Windows 98

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Windows 98
(Part of the Microsoft Windows family)
Screenshot

Screenshot of Windows 98
Developer
Microsoft
Release information
Release date: June 25, 1998 info
Current version:  4.10.1998 ("Gold"), 4.10.2222A ("SE"), June 25, 1998 ("Gold"), May 5, 1999 ("SE") info
Source model: Closed source
License: Microsoft EULA
Kernel type: Monolithic kernel
Support status
Unsupported as of July 11, 2006[1]
Further reading

Windows 98 (codenamed Memphis) is a graphical operating system released on June 25, 1998 by Microsoft and the successor to Windows 95. Like its predecessor, it is a hybrid 16-bit/32-bit monolithic product based on MS-DOS. Windows 98 was succeeded by Windows Me on September 14, 2000.

Windows 98 is commonly recommended over its successor, Windows Me, due to the higher stability of Windows 98.

Contents

Windows 98 Second Edition

Cover of the Windows 98 Second Edition Box
Cover of the Windows 98 Second Edition Box

Windows 98 Second Edition (often shortened to SE) is an updated release of Windows 98, released on May 5, 1999. It includes fixes for many minor issues, improved USB support, and the replacement of Internet Explorer 4.0 with the significantly faster and lighter Internet Explorer 5.0. Also included is Internet Connection Sharing, which allows multiple computers on a LAN to share a single Internet connection through Network Address Translation. Other features in the update include Microsoft NetMeeting 3.0 and integrated support for DVD-ROM drives. A memory overflow issue was resolved which in the older version of Windows 98 would crash most systems if left running for 48 hours. Also included on the CD-ROM is the option to install Microsoft Plus! themes for Windows 98. A list of all features new to Windows 98 Second Edition can be found here.


New driver standards

Windows 98 was the first operating system to use the Windows Driver Model (WDM). This fact was not well published when Windows 98 was released and most hardware producers continued to develop drivers for the older driver standard, VxD. This resulted in the misconception that Windows 98 can use only VxD drivers. The WDM standard spread years after its release, mostly through Windows 2000 and Windows XP, because these systems are not compatible with the older VxD standard. Today, even if hardware producers are not developing drivers optimized for Windows 98, the drivers written to WDM standards are compatible with Windows 98–based systems.

System requirements

  • 486DX-2/66 MHz or higher processor (Pentium processor recommended)
  • 16MB of RAM (24MB recommended)
  • At least 500 MB of space available on HDD. The amount of space required depends on the installation method and the components selected, but virtual memory and system utilities as well as drivers should be taken into consideration.
  • Upgrading from Windows 95 (FAT16) or 3.1 (FAT): 140-400 MB (typically 205 MB).
  • New installation (FAT32): 190-305 MB (typically 210 MB).
  • Note: Both Windows 98 and Windows 98 SE can have significant problems associated with hard drives that are over 32 Gigabytes (GB) in size. This issue only occurs with certain Phoenix BIOS settings. A software update has been made available to fix this shortcoming.[2]
  • VGA or higher resolution monitor
  • CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive
  • Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device (optional).[3]

The first edition of Windows 98 was also available in a floppy disk version that required a floppy drive rather than a CD-ROM drive, however this version was and is quite rare.

Like its predecessor, Windows 95, and its successor, Windows Millennium Edition (Me), users can bypass hardware requirement checks with the undocumented /nm setup switch. This allows installation on computers with processors as old as the 80386.

Press demonstration

The release of Windows 98 was preceded by a notable press demonstration at Comdex in April 1998. Microsoft CEO Bill Gates was highlighting the operating system's ease of use and enhanced support for Plug and Play (PnP). However, when program manager Chris Capossela plugged a scanner in and attempted to install it, the operating system crashed, displaying a Blue Screen of Death.[4] Gates remarked after applause and cheering from the audience, "That must be why we're not shipping Windows 98 yet." Video footage of this event became a popular Internet phenomenon.

Windows 98 System tools

  • ScanDisk - System utility used to maintain the file system. It offers a DOS and a GUI version. Used to check the integrity of the file system and files stored within.
  • Disk Defragmenter - Used to counter the negative effects of filesystem fragmentation. It collects fragmented file parts, reconnects them and rearranges all files in optimal order, thus speeding up file access and allowing faster boot times.
  • Scanreg - Used to restore the System registry. It tests the registry's integrity and saves a backup copy each time. The maximum amount of copies is eight. Due to a bug the oldest registry copy available cannot be restored (before restoration, the current configuration is backed up and it erases the oldest registry backup listed). The restoration of a faulty registry can only be done in DOS mode. Important DOS commands: scanreg/opt - optimizes the registry by deleting dead entries; scanreg/fix - repairs registry settings.
  • Msconfig - A system utility used to disable programs and services which are not required to run the computer. It is a very efficient tool that can multiply the system's stability and speed.
  • Sysedit - A system utility used to modify system configuration files in a text window.
  • Regedit - Allows manual editing of the registry.

Editions

Release Version Release Date Internet Explorer
Windows 98 4.10.1998 June 25, 1998 4.0
Windows 98 Second Edition 4.10.2222A May 5, 1999 5.0

Modernizing and Expanding

Windows 98 SE can be upgraded with all versions of DirectX up to and including 9.0c. Users can also utilize current bimonthly DirectX SDK updates as long as they are installed over top of a previous DirectX 9.0 "full" release supporting Windows 98. Microsoft .NET Framework up to and including version 2.0 is supported, however versions 2.0 SP1, 3.x, and greater are not. Windows 98 supports MDAC version 2.8. Internet Explorer can be updated to version 6.0 (6.00.2800.1106 Service Pack 1), the same version included with Windows XP SP1 (and the last version available for versions of Windows older prior to XP), but it cannot receive current Internet Explorer security updates. Windows 98 can handle the Visual C++ 2005 library and L2TP/IPSec VPN client by Microsoft as well as versions of the Microsoft Installer (MSIA) services up to 2.0. Windows Media Player 9.0 is also supported and can be installed without problems. Due to incompatibilities with the Cairo interface used in version 1.9 of the Gecko Layout Engine, future versions of Mozilla Firefox, starting with the upcoming 3.0 release, will no longer support Windows 98 or Windows Me,[5] but all versions of the Opera (web browser) up to and including the latest 9.5 beta release continue to function.

Product life cycle

Microsoft planned to discontinue its support for Windows 98 on January 16, 2004. However, due to the continued popularity of the operating system (27% of Google's pageviews were on Windows 98 systems during October-November, 2003),[6] Microsoft decided to maintain support until July 11, 2006. Support for Windows Me also ended on this date.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, and Windows Me Support ends on July 11, 2006. Microsoft. Retrieved on 2006-06-10.
  2. ^ Staff (December 28, 1999). Windows 98 Large IDE Update. Microsoft Windows Update. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved on 2006-08-30.
  3. ^ System requirements from the Microsoft Windows 98 SE manual
  4. ^ Rick Lockridge; Associated Press, Reuters. "Windows 98 crashes during Gates' Comdex demo", CNN, April 20, 1998. Retrieved on 2006-08-30. 
  5. ^ Firefox 3 gets a first run
  6. ^ Zeitgeist. Google Press Center. Google (October-November 2003). Retrieved on April 22, 2006. Note: A graphic depicting the decline in use of Windows 98 from June 2001 to June 2004 as an operating system to access Google is available on Wikimedia Commons; IMAGE.
  7. ^ BBC NEWS | Technology | Microsoft shuts down Windows 98

External links

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Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_98"

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