[Th3_uN1Qu3]

MDGx, on Apr 27 2008, 11:30 PM, said:

I haven't managed to get back to Win98 SE with my new PC = mobo ICH9 chipset and DDR2 RAM not compatible.
So I can't do anything with any 9x updates/packs/projects unless I test them in a virtual environment, and MS Virtual PC 2004 is too slow, and Virtual PC 2007 is even slower.
I haven't tried VirtualBox yet.
Therefore, I have to wait until I build another PC with an older mobo that supports 9x OSes.

HTH

Uh, Virtual PC 2007 is pretty fast on my system. Enough to use everything in 9x in very good conditions and play some old 9x-only games that don't use 3D acceleration. And you can always try VMWare.

This post has been edited by Th3_uN1Qu3: 04 May 2008 - 10:05 AM

[Eck]

VMWare gets my vote (except for 3D gaming). Got experience with all 3. VirtualPC had annoying bugs when I used it. Virtualbox doesn't fully cooperate with its virtual hardware when using 9x. Meaning there are things in Device Manager like the Advanced Power Management and a PCI System Peripheral that don't work properly. Plus it is slower than VMWare on 9x guests. No additions so must use SciTech Display Doctor Beta 7 and find the Keygen to keep it past the trial. The new version of Virtualbox has SB16 ISA available as a choice of audio and it works better than the Intel AC97 choice that needs the Windows 95 VXD Realtek AC97 driver (extract with WinRAR, point Device Manager to it) to work. My Creative SB16 Wave Effects software/driver cd improved the SB16 with their software, but the driver is nearly identical to the Windows 98SE SB16 driver.

98SE2ME works great on either VMWare or Virtualbox, but since VMWare handles the hardware better on 9x it is a truer real experience than Virtualbox is. Performance when using multimedia playback of things or software gaming is better on VMWare. Gotta say that SciTech Display Doctor was nice. Give you software OpenGL 3D when setting it to its CAD-most compatible choice. Only slow because Virtualbox is slow on 9x. I may try that someday using VMWare, installing the tools but updating the video driver to SciTech's. This all is after upgrading DirectX. That needs at least Direct X 7, but I install 9.0c anyway.

They offer a trial of VMWare Workstation. If you see it and like it (it really does 9x well) then you can buy it before the trial period ends. I found it just about the same speed as the real installed 98SE.

Edit -

And if you do check out VMWare Workstation, the audio is the ES1371 chip, the Creative/Ensoniq one that uses the drivers for the SB16 PCI. The SB PCI 128 WDM driver is what I end up with, but in the past I've installed the Creative Cd with the software and driver, then updated with the SB PCI 128 web update. It changes it from the cd's VXD driver to the WDM version properly. I used to need to edit the older VMWare version's Windows98.vmx file to get the audio to not speed up incorrectly but that's been fixed in the latest version.

I had a problem with the original VXD in the newer version of VMWare. It would cause a BSOD, and then the Automatic Skip Driver agent needed to be run and have it checked to allow again, but don't reboot. Just run the updater to the WDM and then reboot and you'd have the software and the WDM driver working fine. I'd manage to do this after recovering from the BSOD but even if not, you could still update it. If you don't have the cd then just installing the SB128 WDM by itself works and you'd avoid the BSOD of the VXD install. But no neat PlayCenter, Creative Mixer, Wave Studio, etc. Too bad since I thought the VXD driver was a bit better than the WDM updated one. Can't use it anymore.

You'll hardly notice you're not running 98 on a real computer with VMWare. Just a bit pricey though! Make sure to install VMWare Tools from the menu after 98's installed. Makes things better. If you do it before updating 98 with new Direct X, Windows Installer, IE 6 (not sure which causes it) I think you'll need to manually update the Standard PCI Graphics Adapter (VGA) to the VMWare Video driver in Device Manager. It shows up in the list after installing VMWare Tools.

VMWare Server is free, but I've never tried it. I think it turns off things by default that Workstation has on by default so it may need some tinkering. They have a Beta of the next version of Server that probably is better than the released version at this point. The released version of Server is really old.

Virtualbox kinda stinks running a 9x Guest so don't bother. For supported guests it's supposed to be great though, some say better than VMWare.

This post has been edited by Eck: 08 May 2008 - 02:10 PM

[PROBLEMCHYLD]

GDI32.DLL + GDI.EXE 4.90.3003
Does not cause problems with power management but there is a bug
when its set to 1min to turn off monitor is doesn't work but the other options do.

Do you think the patched IO.SYS file for Win98SE should be replaced With the WinME version if we are using 98SE2ME?
if so maybe you can add it in the future.
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?s=&...st&p=767585

Do you think its possible to add the modded SYSMON.EXE to 98SE2ME?
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?s=&...st&p=727443

This post has been edited by PROBLEMCHYLD: 03 July 2008 - 05:50 PM

[erpdude8]

MDGx, is there any chance you can add the WinME edition of the MSIMG32.DLL file [v5.0.2218.1] into the 98SE2ME pack?
The WinME version of MSIMG32.DLL is needed to run Opera browser 9.50 & higher reliably under Win98se.

[MDGx]

98SE2ME · UPDATED · 7-23-2008

_______________________________

All updates here:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/updates.php

1. Added modded WinME PRINTERS.HTT into option 3, because of a Start -> Settings -> Printers "length is null or not an object" JavaScript error message.

2. Added modded WinME SYSMON.EXE:
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showto...581&st=1011

3. Added Winpopup files, bnts.dll + sti_ci*.dll files.

4. MSIMG32.DLL installs as part of 98SE2ME options 1 + 2 for ~ 6-7 years now.

5. I have seen the LBA modded IO.SYS web page:
http://home.exetel.c.../phelum/w98.htm
To my knowledge IO.SYS from another OS [WinME] canNOT be "transplanted" onto Win98 SE.
They are different, and they check for MS Windows [sorry... MS-DOS ] version/build [unless some1 wants to hex-mod it], which will lockup your Win98 SE OS at bootup.

List of all files installed by 98SE2ME:
http://www.mdgx.com/98-5.htm#FME

More updates coming up in the near future. Stay tuned.

Enjoy.

[PROBLEMCHYLD]

Thanks for the update

If 98SE2ME installs 747 files for option 1+2
and 69 files for option 3 then most problem are fixed.

will these files be added
TCPIP.SYS 4.90.3004
NDIS.VXD 4.90.3001
PPPMAC.VXD 4.90.3002

We still have the Install new font feature is still broke.
other than that we are on the $

This post has been edited by PROBLEMCHYLD: 25 July 2008 - 07:09 PM

[togermano]

This is a good project but it sucks how it removes restart in msdos mode from the shutdown options

[Chozo4]

Decided to give ME->98 another try due to odd experiences with it last time which I haven't had now. However, I ran into a couple issues relating to an audio device after installation.

I'd installed packs in this order:

USP3.0b2 / 3 (tried both in different installs)
MD's usb 2 drivers
ME->98

Ater installing the ~700 file option, my 'USB Audio Device' cannot be loaded through NTKERN / MMDEVLDR. When I manage to rig it load without errors, it does not show at all under multimedia properties (MMSYS.CPL). If the device was previously installed prior to installing ME->98, the device will work but I am unable to change the preferred playedback device under mmsys.cpl. I can change all the other options (including midi device), but trying to change the main playback device does not stick and will not change.

I use 2 audio playback devices for different reasons and so frequently change between them daily, so this issue is causing alot of frustration. Is there any way to install it without installing the USB/driver INF updates and only the network stack and other files? Installing ME->98 fixes an issue I was having with Trillian astra and stablizes a few other things otherwise and really want to get it working without issues.

The multimedia device issue is the only issue I'm having.

For note: the two devices I'm switching between are:
(WDM) USB Audio Device (Plantronics USB DSP v4 audio interface)
(VXD) Yamaha DS-XG PCI Audio CODEC

edit: I tried transplanting the files dated from 2000 (assuming those were the ones from the ME install) from c:\windows & c:\windows\system, the audio worked fine but the Control panel applets locked up on any changes afterward. Have yet to figure out why.

This post has been edited by Chozo4: 10 August 2008 - 08:10 PM

[Chozo4]

Using ADVAPI32.DLL from ME->98 conflicts with GameGuard/theMida when trying to load an online game called "Mabinogi". The following error as as follows:

Quote

Themida
An internal exception occurred (Address: 0xe9f9d4)
Please, contact support@oreans.com. Thank you!

Reverting ADVAPI32.DLL to v4.80.0.1675 resolves this issue.

Another issue with gameguard/theMidas was resolved and linked to the following thread for completeness:
98 SE 3.0BETA 3
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?s=&...st&p=787892

This post has been edited by Chozo4: 12 August 2008 - 12:49 AM

[MDGx]

Chozo4, on Aug 10 2008, 07:26 PM, said:

Decided to give ME->98 another try due to odd experiences with it last time which I haven't had now. However, I ran into a couple issues relating to an audio device after installation.

I'd installed packs in this order:

USP3.0b2 / 3 (tried both in different installs)
MD's usb 2 drivers
ME->98

Ater installing the ~700 file option, my 'USB Audio Device' cannot be loaded through NTKERN / MMDEVLDR. When I manage to rig it load without errors, it does not show at all under multimedia properties (MMSYS.CPL). If the device was previously installed prior to installing ME->98, the device will work but I am unable to change the preferred playedback device under mmsys.cpl. I can change all the other options (including midi device), but trying to change the main playback device does not stick and will not change.

I use 2 audio playback devices for different reasons and so frequently change between them daily, so this issue is causing alot of frustration. Is there any way to install it without installing the USB/driver INF updates and only the network stack and other files? Installing ME->98 fixes an issue I was having with Trillian astra and stablizes a few other things otherwise and really want to get it working without issues.

The multimedia device issue is the only issue I'm having.

For note: the two devices I'm switching between are:
(WDM) USB Audio Device (Plantronics USB DSP v4 audio interface)
(VXD) Yamaha DS-XG PCI Audio CODEC

edit: I tried transplanting the files dated from 2000 (assuming those were the ones from the ME install) from c:\windows & c:\windows\system, the audio worked fine but the Control panel applets locked up on any changes afterward. Have yet to figure out why.

Have you tried to (re-)install Maximus-Decim's NUSB [USB 2.0 drivers] after 98SE2ME?
Newest NUSB release is 3.3 [English]:
http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#NUS
Might fix your problem.

FYI:
Current 98SE2ME release does not install NUSB files/INFs anymore, except for these 2 files:
DISKTSD.VXD 4.90.3001
USBMPHLP.PDR 4.90.3000

If performing all of the above did not fix your problem:
1. Back up your entire C:\Windows\System32\Drivers folder [which actually should be backed up by 98SE2ME options 1 + 2].
2. Install 98SE2ME option 2 and make sure you select to back up your OS.
3. After reboot, test your sound cards.
4. If they don't work, restore your C:\Windows\System32\Drivers folder.
5. Reboot, and test again.

HTH

[MDGx]

98SE2ME · UPDATED · 8-12-2008

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

________________________

Update:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/updates.php

8-12-2008
* Options 1 + 2: removed WinME ADVAPI32.DLL 4.90.3000 [%windir%\SYSTEM] because of online gaming software errors:
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showto...6349&st=898
MUST use ADVAPI32.DLL 4.80.1675 from Win98 SE setup CD-ROM/CABs instead [example = change CD/DVD drive letter if necessary]:
EXTRACT/Y D:\WIN98\WIN98_26.CAB ADVAPI32.DLL /L %winbootdir%\SYSTEM
This file replacement must be done from native/true/real/pure MS-DOS mode.
[thank you Chozo4]

P.S.:
O2.BAT [which installs 98SE2ME options 1 + 2] actually re-installs automatically ADVAPI32.DLL 4.80.1675 from 98SE setup CD-ROM or from CABs [if on user's hard disk/USB stick/etc] into %winbootdir%\SYSTEM after reboot.

HTH

[Hu$tle]

Here's a list of files that are removed from 98SE2Me
that in my opinion i think belong there.

ADVAPI32.DLL
CABINET.DLL
DANIM.DLL
DEVMGR32.DLL
DSKMAINT.DLL
IPROP.DLL
MFC42.DLL
MSDATL2.DLL
MSOWS409.DLL
MSTASK.DLL
MSVCIRT.DLL
NETAPI.DLL
NETAPI32.DLL
NETDI.DLL
NETOS.DLL
OPENGL32.DLL
SAGE.DLL
SETUPAPI.DLL
SETUPX.DLL
SHIMGVW.DLL (20 FILES)

DRVSPACE.EXE
MPLAYER.EXE
MSTASK.EXE
MSTINIT.EXE
SAGE.EXE
SYSTRAY.EXE
TELNET.EXE
THEMES.EXE
WINFILE.EXE (9 FILES)

DRVSPACX.VXD
FIOLOG.VXD
UNIMODEM.VXD
VCACHE.VXD (4 FILES)

DRVSPACE.SYS
THEMES.CPL
MSWRD832.CNV
WRITE32.WPC (4 FILES)

ARIAL.TTF
ARIALBD.TTF
ARIALBI.TTF
ARIALI.TTF
COMIC.TTF
COUR.TTF
COURBD.TTF
COURBI.TTF
COURI.TTF
LSANSI.TTF
TAHOMA.TTF
TAHOMABD.TTF
TIMES.TTF
TIMESBD.TTF
TIMESBI.TTF
TIMESI.TTF
TREBUC.TTF
TREBUCBD.TTF
TREBUCBI.TTF
TREBUCIT.TTF
VERDANA.TTF
VERDANAB.TTF
VERDANAI.TTF
VERDANAZ.TTF
LSANSUNI.TTF (25 FILES)

Example 1

THEMES.EXE + THEMES.CPL
these files are not included because we can obtain these files
from plus98. I don't have plus98 so i can't use these newer files.
So guess i'm able to use the next best thing which is WinME
THEMES.EXE + THEMES.CPL files, but i have been deprive of that
because you feel as if these files are not important because newer
versions can be found. And i feel, just cause we are able to get them elsewhere
(not all of us) that they still should be added.


Example 2

If i don't use IE6 how am i supposed to obtain these newer files
I feel i should not have to install IE just to get these files
then un-install thats stupid.

MSTASK.DLL
SAGE.DLL
MSTASK.EXE
MSTINIT.EXE
SAGE.EXE ?

Example 3

if most of these files (the latest WinME) are not installed or removed
then i really don't see the purpose for 98SE2ME. Some of these
actually belong in here.I can understand some files are buggy
but what about the ones that are not?


Example 4

Newer is not always better
SETUPAPI.DLL from WinXP is no good but the WinME version
is, but you have it removed for what reason.
I'll just boycott this until you improve this.

[Eck]

Read the Readme. He explains everything. Many of the items you talk about wreak havoc on 98SE if used. I'm pretty certain no one cares if anyone decides to use 98SE2ME or not, so threaten to spread the word and have everyone boycott the project. No one will care. This is a free offering from an enthusiast that for years has provided amazing things for the community of Windows users. No one will be upset if you go it on your own rather than using the package. MDGx even provides a manual approach like that in the Readme.

Experiment away. It's your system.

As has been explained many times and also in the Readme, a 98SE system that doesn't have the latest available versions of things like Internet Explorer, Direct X, Windows Media Player, etc, cannot be made secure or bug fixed as older versions have not gotten any updates for ages.

[plop]

I try to install the 8-12-2008 version of 98SE2ME, option 1, but keep getting a 'winoldap caused an invalid page fault in kernel32.dll' error, after O2.bat, I think, finishes running, (the Gamezone files). I then have to reboot and an earlier 98SE2ME loads.

Appreciate any ideas how to overcome this so that 98SE2ME runs to completion.

And many, many, thanks, MDGx, for this OS, and for the tweaked NVidia 82.69 drivers which do wonders on a FX 5500 card in an old BX MB.

This post has been edited by plop: 14 September 2008 - 07:07 PM

[MDGx]

plop, on Sep 14 2008, 07:36 AM, said:

I try to install the 8-12-2008 version of 98SE2ME, option 1, but keep getting a 'winoldap caused an invalid page fault in kernel32.dll' error, after O2.bat, I think, finishes running, (the Gamezone files). I then have to reboot and an earlier 98SE2ME loads.

Appreciate any ideas how to overcome this so that 98SE2ME runs to completion.

And many, many, thanks, MDGx, for this OS, and for the tweaked NVidia 82.69 drivers which do wonders on a FX 5500 card in an old BX MB.

Try this:

1. Install 98SE2ME.EXE = run the installer but exit [do not select any option] at the options menu.

2. Go to the C:\9!M folder, open O2.BAT in Notepad and remark (comment out) these lines

C:\9!M\START /M /W RUNDLL32.EXE %windir%\SYSTEM\ADVPACK.DLL,DelNodeRunDLL32 %windir%\WIN98SE.9ME
C:\9!M\START /M /W RUNDLL32.EXE %windir%\SYSTEM\ADVPACK.DLL,DelNodeRunDLL32 %windir%\FONTS.9ME
C:\9!M\START /M /W RUNDLL32.EXE %windir%\SYSTEM\ADVPACK.DLL,DelNodeRunDLL32 %windir%\SYSBCKUP.9ME
C:\9!M\START /M /W RUNDLL32.EXE %windir%\SYSTEM\ADVPACK.DLL,DelNodeRunDLL32 %windir%\SYSTEM\VMM32.9ME
C:\9!M\START /M /W RUNDLL32.EXE %windir%\SYSTEM\ADVPACK.DLL,DelNodeRunDLL32 %windir%\SYSTEM.9ME
C:\9!M\START /M /W RUNDLL32.EXE %windir%\SYSTEM\ADVPACK.DLL,DelNodeRunDLL32 %windir%\SYSTEM\IOSUBSYS.9ME
C:\9!M\START /M /W RUNDLL32.EXE %windir%\SYSTEM\ADVPACK.DLL,DelNodeRunDLL32 %windir%\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS.9ME

by adding :: [a double colon followed by a space] in front of each one of them.

3. Run the 98SE2ME.PIF shortcut:
http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/#05
and select option 1 or 2.

See if that error still happens.
And please post here if it runs ok, so I can remove those lines.

And many thanks for your appreciation.

HTH

[plop]

Thanks, MGDx.

The error persists with or without an O2.bat edit; moreover backups can be created, (without edit), upon system restart, so it's not your code. I think it's a problem in my system. Recently I've had sporadic 'frozen' shutdowns, hence the idea to re-install the latest 98SE2ME to try and overcome this.

The winoldap error occurs at -- C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\SHELL32.DLL, SHExitWindowsEx 2 -- when extracting or finished extracting from WIN98SE\WIN98_28.CAB

I don't know if this is from O2 script or another. But the 'forced' shutdown is 'normal', meaning no scandisk on restart. :-)

Sorry to bother you, yet appreciate any ideas I can work on.


Update :

‘Frozen’ shutdowns solved by re-installing the network adapter card. My system was not disconnecting from the network when other computers were on line.

8-12-2008 version of 98SE2ME updates, along with those from July, were installed manually, so I’m back with a stable, up-to-date, speedy OS, thanks to MDGx.

This post has been edited by plop: 21 September 2008 - 10:15 AM

[the xt guy]

It would be good if we could have a different banner in the start up menu, one that said "98SE2ME" with a color scheme that matched the splash screen. Right now, if I install option 3, it changes to the generic Windows ME banner, otherwise it stays with the generic Windows 98 banner.

Also, what version of Windows is supposed to be shown on the desktop (if we have that option set in Tweak UI)? Previously, I had installed Gape's SPSE 2.1a along with a version of 98SE2ME from about December of 2007. The version shown on the desktop was the Windows ME version (4.90xxxx). When I reinstalled Win98 and used SPSE 3.0 b3 along with the latest 98SE2ME (Aug. 2008) the version shown was Win 98 (4.10.2222).

[mcv93us]

Hello, now that was removed from the 98MP10 the file setupapi.dll [XP SP2] you can restore the file setupapi.dll of WinME in the project 98SE2ME.
Bye.

Mcv'93

[MDGx]

the xt guy, on Sep 26 2008, 07:53 AM, said:

It would be good if we could have a different banner in the start up menu, one that said "98SE2ME" with a color scheme that matched the splash screen. Right now, if I install option 3, it changes to the generic Windows ME banner, otherwise it stays with the generic Windows 98 banner.

Also, what version of Windows is supposed to be shown on the desktop (if we have that option set in Tweak UI)? Previously, I had installed Gape's SPSE 2.1a along with a version of 98SE2ME from about December of 2007. The version shown on the desktop was the Windows ME version (4.90xxxx). When I reinstalled Win98 and used SPSE 3.0 b3 along with the latest 98SE2ME (Aug. 2008) the version shown was Win 98 (4.10.2222).

I have only modded the banner for the Win98 SE 256 colors patched EXPLORER.EXE [installs from options 1 + 2].

I have never modded WinME explorer.exe banner [which installs from option 3]. And I don't intend to, but if you have your own custom banner, please post here and I'll consider it.

[MDGx]

mcv93us, on Oct 25 2008, 12:49 PM, said:

Hello, now that was removed from the 98MP10 the file setupapi.dll [XP SP2] you can restore the file setupapi.dll of WinME in the project 98SE2ME.
Bye.

Mcv'93

Done.

See:
http://www.mdgx.com/98-5.htm#KRM9S

98SE2ME.EXE:
http://www.mdgx.com/4