[MDGx]

PsycoUnc, on Jun 4 2005, 02:23 PM, said:

-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.

[KeBwOb]

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

This post has been edited by KeBwOb: 06 June 2005 - 01:35 PM

[MDGx]

KeBwOb, on Jun 6 2005, 01:34 PM, said:

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:
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.

[KeBwOb]

MDGx, on Jun 6 2005, 06:53 PM, said:

I believe most of these files + explanations why I removed them are listed in READ1ST.TXT....
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

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

[Eck]

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?

[krick]

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.

[Eck]

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!

[MDGx]

Eck, on Jun 7 2005, 07:38 PM, said:

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?

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.

This post has been edited by MDGx: 09 June 2005 - 04:58 PM

[MDGx]

krick, on Jun 9 2005, 12:30 AM, said:

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.

The 98SE2ME backup/restore procedure is explained in READ1ST.TXT [78 KB]:
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.

[jack99]

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

[Eck]

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?

[Eck]

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.

[Eck]

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.

This post has been edited by Eck: 10 June 2005 - 06:34 PM

[PsycoUnc]

! 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...
>;]

[jack99]

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.

[MDGx]

Eck, on Jun 10 2005, 06:32 PM, said:

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.

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.
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?

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.micro....com/?id=243450
- 98SE needs the updated FDISK.EXE to recognize disks > 64 GB:
http://support.micro....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....partitionmagic/
This baby can do anything to any hard disk you throw at it.

Hope this helps.

[Petr]

MDGx, on Jun 11 2005, 05:54 AM, said:

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].

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/p...91r4c-ATA-1.pdf
INT 13 extensions are necessary for disks > 512 MB and were introduced in January 1995 http://www.23cc.com/...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/p...ATA-ATAPI-6.pdf

Quote

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.micro....com/?id=243450

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.

Quote

- 98SE needs the updated FDISK.EXE to recognize disks > 64 GB:
http://support.micro....com/?id=263044
Gape's SP 2.0.1 installs both these files.
But I digress, you should ask Petr about this.

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

[PsycoUnc]

MDGx, on Jun 11 2005, 02:29 AM, said:

* Removed WinME replacements [%windir%\SYSTEM]: NETAPI.DLL, NETAPI32.DLL, NETDI.DLL + NETOS.DLL from options 1 + 2 to fix network device detection. MUST use Windows 98 SE files instead. [thank you Eck]

Enjoy.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

-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...

This post has been edited by PsycoUnc: 11 June 2005 - 02:35 AM

[Eck]

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.

[Eck]

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.