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Windows 98 + ME *still* alive campaign
Spread the word
Actually, Windows 98 (FE = First Edition), 98 SE (Second Edition) + ME (Millennium Edition) are *still* alive and well.
Please keep in mind that Windows 9x [95/98/ME] based OSes are installed on over 70 million computers, out of which 50 million are running Windows 98, 98 SE or ME.Most small companies, charities, schools and a lot of individuals cannot afford to upgrade to Windows XP or any other OS, even Linux, because they don't have the necessary resources and/or knowledge.
True, Linux distros are free, but someone needs to install, service, repair and maintain [in many cases] a large number of [eventually networked] computers, no matter what OS they may run, and those IT technicians must get paid.
Sure, the KDE/Gnome interface may look familiar to most Windows users, but there will be a learning curve to make use of it.
Do you think people are willing to go through such pain just to upgrade their good-working 98/ME computers? Ask them yourself.
Besides, those good ol' 9x based OSes are fairly easy and cheap to maintain and troubleshoot, even if Microsoft won't help anymore. ;)The point is that...
Enthusiast power users, programmers and IT specialists provide *free* support in their spare time at various web sites, forums, blogs etc.
MSFN.org is the best known support forum for Windows 98, 98 SE + ME, and all updates, service packs, fixes, patches, enhancement packs etc... are free:
Unofficial 98 SE Service Pack forum:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showforum=91
95/98/98 SE/ME forum:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showforum=8
Your questions + comments are usually answered in a timely fashion by knowledgeable forum members.This way Windows 98/98 SE/ME OSes can be safely used even on modern, fast computers for every conceivable purpose, including playing hardware demanding games [if you have the necessary hardware that is ;)], desktop publishing, 3D graphics rendering, high-end A/V editing, CD/DVD burning, programming, internet browsing etc.
* System Updates:
98 SE SP2:
http://exuberant.ms11.net/98sesp.html
98 FE SP1:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=44732
ME SP1:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=61407
Native USB Drivers for 98 SE:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=43605
MS IE 6.0 SP1 Updates Pack:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=77706
98/98 SE Upgrade Pack:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=72297
98 SE Cumulative Update:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=50611
98, 98 SE + ME updates + (hot)fixes:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=46581* Enhancement + Transformation Packs:
98SE2ME:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=46349
98SEMP10:
http://www.mdgx.com/wmp.htm#98MP10
Revolutions Pack:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=58357
Kernel XP:
http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=71476* Individual OS Updates:
98:
http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#W98
98 SP1:
http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#SP1
98 SE:
http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#98SE
ME:
http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#WME
95 FE (First Edition) + OSR1:
http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#WIN
95 OSR2:
http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#OSR2* Essential System Add-Ons + Tools:
http://www.mdgx.com/add.htm
DirectX Fixes, Updates + Tools:
http://www.mdgx.com/dx.htm
Internet Explorer Fixes + Updates:
http://www.mdgx.com/ietoy.htm
Windows Media Player Fixes + Updates:
http://www.mdgx.com/wmp.htm
Drivers + Tools:
http://www.mdgx.com/drv.htm* Security, Firewalls, Anti-Spyware + Anti-Virus tools [free(ware)]:
Security:
http://www.mdgx.com/modem.htm#TS
Firewalls:
http://www.mdgx.com/fw.htm#FWL
Anti-Spyware:
http://www.mdgx.com/fw.htm#ASP
Anti-Virus:
http://www.mdgx.com/vir.htm* Tips, secrets, guides + troubleshooting:
All Windows OSes:
http://www.mdgx.com/newtip.htm
98, 98 SP1 + 98 SE:
http://www.mdgx.com/newtip98.htm
ME:
http://www.mdgx.com/wme.htm
Registry:
http://www.mdgx.com/reg.htm
W95-11D.EXE:
http://www.mdgx.com/95.htm
MSDOS.SYS:
http://www.mdgx.com/msdos.htm
SYSTEM.INI:
http://www.mdgx.com/lastweek.htm#SYSINI
DOS:
http://www.mdgx.com/secrets.htm
Easter Eggs:
http://www.mdgx.com/egg.htm* Free(ware) software:
95/98/ME + NT4/2000/XP/2003:
http://www.mdgx.com/toy.htm
Diagnostic, Testing + Benchmarking:
http://www.mdgx.com/speed.htm
Backup, Recovery + Hard Disk:
http://www.mdgx.com/secrets.htm#FDPT
CD + DVD:
http://www.mdgx.com/drv.htm#CDR
Video + Audio:
http://www.mdgx.com/drv.htm#DRV
http://www.mdgx.com/toy.htm#MED
Internet:
http://www.mdgx.com/toy.htm#WEB
DOS:
http://www.mdgx.com/dos.htm* Other related web sites + forums:
98/ME web sites:
http://www.mdgx.com/newtip98.htm#98L
95/98/ME forums:
http://www.mdgx.com/newtip98.htm#98FEnjoy.
you can read more at msfn.org
Laptop : DELL Inspiron 7000, ATi Rage Pro 8MB, 256MB, PII 400Mhz, 40gb HDD, 15'' display.
Desktop : AMD Athlon 1800+, 640MB SD-RAM, 80GB HDD, ATi Radeon 9200 SE 128MB.
Ah, a one man 'campaign' is it?
Is there any need to promote Windows 98 etc in a forum devoted to the same?
There's an expression: "preaching to the choir"
Are you going to 'spread the word' elsewhere? (Don't forget, there's a WinME forum here as well)
In fact, the use of Windows 98 appears to be steadily declining (no surprise there)
We've heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true
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"Please keep in mind that Windows 9x [95/98/ME] based OSes are installed on over 70 million computers, out of which 50 million are running Windows 98, 98 SE or ME."
This makes no sence what so ever. If it's installed on 70 million computers then how is it only running on 50 million? And where did you get these specs anyway?
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20 million on W95 maybe?
Or perhaps the rest are still trying to make 9x work. Sorry, couldn't resist it, only joking.
DerekW
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i didnt write the post up, it was actually written my MDGx from MSFN. you can read the original post here
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=78600&st=0
its just a crusade to help keep 9X support for all the people still using it, such as schools, non profit organizations and other things like them.
my school uses 98 on almost every machine they have, so, i just want to help spread the word to help encourage people to write up security fixes, or at least bug reports so then more experienced people can help write them.
thats all im trying to say, dont get mad at me for it, im just trying to help them out.
thanks anyways...
Laptop : DELL Inspiron 7000, ATi Rage Pro 8MB, 256MB, PII 400Mhz, 40gb HDD, 15'' display.
Desktop : AMD Athlon 1800+, 640MB SD-RAM, 80GB HDD, ATi Radeon 9200 SE 128MB.
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heres where you can find the 50 - 70 million computers running 9x systems
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-6092653.html
Laptop : DELL Inspiron 7000, ATi Rage Pro 8MB, 256MB, PII 400Mhz, 40gb HDD, 15'' display.
Desktop : AMD Athlon 1800+, 640MB SD-RAM, 80GB HDD, ATi Radeon 9200 SE 128MB.
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Oh well, the 50/70 thing is cleared up now (see #5).
It says:
Analyst firms estimate that there are still between 50 million and 70 million computers running Windows 95, 98 or ME.Which is different to:
"Please keep in mind that Windows 9x [95/98/ME] based OSes are installed on over 70 million computers, out of which 50 million are running Windows 98, 98 SE or ME."DerekW
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meh, keep 98 alive.
its old, ill give you that, but its still being used on a lot of computers
Laptop : DELL Inspiron 7000, ATi Rage Pro 8MB, 256MB, PII 400Mhz, 40gb HDD, 15'' display.
Desktop : AMD Athlon 1800+, 640MB SD-RAM, 80GB HDD, ATi Radeon 9200 SE 128MB.
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I sure agree to that. I'll stick to my reliable OS until either I want some new wonder facility that W98SE can't give me or when I need to change some chunk of hardware and can't get software for it.
Often it's the hardware that makes the machine more than the OS. Not surprising XP seems stacks better when you check out the hardware they put it on. I agree XP is technically a better system but you can tweak the hell out of W98SE using DOS etc and make it go like the wind.
My son-in-law once said W98 was OK for a bit of browsing and some word processing. Well, I do one heck of a lot more than that - everything I want at present.
DerekW
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It's not an endangered species or an about-to-be-cancelled TV show, it's just software, plain and simple.
Perfectly adequate for many tasks, and certainly suited for older hardware, but the idea is the right OS for the right machine & needs
If you feel it's worthy of a campaign or a children's crusade, I would advise you to get out of the house more, maybe talk to people and give computers a break for a while
We've heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true
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>>If you feel it's worthy of a campaign or a children's crusade, I would advise you to get out of the house more, maybe talk to people and give computers a break for a while
I take it you don't get along with Linux people. :)
"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure." - BILL CLINTON
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... that remains to be seen ; )
I've used Knoppix & DSL (among others), and plan on installing some flavour on my next machine.
Campaigns are for politicians and other afflicted life forms - software /OS choices (to my mind) should be the result of a little thought, research & experimentation - bandwagons... not so much
You are, once again, Microsoft's bitch
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Well I have my PC dual booted XP Pro Corp (FAT32) and 98SE (FAT32) . I still use 98SE for my old games. Some of which refuse to install on XP no matter what you try. Also with having XP as FAT32 (Not a fan of NTSF) if I get a real stubborn virus or nastie in XP I cant stop or get rid of. AS long as I find out what it is called I can boot in 98SE and remove the offening nastie from there. So for me 98SE is still very much alive and still useful.
Note:- I really dont think it fair to belittle people for there views. spiritwalker made a comment on something they felt strongly on. And I really dont see what harm they did in doing that.
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mmm - Hang-on... Overall "spiritwalker" chappie is surely/really trying to be helpful; to encourage others with perhaps fewer pennies than many others to persevere with their "elderly" (in M$-terms) OS. It ain't broke, don't need to fix it etc... and it still does what it says on the tin (or sticker...). For many it is all they require... - regardless of currebnt technology specs...
And some of the info. re updates etc. is (still) useful to various others.. - me not the least.. Well done for effort/enthusiasm; appreciated!
"here endeth the sermon...."
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"Hey, i am with you on win 98/98SE."
cool :)
Laptop : DELL Inspiron 7000, ATi Rage Pro 8MB, 256MB, PII 400Mhz, 40gb HDD, 15'' display.
Desktop : AMD Athlon 1800+, 640MB SD-RAM, 80GB HDD, ATi Radeon 9200 SE 128MB.
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I have written a step-by-step guide for those un-sure of how to protect their Windows 98 / Me computer now that Microsoft has ended official support.
You can read it here:
http://www.computing.net/windows95/wwwboard/forum/168835.html
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I've been working with Win 98 for as long as I can remember and I can't say that I completely disagree with you, Spiritwalker. However, I find that Win XP (although mostly overrated) has better security features and is better adapted for the newer programs that come out. It is also easy to administrate because of the ease of control of what permissions you'll give your general users.
All in all, I think it not only depends on the hardware you have in your computer but also your intentions for it's use. You say that your school uses mostly Win 98, but I think that schools definitely need to invest in Win XP simply because of security reasons because there are more than one user using the computers and the staff cannot always monitor what everyone is doing on the computers. But for home use, I'd definitely recommend Win 98 because there isn't such a large amount of users.
Now, don't get me wrong because I'm a big fan of Win 98 but I'm also a realistic thinker aswell and you need to consider all aspects of the OS before you can say anything about it with a clear conscience. Win 98 doesn't suit everyone so you need to expect that not everyone will agree with you. But, HEY! I do!!! :)
You need a good defence if a trojan barges into your territory.
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cool, thanks for the reply violet.
i use windows XP and 98 SE in a dual boot on my laptop (inspiron 7000) and its perfect for what i do, 98 for browsing the net and stuff like that and XP just for when i want a change from the shell of 98.
i like the look of XP and the speed of 98, now if only i could make a hybrid of the two O.o
Laptop : DELL Inspiron 7000, ATi Rage Pro 8MB, 256MB, PII 400Mhz, 40gb HDD, 15'' display.
Desktop : AMD Athlon 1800+, 640MB SD-RAM, 80GB HDD, ATi Radeon 9200 SE 128MB.
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lol I know what you mean. Win XP and win 98SE wood definitely make the best OS around. But, how come u r campaigning about Win 98? If you wanna spread the good word, than that's cool. But, 2 campaign about it? Well, I guess it's the best way of showing people wut you believe in. Good on ya, mate! :D
You need a good defence if a trojan barges into your territory.
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