http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=80800

A brief note: there seems to be some confusion about this project --- if you have just recently re-installed your operating syst […]
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A brief note: there seems to be some confusion about this project --- if you have just recently re-installed your operating system, this program will save you hours and hours of time re-installing everything. Autopatcher includes: Internet Explorer 6 sp1, Direct X 9.0c (October 2006), Microsoft Data Access Components 2.8 sp1, and Windows Media Player 9.
It also includes every update that has been released by Microsoft and every unofficial update posted on msfn. It also includes quite a few optional components like .Net framework 2 and the System Policy Editor for Windows 98se.
The only things missing are the other unofficial service packs and update packs that are floating around. But there should be nothing critical from those packs missing from autopatcher.

the goal in the end is to have autopatcher do everything you need to have your computer ready to go after performing a complete clean re-installation of Windows 98 se. However, some help achieving this is required. I do not want to try to make money out of this project, i just do it because I would find it useful as would others. I am open to joining forces with any other person who has the same goal as i've stated above. Please PM me if you are interested.

Installation instructions: either -

1) run both files (quit out of the program before running the second file) - it will install the program in the Windows temp directory and start the program. It will tell you the location you don't have to remember it, don't worry.
or
2) extract the files to the directory of your choice and start the batch file in the root directory (Startpch.bat)

--- please tell me if there is a problem with the hoster.

When you have run both files, the resulting folder can then be archived as the full v1.6

PLEASE HELP GET THIS PROJECT FROM ALPHA TO BETA - the way you can help is to run the report log file function and post the results to this thread. But don't just post the log file, please try to comment on if you think its correct or there are mistakes in the report.

Change log for v1.7 *not yet released*
Bugfixes:
- the ASPI installation has been improved to by-pass an unwanted message telling us that the .dll file has been "recently modified (yada yada yada)"
- the update for q322656 was supposed to install the original version of IEinfo5.OCX --- it now does.
Improvements:
- the following installations have improved code (they should all now produce the proper report whether they have been installed or not)
- hotfixes: q240075, kb913433, q323455, q238543, kb891711, q314941, q329048, q310695, q315575, q243199, q281533, q288430, q305037, q306889, kb823559, kb834158
- components: QfeCheck (this has also been updated to the W98 version - it was still the 95 version till now)
Added:
- hotfixes: kb928388 (2007 Time Zones update), RunHelp (Unofficial HTML Help Expired Security Certificate Update), VBRUN60 (Visual Basic 6.0 Run-Time Files)
- Components: Username & Organisation Name Change Tool (vbScript), Windows networking tool (Windows XP version) - this has been moved from the manual installs folder and packaged as an application.
Removed:
- hotfixes: q308567 (obsolete)
Changed:
- moved the QfeCheck tool to the Windows Components module (and is NOT set to install by default)
- moved the Unofficial MP3 codec update from Automatic install to Optional install and it is NOT set to install by default.
- moved Microsoft L2TP/IPSec VPN Client to the manual installs folder as it doesn't play well unattended.
Don't forget, you can create basically your own default settings by selecting your default installs and using the Save Your Choices function.
Planned additions still to come:
- VB runtime files

Change log for v1.6 *Now Released*
Buxfixes:
- all bugs in v1.5 have been fixed
Additions:
- to IE6sp1 module: kb886677 & kb834158
- to Windows Components module: System Policy Editor for Windows 98
Improvements:
- the Win98 to Me module uses a better upgrade check
- the report function has been tweaked further
- autopatcher now promtps to manually install Dial-Up Networking 1.4 if not already installed.

Bugs or issues with v1.5:

- there is a bug in the 'saved choices' function (which allows you to save your module choices for the next time) -- your choice for Internet Explorer 6 Administration Kit won't be saved if you try, and will always reset to 'by-pass' when you load your saved choices.
- in the WMP9 module, the LC3codec update has been duplicated - there are two entries exactly the same - which will result in 2 entries in the report log file for LC3codec being missing if LC3codec has not yet been installed. This only affects the report function, the rest of the code handles this mistake quite gracefully (if you ask me)
- the shortcut that the program puts on to the desktop is configured wrong --- you need to change the target filename from StartPatch.bat to StartPch.bat --- sorry!
- if you have the OS installed on any drive other than the C drive, the missing updates report reports that the Disable Boot Logo tweak is not installed, when it actually is. I mistakenly put the file path for msdos.sys as %windrive%\msdos.sys (%windrive% is a custom variable that sets the location of the drive where Windows is installed) instead of c:\msdos.sys --- this will be fixed in v1.6
- i mistakenly included a zipped version of the kb873374 update in the hotfixes folder. This takes up a whopping 253 bytes of unnecessary space! This will be removed for the next version.

Change log for v1.5

- summary: the changes from 1.0 to 1.5 are significant -- some of you hard-to-please types might actually be won over with this version, and may even want to use it yourselves...
- the report function has been added. You can ask AutoPatcher to search for all missing updates and it will open the results in Notepad so you can see before-hand what AutoPatcher wants to install.
- the entire autopatch process is logged, complete with timestamps, so you can see exactly what happened, you don't have to sit there waiting and watching.
- the program can now be run in any folder on any drive (except don't put it in the root of a drive -- i've tested that and it doesn't work, but who would do that anyway?), however, you must be able to write to the directory you choose.
- a better file version checking system has been devised that now handles this question of which file to install. I've worked out my own system of checking for the newest file version when offered a choice during installation, which means the autopatcher won't go 'out-of-date' and be unusable (which it was until this point). I'm probably re-inventing the wheel, but then again the method is pure DOS which can be useful in some circumstances I can think of.
- the selectable modules function has been added. Its very quick to set which modules you want and then to start the install. I thought it was going to be harder than it turned out. (see screen shots above)
- there are now 2 pages and levels of menus. you'll just have to see this for yourself -- I'm dead proud of this part of the autopatcher. I was wondering how I was going to offer optional installations but also doing it easily and user friendly. Got them all.
- many less reboots are performed due to exhaustive checking whether each hotfix needed it or not. There's still quite a few reboots, sorry but they seem to be needed, but only if you need the updates. A fully patched computer shouldn't install a single thing.
- a much better distribution of hotfixes into modules. (see screen shots below)