.NET Framework 2.0 issues on Windows 98 \ VOGONS

.NET Framework 2.0 issues on Windows 98

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First post, by Cobra!

Cobra! Offline

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Hey,

I'm trying to get .NET 2.0 installed on my Windows 98 PC to get some programs working (Such as Circus Pals and Protonweb Browser).

I've downloaded dotnet9x and the installer eventually completed without any errors (after a few attempts of it giving me errors that programs have "performed an illegal operation" or just say they've stopped working), I get the following when I try to run either application specified.

The attachment dotneterror2.png is no longer available

Edit: The error Circus Pals gives is slightly different. It seems to point to different locations. Not sure if this means anything.

The attachment dotneterror3.png is no longer available

I tried using the one downloaded from the Protonweb page but installer gives me then when I try it.

The attachment dotneterror.png is no longer available

ScanDisk did return errors and fixed them, but it didn't fix the above.

What do I do?

If it here's the contents of the "My Computer" properties. For some reason it's showing Windows ME as the OS, but it's Windows 98SE with KernelEx and the Unofficial Service Pack 3.

The attachment win98specs.png is no longer available

Last edited by Cobra! on 2026-05-19, 22:33. Edited 3 times in total.

Reply 1 of 7, by Jo22

Posted on Yesterday, 15:33

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Hi, seems to be Windows NT related? Maybe something Unicode?

https://www.geoffchappell.com/studies/windows … 2/api/index.htm

Was KernelEx with unicows.dll installed? It's the Unicode library for Windows 9x.
Another useful DLL is gdiplus.dll, which helps running GDI+ enabled Win32 applications (XP programs started to use GDI+ I think).

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Reply 2 of 7, by Tiido

Posted on Yesterday, 16:20

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KernelEx must be disabled for any .NET program, or they will fail to start.

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Reply 3 of 7, by Cobra!

Posted on Yesterday, 20:45

Cobra! Offline

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Jo22 wrote on Yesterday, 15:33:

Was KernelEx with unicows.dll installed? It's the Unicode library for Windows 9x.
Another useful DLL is gdiplus.dll, which helps running GDI+ enabled Win32 applications (XP programs started to use GDI+ I think).

I honestly don't know. I bought this PC with it all pre-installed. Is there a way to check? Can you install them individually?

Tiido wrote on Yesterday, 16:20:

KernelEx must be disabled for any .NET program, or they will fail to start.

Sadly disabling didn't fix it here 🙁

Reply 4 of 7, by Jo22

Posted on Today, 03:30

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I honestly don't know. I bought this PC with it all pre-installed. Is there a way to check? Can you install them individually?

Hi! Oh, okay. I assume everything is already there then.
If not, I think the DLLs should simply be in C:\Windows\System folder.
Using Windows search should help checking for the DLLs.

Here's a short mention of unicows.dll, also:
http://kmeleonbrowser.org/forum/read.php?2,113768

Here are the details (which versions of files needed etc):
https://web.archive.org/web/20190210095412/ht … i/Help:Contents

Again, it's just a wild guess, though.
Because that error message mentions an API function that's used on Windows NT.
So things may or may not be related to Unicode.
Windows 98 has some NT features for compatibility, but I'm not sure if that's relevant here.

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In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

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Reply 5 of 7, by torpedo

Posted on Today, 07:08

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.NET 2.0 is supported on Windows 98. I'd uninstall dotnet9x and use the original redist from Microsoft.

Reply 6 of 7, by Cobra!

Posted on Today, 21:55

Cobra! Offline

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torpedo wrote on Today, 07:08:

.NET 2.0 is supported on Windows 98. I'd uninstall dotnet9x and use the original redist from Microsoft.

Where do I download a compatible exe? The ones I've tried just give me errors...

Reply 7 of 7, by DosFreak

Posted on Today, 22:16

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https://web.archive.org/web/20070217105206/ht … 5a/dotnetfx.exe

If it still doesn't work you'll need to talk to the people who created the packages that messed up your install. The above works fine on vanilla 98 and ME.

The reason why "Windows ME" is listed in the system properties is due to using the Unofficial Service Pack 3. You can try using the original file or hex editing it if you want to keep using the Unofficial SP3.

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