45.23 drivers are already bad for older cards, my GeForce DDR already had issues with drivers 28.xx.

Furmark, LinPack/Prime95/SuperPi for stability. I usually boot Memtest86+ for RAM testing.

Warlord wrote:

once adobe dropped support for 9x, PDFs that were encoded with a higher version stopped opening, also I find its a bloated reader compared to Sumatra or Foxit, both extremly light weight and have more compatibility with later PDF files encoded with later versions of PDF. I should investigate if there is a version of sumatra PDF that will run on 9x without kernel EX. Since I really prefer that over Foxit since it doesn't have add ware in it.

Not in my experience. Acrobat Reader 4 still reads files that were made 15+ years later. I just exported a word document to PDF in Word 2019 just to check, and it doesn't even render funny. Just works, even on the T2130CS.

Well, if i got anything out of this thread, here's what I have setup for my personal 95osr2.5 build:
https://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=kZGlO … 0S61Ue7i5xTpvCV

• 7zip
  adobe reader 5.1
  cacheman 5.50
  cdbremse 1.49
  flashplayer 7 r73
  freewheel 2.4
  ie5.5sp2 (without active desktop)
  instmsia
  metapad 3.6
  ps2rate 0.4
  rain 1.0
  retrozilla 2.2
  java 1.3.1
  visual basic 6.0 runtime
  windows media player 6.4 (OSR2SP1) + WMP9 codecs + VCM codecs
  adaptec aspi driver 4.60.1021 (OSR2SP1)
  phil's easy ms-dos mode
  mtrrlfbe
  directx 7
  xusbsupp
  the rest being drivers for my specific hardware

Sedrosken wrote:

Warlord wrote:

once adobe dropped support for 9x, PDFs that were encoded with a higher version stopped opening,

Not in my experience. Acrobat Reader 4 still reads files that were made 15+ years later. I just exported a word document to PDF in Word 2019 just to check, and it doesn't even render funny. Just works, even on the T2130CS.

your experience isn't at all the same thing as i described though. I feel like I have to mention it because I read your reply as a "you don't know what you are taking about" but you didn't prove me wrong. Adobe Acrobat isn't a microsoft product Thats just basic open source pdf printing that word can do do, just like Cute pdf printing. Its not the same. 🤣

Ive gotten plenty of errors that say things like this pdf was created by a newer version and you open it up and its all messed up or blank.

Majority of my PDFs are datasheets of various devices and there are plenty that will not work in any of the readers available that can work on 98/ME without KernelEx. It has been years since I actively looked for alternative and eventually I settled on some versions of Sumatra and Foxit, with KernelEx.

tuneup 97

matze79 wrote:

tuneup 97

What is it and why essential?

I'm almost always use well known PowerStrip to create CVT reduced blank Timing Standard (CVT-RB) for those older GPUs/drivers that does not support it by default. CVT-RB offers reduced horizontal and vertical blanking periods which allows a lower pixel clock (less clock and phasing issues) especially when going into and above 1600x1200 resolutions.

I'm using VESA(TM) Coordinated Video Timing Generator to calculate the settings in PowerStrip.
http://ramos.elo.utfsm.cl/~elo212/docs/CVTd6r1.xls

Then in the final moment, below homepage will be used to assist modern LCD auto-adjustment:
http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/clock_phase.php

First thing I would do on Windows 98FE/SE is install the unofficial Service Pack and install the mass storage media USB update. If the system is on the light side get rid of the IE integration. Install 7zip, some light word processor such as Abiword, an pdf reader/writer, and some backup program I cam make dated images of current working set ups with Clonezilla as a backup.

kolderman wrote:

matze79 wrote:

tuneup 97

What is it and why essential?

It's more known to German users I guess, but it's definately essential for Windows 95!
Check it out: https://archive.org/details/TuneUp97

They was a program available for Win98 that was on a Plus like CD that was backward compatible with win95. Unfortunately I can't remenber what it was called. I'll have a dig through my stuff and see it I can find it. It was quite popular in it's time too.

Couldn't find what I was looking for but did come across these:

2004 MS Security Update CD for win98/98SE, ME, W2k and XP. This was a free givaway from local computer shops at time with advice on keeping your system secure along with trail antivirus and firewall software. APCs Aug 2002 mag cd has W2K SP 3 and a lot of other goodies including the now defunct Lycoris Desktop/LX, a rpm based linux distro which I might try it at some point.

I've made an ISO of the MS Security update CD for anyone interested. It was free and released by MS so obviously no problems there. Maybe even Vogons could host it. Wont bother with the Firewall/Antivirus trial. I used Kerio (2.1.x I think)firewall PE and AVG back then. Zone Alarm was another popular one but went down hill after version 6 or so.