Win98 update problem

[bevills1]

Recently I experienced Win98 update problems on 2 different systems that are dual boot with Win2k. On both systems while booted to Win98 I got the critical update notification, but I got a message that Windows update is for Microsoft OS systems only plus a link to Microsoft MAC support. The same error message and MAC support link are given on both systems if Windows update is attempted manually. I suspect this has to be an IE 6 update in the critical update notification since Win98 updates were stopped in 2006. Is this yet another Microsoft bug or yet another deliberate Microsoft ploy to force users to upgrade? Either way this leaves Win98 users vulnerable to IE 6 unpatched problems until or unless there's a Microsoft fix. Has anybody else experienced this Win98 problem or know of any fix?

[Ai Haibara]

Have you tried rebooting? I had that happen to me (the Windows Update site redirecting my Win98 IE to the Mac 'warning,' anyway) recently, and inexplicably, after a reboot, it didn't happen again. I don't know what happened to cause the "problem," though.

[bevills1]

Reboot and going to Windows update results in problem disappearing, and it now indicates no critical updates. However, I'm still wondering what the critical update notification was about, and I'm concerned if there'll be any more IE 6 updates available to Win98 users. If not, Win98 users will be vulnerable to future IE 6 holes/vulnerabilities if there's no way to patch them in Win98.

[MOVIEGEEK]

You can download the updates manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/downloads/corporate.asp
Make sure you have WinInstaller 2.0:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=cebbacd8-c094-4255-b702-de3bb...displaylang=en
But you are correct that no more updates will be available,my suggestion is to use FireFox and a good firewall/anti-virus combo.

[bevills1]

I do use Zonealarm plus connection through router, and I use Seamonkey which is what latest Mozilla version is called. However, certain sites require IE, and risks will simply have to be taken for those I suppose.

[Krispy Kritter]

sounds like a glitch in auto notify. I was working on a 98 machine a week ago and the win98 update page is no longer reachable. You get a page stating win98 is EOL and no longer supported and then get redirected.

From the FAQ on the Windows Update page:

Windows 98
Critical and security updates only after August 2002; no updates will be offered after June 2006

[Ai Haibara]

Weird. It's redirecting me to the Mac warning again, even after a reboot.

Krispy: Supposedly, Win98 users were supposed to still be able to use Windows Update normally, there'd just be a warning that 98 was no longer supported and there would be no more patches coming, for the most part, but you'd still be able to use the page. That's the way it was working for me... until the odd behavior above started happening.

Wonder if it'd happen on my other, old Win98 tower, if I connected it to the network and tried to use Windows Update. (It hasn't been connected to the Internet in a long time. :/ )

[GTRBudda]

I had that 'recognized as a Mac by Windows Update problem' about a month ago. It turned out to be a hosts file problem. Something damaged or altered the hosts file. I used HostsXpert to restore the hosts file, then rebooted, and now I don't get redirected as a Mac. Whatever caused the problem in the first place still crops up once and a while but I can restore the file again and it's back to normal.

[Ai Haibara]

I never really had a hosts file setup on the Win98 tower, though - not counting the hosts.sam sample file, of course.

[GTRBudda]

To tell the truth, I didn't know I had a hosts file till I had a problem with it. The only entry is 127.0.0.1 localhost, in the restored file. The damaged/altered one had something else added to it but I don't recal what it was.

[GKar]

Lots of good Windows 9x/Me stuff here:

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?s=29b10e3d3d7ff8dd287828016cf31981&showforum=91

Download the windows update patch from this thread, it fixed mine:

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?s=93d1e37fd3bae4b67bc0514895aad0a4&showtopic=94225

I also recommend the 48bit LBA patch for Win98/SE/Me systems for drives over 137GB and the Windows 98 kernel project for running Windows XP only games on Windows 98 systems (I love it for Doom 3 and Quake 4)

[Ai Haibara]

Download the windows update patch from this thread, it fixed mine:

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?s=93d1e37fd3bae4b67bc0514895aad0a4&showtopic=94225

The 'alternate' WU-fix method seems to have worked for me, so far. I haven't tried rebooting yet, though.

I also recommend the 48bit LBA patch for Win98/SE/Me systems for drives over 137GB and the Windows 98 kernel project for running Windows XP only games on Windows 98 systems (I love it for Doom 3 and Quake 4)

Kernel project?

(I wish Microsoft would release a downloadable 98FE to 98SE pack, though...)

[GKar]

Download the windows update patch from this thread, it fixed mine:

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?s=93d1e37fd3bae4b67bc0514895aad0a4&showtopic=94225

The 'alternate' WU-fix method seems to have worked for me, so far. I haven't tried rebooting yet, though.

I also recommend the 48bit LBA patch for Win98/SE/Me systems for drives over 137GB and the Windows 98 kernel project for running Windows XP only games on Windows 98 systems (I love it for Doom 3 and Quake 4)

Kernel project?

(I wish Microsoft would release a downloadable 98FE to 98SE pack, though...)

Kernel Project:

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=71476


ENABLE 48Bit LBA (big drive support for win9x/me)

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?s=36f7a5caf2e3be693e7b6b9f878d5371&showtopic=78592


Alot of stuff here too:

http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#98SE

[Ai Haibara]

Kernel Project:

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=71476

Ah, I see.

Alot of stuff here too:

http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#98SE

Yeah, I've had the Axcel216/MDGX site bookmarked for quite some time (at least before the last move). Great resource.

[bevills1]

GKar, is the 48bit LBA patch for Win98/SE/Me systems for drives over 137GB for all Win98se systems, and do you know if the Windows 98 kernel project for running Windows XP only games on Windows 98 systems works also for certain web sites that require Windows 2000 or greater such as www.nickjr.com? According to info I got with new hard drive recently, over 137 GB could be enabled only on certain Intel mobo chipsets.

[GKar]

GKar, is the 48bit LBA patch for Win98/SE/Me systems for drives over 137GB for all Win98se systems, and do you know if the Windows 98 kernel project for running Windows XP only games on Windows 98 systems works also for certain web sites that require Windows 2000 or greater such as www.nickjr.com? According to info I got with new hard drive recently, over 137 GB could be enabled only on certain Intel mobo chipsets.

48bit lba patch probably will work on any system and chipset (except for a few certain laptops) that has a bios that can recognize the large drive, the patch is a modified version of microsofts ESDI_506.PDR driver (you can see it on the driver tab for primary and secondary controller driver file details tab on the device tree).

as for the kernel project i only know it works for the 2 things i wanted it for, quake4 and doom3

for more details and better answers check the links i posted above...

I was able to go to www.nickjr.com on my win98 system but i didn't try any of the websites features, just the main page.

[bevills1]

The link to enable 48 Bit LBA has the warning, "However, this current version may cause data corruption on _some_ drives w/ 48-bit LBA!!! So be extremely careful!!!" How should one be careful to avoid possible corruption? Maybe it's safer to avoid such risks and do without disk space above 137 GB.

Also the kernel project displays, "You don't have permission to acces. Please login." Does this mean registration is necessary to access kernel project?

[GKar]

The link to enable 48 Bit LBA has the warning, "However, this current version may cause data corruption on _some_ drives w/ 48-bit LBA!!! So be extremely careful!!!" How should one be careful to avoid possible corruption? Maybe it's safer to avoid such risks and do without disk space above 137 GB.

Also the kernel project displays, "You don't have permission to acces. Please login." Does this mean registration is necessary to access kernel project?

I was using it with my maxtor 160gb and 200gb drives with no troubles and there were no reports posted from anyone with a problem. I have no ill effects from using the Kernel mod. You may need to signup over there, it's painless. Email and password is all I think. Best thing is if you signup you can get help over there with your questions from some very knowelegable Win98 people.

[Ai Haibara]

Sign up... for the kernel project download, or to read the post? I didn't encounter any restrictions on reading the topic. I'm still wondering if it would be a good idea... especially if it helps with Unicode and maybe USB devices. And since the Win98 tower's been acting up a little, maybe it'll help with that, too. (I quickly skimmed the first one or two pages; I'll go back and read it later when I have the time.)

[GKar]

Sign up... for the kernel project download, or to read the post? I didn't encounter any restrictions on reading the topic. I'm still wondering if it would be a good idea... especially if it helps with Unicode and maybe USB devices. And since the Win98 tower's been acting up a little, maybe it'll help with that, too. (I quickly skimmed the first one or two pages; I'll go back and read it later when I have the time.)

Have you tried Max Decim's NUSB? It added USB 2.0 support for both my SiS and nForce3 Win98SE systems.

[Ai Haibara]

Yeah, I found it while running a web search, a while back - but unfortunately, like a number of other USB drivers, I can't use it because my two Win98 towers are running 98 Gold/First Edition, not SE.

It's not absolutely important that I get USB support running on those towers (as I do have it on the other systems), but it would be nice.

[bevills1]

Registration at http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=71476 asks for Spambot control number. Does GKar or anybody else know how or where to obtain this number?

[bevills1]

Several tries to register at msfn.org failed the first few times I tried to register, but today I finally succeeded. There must have been some temporary problem on the site initially which would not accept the Spambot control number entered as suggested on the site which made me think I had to acquire a Spambot control number through some site or process; howeverer, today's attempt succeeded in registration which enabled me to download the kernel file needed.

This kernel update does allow games to be played on www.nickjr.com which states Windows 2000 Professional or higher are required. Now the kids can play nickjr in Win98SE as much as they like!