98 (FE), 98 SP1, 98 SE + ME SHELL32.DLL fix

[PROBLEMCHYLD]

Anonymous author of various 98/ME fixes [u891711, Q918547, SHELL98 ETC] sent his thoughts about the 98/98SE Explorer/OS lockups when deleting large files/folders using IE 6.0 SP1 browse*.dll files:

I don't know about patching USER.EXE. I suspect something gets screwed up

when USER.EXE repaints the window with the deleted files and runs out of

resources. It then stays "corrupted" until EXPLORER.EXE terminates

(logging off also works, but causes a permanent resource leak). So, I am

afraid don't know yet what to patch. I noticed another interesting feature

when EXPLORER.EXE uses the IE5.5 versions of BROWSExx.DLL and you may want

to post this on MSFN. Deleting files is much, much faster than with the

IE6SP1 files. There are problems when using two versions of BROWSExx.DLL

side by side, so it is not a good solution.

HTH

I told you guys it eats up resources

fixed that and the problems go away

[MDGx]

UPDATED 11-7-2006

* Unofficial Windows 98/98 SP1/98 SE Explorer Lockups SHELL32.DLL 4.72.3812.620 Fix:

http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=84451

Direct download [475 KB, English]:

http://www.mdgx.com/files/SHELL98.EXE

BUG: This SHELL32.DLL fix breaks the ability of removing annoying arrows from Desktop shortcut icons!

FIX: See "PATCHED SHELL32.DLL BUG + FIX" in TIPS98.TXT (included) for complete details:

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

This SHELL32.DLL Fix corrects Windows Explorer and similar tools lockups while trying to copy/create/move/delete/rename large files/folders, even if Internet Explorer 5.xx/6.xx already installed.

Please see 1st post for details:

http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=84451

Edited January 9, 2007 by MDGx

[Acheron]

UPDATED 11-7-2006

* Unofficial Windows 98/98 SP1/98 SE Explorer Lockups SHELL32.DLL 4.72.3812.620 Fix:

http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=84451

Direct download [475 KB, English]:

http://www.mdgx.com/files/SHELL98.EXE

BUG: This SHELL32.DLL fix breaks the ability of removing annoying arrows from Desktop shortcut icons!

FIX: See "PATCHED SHELL32.DLL BUG + FIX" in TIPS98.TXT (included) for complete details:

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

This SHELL32.DLL Fix corrects Windows Explorer and similar tools lockups while trying to copy/create/move/delete/rename large files/folders, even if Internet Explorer 5.xx/6.xx already installed.

Please see 1st post for details:

http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=84451

Thanks for this update!

However aren't there still some open security holes in the Windows Shell? Will these get patched also sometime?

[eidenk]

Author's comments...

May I use this opportunity to address a common misconception about GDI and

USER resources in Win9x/ME: The OS and all applications, whether they are

16-bit or 32-bit versions, share the same GDI and USER resources. These

resources are managed by GDI.EXE and USER.EXE, respectively. One of the

two data segments of GDI.EXE is for GDI resources and one of the two data

segments of USER.EXE (plus two extra heaps) is for USER resources. GDI and

USER objects (in these data segments) are accessed through *16-bit-wide*

handles. 32-bit applications (and DLLs) just use zero-extended 32-bit

versions of the same handles. The data segments I am referring to are

32-bit segments with an *initial* size of approx. 2.1 MiByte each. The

16-bit resources are just the lowest 65536 bytes each in these two 32-bit

data segments. 16-bit-wide handles and the 16-bit resource limit cause the

real bottle neck in resources of Win9x. Increasing the default size of the

two 32-bit data segments (which would be possible using hidden system

settings for them) makes very, very little, if any difference.

Unless it has just been updated, I had missed that so far.

So, any more information please ?

You say the size of the 32bits segments could be enlarged simply by modifying hidden system settings.

Which ones and where please ?

[Eck]

MDGx,

I've noticed that somehow 98SE2ME always leaves me without the stupid arrows on the desktop shortcuts.

I've been running Gape's Unofficial pack, the new Multipatcher, then your 98SE2ME, 98SE2XP, and the MP10 to 98SE thing.

So, if I then run this new Shell32.dll fix will I again lose the tweakUI ability to toggle the shortcut arrows on and off?

Will this patch be included in one of your packs?

Do you accomplish this magic in 98SE2ME with the file already hex edited?

Which method would you choose if all those packs had already been installed and you didn't want to run them all again just to fix this? I'd rather not reapply 98SE2ME, etc just to get small changes. I usually try to apply your future changes manually if it looks easy enough. I prefer not to run huge packs on an already setup system.

And, I use WinZip and WinRAR so I'm wondering whether those would accomplish things you call for stuff like PowerArchiver to achieve.

[the_guy]

Can the installer please be modified to work on 95, but with the active desktop update installed?

the_guy

[noguru]

Very nice Thanks for posting this.

I used the IE 5.5 browsxxx files trick before because this error troubled me a lot!. I reregistered the the default IE6.0 ones before applying this fix. Unfortunately I could not reproduce the "file-delete" error anymore with 300+ jpg's to see if this fix really works but I know that if it does not the error will come up sooner or later again. So we will see but for now it looks very good, explorer windows including the recyclebin are opening much faster now. That's already a big improvement. I copied 500+ jpg's and deleted them tru recyclebin very smooth.

I removed the shortcut-overlay a long time ago with Xtec-Xsetup and it still works with exception from shortcut's to MS-DOS programs.

This is the most annoying bug in Win98se if you ask me. Lets hope that this is ended now. Cheers to the author !

edit: Would it be possible to create a fix that patches the original shell32.dll file so that different language versions are not needed? I installed this on a dutch Win98se. Offcourse everything is english now and I had to fix my start menu (empty startup and program folders are created on top of the original ones). I don't care but some might.

Edited November 7, 2006 by noguru

[MDGx]

However aren't there still some open security holes in the Windows Shell? Will these get patched also sometime?

I'm sure there are, but M$ discontinued support for 9x/ME OSes, so to port other OSes fixes to 9x shell32.dll it's probably not as easy as it seems.

Besides, some of the NTx [NT4/2000/XP/2003] OSes shell32.dll fixes are strictly NTx specific, do not apply to 9x [95/98/ME] OSes.

The anonymous author agreed to fix this bug only because I mentioned it to him [and obviously he is a very nice person], and he has also read about our unsuccessful tests/workarounds/etc, here at MSFN.

Please do not forget that this is only 1 person [not an entire team of software engineers] who does this in his own spare time [which from what I understand is very limited].

But I'll mention this to him nonetheless.

HTH

_____________________________________________

Author's comments...

May I use this opportunity to address a common misconception about GDI and

USER resources in Win9x/ME..............

Unless it has just been updated, I had missed that so far.

So, any more information please ?

You say the size of the 32bits segments could be enlarged simply by modifying hidden system settings.

Which ones and where please ?

I'll mention your questions to the anonymous author.

The GDI*.* fixes have not been updated recently.

Last update was 8-9-2006, when Win98SE GDI*.* files were updated to version 4.10.2227 .

To view this update, please go to:

http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=46581

and scroll down to:

NEW 8-9-2006

HTH

_____________________________________________

MDGx,

I've noticed that somehow 98SE2ME always leaves me without the stupid arrows on the desktop shortcuts.

I've been running Gape's Unofficial pack, the new Multipatcher, then your 98SE2ME, 98SE2XP, and the MP10 to 98SE thing.

So, if I then run this new Shell32.dll fix will I again lose the tweakUI ability to toggle the shortcut arrows on and off?

Will this patch be included in one of your packs?

Do you accomplish this magic in 98SE2ME with the file already hex edited?

Which method would you choose if all those packs had already been installed and you didn't want to run them all again just to fix this? I'd rather not reapply 98SE2ME, etc just to get small changes. I usually try to apply your future changes manually if it looks easy enough. I prefer not to run huge packs on an already setup system.

And, I use WinZip and WinRAR so I'm wondering whether those would accomplish things you call for stuff like PowerArchiver to achieve.

98SE2ME does this by modifying the registry, not the file.

Quote from READ1ST.TXT:

http://www.mdgx.com/9s2m/READ1ST.TXT

* ALL system files + settings listed below install independent of selected

option(s) and BEFORE creating any backups = everybody should have them even if

you decide not to install any options.

They all install right after you press Y at 98SE2ME.PIF 1st screen:

- patched Registry entry: properly remove Desktop Icons Overlay [superimposed

small arrows]when using TweakUI [Explorer tab -> Shortcut overlay -> None or

Custom] or similar tweaking tools:

http://www.mdgx.com/toy.htm#SYS

after installing any of these Win98 SE patches:

- Unofficial 2-4 GB Files Errors SHELL32.DLL 4.72.3812.610 Fix:

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=318293

Direct download [473 KB]:

http://www.mdgx.com/files/SHELL98.EXE

- Official SHELL32.DLL 4.72.3812.600 Security Vulnerability Fix:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/...n/ms02-014.mspx

Direct download [834 KB]:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/ie4...-US/q313829.exe

-----Begin cut & paste here-----

REGEDIT4

; Removes Desktop Icons Overlay [then press F5 to refresh Desktop settings]:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\CLSID\{63B51F81-C868-11D0-999C-00C04FD655E1}\InProcServer32]

@=""

; Restores Desktop Icons Overlay [replace C:\\WINDOWS to match your Win98 SE

; drive letter + directory name if different]:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\CLSID\{63B51F81-C868-11D0-999C-00C04FD655E1}\InProcServer32]

@="C:\\WINDOWS\\SYSTEM\\SHELL32.DLL"

------End cut & paste here------

How to restore original Registry value [this will display Desktop Icons

Overlay for ALL shortcuts]: run this command [%windir% = usually C:\WINDOWS]:

RUNDLL32 %windir%\SYSTEM\ADVPACK.DLL,LaunchINFSection C:\9!M\BSRESTOR.INF,IO

Then press F5 to refresh the Desktop settings.

Restore NOT necessary because original Registry value BUGgy.

More info [see 3rd FIX]:

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

HTH

_____________________________________________

edit: Would it be possible to create a fix that patches the original shell32.dll file so that different language versions are not needed? I installed this on a dutch Win98se. Offcourse everything is english now and I had to fix my start menu (empty startup and program folders are created on top of the original ones). I don't care but some might.

As I've said before, it is not recommended to patch older files, which do not contain newer fixes, because system file patches are [and should be] cumulative. Patching older files with just 1 fix and ignoring all others defeats the purpose of having a fully-patched OS.

But if you want the older file patched only for experimenting on your computer(s), that's an entirely different matter.

I'll mention your request to the anonymous author.

HTH

_____________________________________________

Can the installer please be modified to work on 95, but with the active desktop update installed?

the_guy

Did you or some1 else test this patch on Win95 with Active Desktop?

Does it work?

If it does, I'll modify the installer to make it work on Win95.

HTH

Edited November 8, 2006 by MDGx

[noguru]

edit: Would it be possible to create a fix that patches the original shell32.dll file so that different language versions are not needed? I installed this on a dutch Win98se. Offcourse everything is english now and I had to fix my start menu (empty startup and program folders are created on top of the original ones). I don't care but some might.

As I've said before, it is not recommended to patch older files, which do not contain newer fixes, because system file patches are [and should be] cumulative. Patching older files with just 1 fix and ignoring all others defeats the purpose of having a fully-patched OS.

But if you want the older file patched only for experimenting on your computer(s), that's an entirely different matter.

I'll mention your request to the anonymous author.

HTH

With original file I mean the shell32.dll that's already on the system. This fix replaces the shell.dll file with a, in my case, different language version. Is it possible to fix the existing shell32.dll instead of replacing it?

[MDGx]

With original file I mean the shell32.dll that's already on the system. This fix replaces the shell.dll file with a, in my case, different language version. Is it possible to fix the existing shell32.dll instead of replacing it?

Which different language?

The only language file that was fixed previousy [the unofficial copy files/folders 2-4 GB bug = SHELL98.EXE] is English (United States) = en-us.

The anonymous author patched that shell32.dll 4.72.3812.610 [from SHELL98.EXE] to new version 4.72.3812.620 .

So now SHELL98.EXE contains the new version:

* Unofficial Windows 98/98 SP1/98 SE Explorer Lockups SHELL32.DLL 4.72.3812.620 Fix:

http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=84451

Direct download [475 KB, English]:

http://www.mdgx.com/files/SHELL98.EXE

HTH

[erpdude8]

how about patching the WINME SHELL32.DLL v5.50.4134.100 file? the "delete large files" bug also occurs under WinME + IE6.x

[MDGx]

how about patching the WINME SHELL32.DLL v5.50.4134.100 file? the "delete large files" bug also occurs under WinME + IE6.x

I'll mention your request to the anonymous author.

[erpdude8]

Did you or some1 else test this patch on Win95 with Active Desktop?

Does it work?

If it does, I'll modify the installer to make it work on Win95.

You'll have to make the patch detect v4.72 of shell32.dll file under Win95. I've created an unofficial Wordpad patch for Win95 (it has not been released) but the updated wordpad.exe file requires v4.72 of shell32.dll file and will not run with v4.00 of shell32.dll. the wordpad.exe file from Win98/ME can read DLL/EXE files > 64kb while the Win95 version of wordpad.exe cant and will display the "Cannot load executable files" error message

[PsycoUnc]

-hmm, seems like a lot of effort to fix a prob which has a very easy (and completely successful/reliable) workaround...

-when I delete 9000+ files (copies of windows or progfiles dirs), all I need to do is "cancel" the deletion process every 5-7 seconds, and repeat... takes maybe 4 cycles to finish, and no hang/corruption/etc at all... a very easy/simple/quick/reliable workaround, I've done it many many times for years now, no problems...

[sticking w/IE5.5sp2 (+98se2me #3), of course; -never infected, will NEVER "crap-out" my w98se OS w/IE6+]

>;]

.

-ps: I would like to invite anybody to try to "hack/infect" my IE5.5sp2 w98se OS, just out of curiosity... (and I don't usually run an antivirus, except on rare occasions when surfing "dangerous" sites, and even then it's never alerted me to any hack/virus attempts)... so, go ahead, please, attempt to infect me, I don't even believe it's realistically possible, so prove me wrong...

>;]

.

-pps: use Firefox 99.9% of the time; but for the sake of this test, I'll go ahead and use Internet Excrement, see if I get infected...

Edited November 11, 2006 by PsycoUnc

[myelin]

-ps: I would like to invite anybody to try to "hack/infect" my IE5.5sp2 w98se OS, just out of curiosity... (and I don't usually run an antivirus, except on rare occasions when surfing "dangerous" sites, and even then it's never alerted me to any hack/virus attempts)... so, go ahead, please, attempt to infect me, I don't even believe it's realistically possible, so prove me wrong...

>;]

.

-pps: use Firefox 99.9% of the time; but for the sake of this test, I'll go ahead and use Internet Excrement, see if I get infected...

You are asking for something which will make you . People are here to fix the problems, not create problems. Why don't you share with us about your security measures in this thread.

I'll mention your request to the anonymous author.

Who is that mysterious, hidden, undercover, nameless, shy, genious and selfless anonymous author?