalist]

Count me in. I'm not a coder but I can test the individual files and/or full project(s).
Rick

[Offler]

ok - lets say about one idea which i have...

KEX allowed me to trick install Visual C++ 2008 in Win98se and dependency walker showed that the libraries are working good, but i cannot create installer and i cannot redistribute the files. legal way how to install Visual c++ 2008 is quite strange - unpack with WinRar, again unpack with winrar and execute one file (i have forget which one). later you need to copy resulted dlls from c:\ into "system directory"

for this purpose we need some sort of "Upper level" installer which can perform installations for products which have been "locked" for win9x users.

Legal/Eula:
it is not reverse engeneering, just we have used special purpose installer to install the package correctly, without modifying code of package. Good and legal solution.

there are two major points of interest:
- system upgrades such as KEX, tihiys Uberkern
- special installers which can be added to package and will unlock the installation process or prevent bugs which may occur

For Example:
- game Prey did not have any trouble during installation.
- game Neverwinter nights was unable to complete instalaltion process and failure resulted in empty game directory

since all applications i used were able to communicate with Win98Se drivers and upgraded dlls, but there are still some trouble with installers.

the question is if there could be created some kind of installer shell which may catch installer needs and translate them for Win9x - for example when files are being extracted to system32 directory or when rundll is expected to be in system32 directory...

the better way of doing that is of course create fully compatible system, but in some cases it will be harder...

to unique:
i am stil reading it

This post has been edited by Offler: 19 April 2008 - 07:45 AM

[TheRedFox]

This sounds promising, so far. I think that, whatever the form, the full updates install package that we make should include the option of skipping any updates we don't want (similar to, but possibly more detailed than, autopatcher) and the option of going back and adding updates that we hadn't previously. also an uninstaller would be nice, incase there are glitches that we want to get rid of.