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Thread ID: 78003 2007-03-30 10:08:00 Windows98 updates PPp (9511) Press F1
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536974 2007-03-30 10:08:00 An oldie but a goodie. (Sounds like me!). Anyway W98 is fine for me, and the computer dates before 1998 and is still running well. I have tweaked and tricked it out so well I have never had to reformat and reinstall. I take all the normal precautions, but think I may be becoming more vulnerable to to some of the newer nasties.
I have seen some sites with unofficial upgrades and wonder if anyone has had experience of these, or has any reccomendations? (apart from new hardware & OS).
PPp (9511)
536975 2007-03-30 10:42:00 A lot depends on whether you are running Win98 first edition, or Win98SE.

These so-called "unofficial" service packs are generally for Win98SE only.
exuberant.ms11.net

Probably would be useful if you have just done a clean reinstall of the OS, but if you have already maintained the system up to when MS dropped support, then you would already have all the MS updates.

There are are useful tweaks to apply:
http://www.mdgx.com/

.....such as using the Win ME defrag, improving memory management,'the conservativeswapfile' modification, the 512MB RAM problem, but I don't go along with a compilation that doesn't allow you to pick and choose.

I'm still running a Win98SE that has never ever been re-installed, it has been moved between umpteen drives, motherboards and computers, but is essentially the same original installation SE from about 1999.
Terry Porritt (14)
536976 2007-03-30 10:44:00 You'll probably be perfectly safe simply using an anti-virus, firewall and anti-spyware compatible with 98, but updated to the latest they go. Most nasties around these days don't even bother targeting older operating systems. Greg (193)
536977 2007-03-30 11:29:00 Hi Terry & Greg,
Yes "tricked out", mainly thanks to Axils great site, and it was the links from his site to the W98 updates that got me curious, though the options seem a bit confusing.
I am running Windows98 4.10.1998 Doing all the AV, firewall, anti-undesirables stuff. Haven't had a bite for years, but was reading about the latest Windows(all) cursor vulnrability, and got to wondering about the unofficial updates, and how good they might be?
PPp (9511)
536978 2007-03-30 11:41:00 I have a cptr running Win 98 SE, with unofficial update SESP21a installed - no problems that I can attribute to the update. IIRC SESP21a was a compilation by someone who collected every update he could find that was ever issued for 98SE and lumped them all into one. This might be what Terry was referring to in his comment about not liking compilations. Robin S_ (86)
536979 2007-03-30 11:49:00 I think I still got Unofficial SE update on a disk somewhere. I loved that you could get better USB support and add hundreds of tweaks to it.

Just dont use the XP skins. Still buggy in my opinion.
bob_doe_nz (92)
536980 2007-03-30 12:03:00 Iv'e been running 98SE on a comp for about 5-6 yrs and never done any updates (for the OS)(I got sick of the humbug). I have the customary suite of AVG, Zonealarm (updates expired) AdAware, Spybot, CCleaner and I'm still, like, here, and I have been everywhere on the net.

Good exercise anyway, running old dungas. I've been whacked with a few things like CoolWebSearch and a bunch of trojans and homepage-hijackers but the defensive suite has coped, I've never had to do a re-install. I profer this info just as a "just my experience " kind of thing.
mark c (247)
536981 2007-03-30 13:11:00 OK "never done any updates" is wrong, coz then I wouldn't have gotten sick of them, but u know what I mean. mark c (247)
536982 2007-03-30 21:48:00 Doing all the AV, firewall, anti-undesirables stuff. Haven't had a bite for years, but was reading about the latest Windows(all) cursor vulnrability, and got to wondering about the unofficial updates, and how good they might be?

They are a complete waste of time. Look at all the new versions of Windows since, and all the updates and patches and SPs. What has it accomplished. Nothing. Every day theres a new vulnerability announced.

I've never updated any of my versions of Windows and they all ran just fine and malware free.

Whereas I've seen plenty of patched, updated PCs stuffed full of the stuff.

As you say you have all the protection you need in plae and aren't having any problems.

Don't fix it if it isn't broken.

If you get an issue where you need some update to fix something, fine, but why worry when there isn't a problem?
pctek (84)
536983 2007-03-31 00:23:00 I guess, to sum up whats been said is: seal off your O/S with good protective programs and forget about unnecessary updates.
Thanks everyone.

PS I think avoiding using IE may have also helped a long and happy life for my installation.
PPp (9511)
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