Software Availability
If you are still using Windows 9x/ME and you want to use newer software, you are up a creek without a paddle. The only thing I have seen available is
- antivirus software from ESET.com and *maybe* avast (but I don't think so anymore - go with ESET, they are the last one).
- for programmers, there is the Borland C++ 5.5 command-line compiler (see my software page at the bottom),
- and the BASIC-like Auto-It 3, which can be set to compile non-unicode code which should be win9x compatible (I am not sure, but it may no longer compile under win9x),
- Webroot SpySweeper still has a lower version number win9x/me version you can download from their site once you purchase their anti-spyware software. I do not know about their AV package because that is a new package and hasn't been out as long.
- OpenOffice.org (maybe, depending on java version it includes) - office package that I think still runs on win9x/me.
- Office 97 or Office 2000 if you can still get a retail version. I could be wrong, but I think 97 is for win9x and office 2000 is for ME/win2k.
- PDFtypewriter, available from ctdeveloping $50, pdf editor, print->pdf, on 9x requires MDAC 2.5 or better.
I suggest you use your machine as an internet box and as a word processor.
Microsoft Windows Update site
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.comfor a while this feature of microsoft's site was disabled for windows 98 and ME users, but was reinstated later. Use it many times until it doesn't need it anymore! If you install Windows Media Player 9 or IE6, Run it again!
IE6 SP1
can be found hereit is also available on cd. Although if you want a more up-to-date browser, try Firefox 3 and Thunderbird is a safer email client. If your email inbox gets to 2GB, you can split it (can't do that with Outlook Express or Outlook - they just stop working).
MDIE6CU 1.8:
MDIE6CU 1.8:http://www.mdgx.com/ietoy.htm#ICU
* Unofficial Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1 Component Update (MDIE6CU) 1.8 for Windows 98 SE installs all current MS IE 6.0 SP1 updates + security fixes:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=97816
MDIE6CU.EXE [12.8 MB, English, free]:
http://www.mdgx.com/spx/MDIE6CU.EXE
unofficial win9x fixes.
http://www.mdgx.com/0.php, includes registry NETBIOS security fix.Security lockdown: remove NETBIOS (one of several ways)
RenameC:\Windows\SYSTEM\VNBT.386 to VNBT.386_ and reboot. This will disable nbname (UDP port 137) and nbsession (TCP port 139). renaming the file back will re-enable NETBIOS.
[Thank you Gregor!]corruption
apparently windows 98 gets corrupted easily and the registry gets mangled. when your system starts doing strange things and it's not spyware or other vermin, suspect a need to reinstall windows from scratch. This can be done from a Windows 98 cd, or from a System Restore cd.512MB Ram Maximum
Win9x/ME: 229=536,870,912 bytes=512MB RAM Maximum.Windows Memory Limitations: see MSDN Article.
32GB FAT32 partition limitation
FAT32: SW limitations: 64GB limit enforced by 98's FDISK (see replacement repaired FDISK), 127.53GB limit imposed by SCANDISK (part of WinME, 98) and 32GB limit within the Windows 2000 Format Utility, even though FAT32 architecture theoretically can support drives up to 8TiB. Windows 2000 can mount FAT32 volumes that are up to 127.53GB in size (max). XP can't format FAT32 more than 32GB during SETUP, but can format up to 8TB later. You may get continuous disk errors from 98/ME's SCANDISK on FAT32 volumes larger than 32GB when passing the 32GB point. see next item on PHEONIX BIOS/BITSHIFT.32GB BITSHIFT BIOS limitation
PHOENIX BIOS+SCANDISK: 32GB LIMIT on FAT32 volumes because of BITSHIFT translation method. see SCANDISK patch for 9x and article.FAT12/FAT16 limitation: 105 files
FAT12/16: 512 entries in the root directory/folder. that meansC:\ (I was not sure what exactly this meant, probably related to the filesystem. I have always experienced a limit of 105 files in this case)DOS/Win95: 105 files in the root directory/folder. at this point you get a "disk full" error.