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Description of Windows 98 Second Edition |
This article describes the updates in Windows 98 Second Edition. Topics
in this article include:
Announcing
Windows 98 Second Edition
Asynchronous
Transfer Mode (ATM)
Device Bay Controller
DirectX
Version 6.1
Microsoft Connection Manager Version
1.2
Microsoft Dial-Up Networking
(DUN) Version 1.3
Microsoft Distributed
Communication Object Model (DCOM98)
Microsoft Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5
Microsoft
Data Access Components (MDAC) 2.1
Microsoft Active Accessibility
(MSAA)
Microsoft NetMeeting Version 3.0
(build 4.4.3345)
Microsoft Wake-On-LAN
Microsoft Wallet Version 3.0
Microsoft Windows
Driver Model (WDM) Modem
Microsoft Windows Media
Player Version 6.2
Microsoft Year 2000 (Y2K) Updates
MSN, The Microsoft Network
Version 5.0
See New Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition Mskb Articles
Windows 98 Second Edition includes these new or updated features: Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) Network Support
Internet
Protocol/Asynchronous Transfer Mode (IP/ATM) 
Windows 98 already contains the capability to operate directly connected to an ATM network, exposing all of the speed and quality of service capabilities (QOS) of ATM. Currently, ATM obtains access for all programs through Local Area Network Emulation (LANE). To improve the usability of ATM for the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) protocol, IP/ATM has been added. IP/ATM goes beyond the support provided through LANE with increased performance, less network overhead, and use of the QOS capabilities of the network through Windows Sockets. Point to Point Protocol/Asynchronous Transfer Mode (PPP/ATM)
The addition of Point to Point Protocol extends ATM network availability to Dial-Up Networking (DUN), and adds the ability for dial-up connections to be established over an ATM network. Also, this feature further enables an end-to-end solution for residential broadband networks such as Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL). Windows Sockets 2/Asynchronous Transfer Mode
This feature is a transport service provider for Windows Sockets that
has been added to provide user programs with direct use of the set of services
provided by ATM. For additional information about ATM support in Windows
98, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q197672
Description of Windows 98 Asynchronous Transfer Mode Support
Device Bay is an industry specification that defines a mechanism for easily adding and upgrading personal computer peripheral devices without opening the computer case. The Device Bay specification applies to all classes of computers, including desktop, mobile, home and server computers. DirectX 6.1
This version of DirectX includes new DirectMusic, DirectDraw, Direct3D
and DirectPlay features. For additional information about the specific
updates to DirectX 6.1, please see the following article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q216078
DirectX: List of New Features Included in Microsoft DirectX 6.1
For information about the Microsoft Connection Manager, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q221119 Microsoft Connection Manager 1.2 Readme.txt File
This security upgrade for DUN is designed to enhance the protection of both dial-up and Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections. Microsoft Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol (MSCHAP) version 2.0 secure mode has been implemented, providing mutual authentication, stronger initial data encryption keys, and different encryption keys for the transmit and receive paths. Also, clients that support 128-bit encryption accept any level of encryption (128-bit or 40-bit) offered by the server. This upgrade provides a new registry flag, ForceStrongEncryption. When set, this flag requires 128-bit encryption for any connection that has already been set to require encryption. Because of this, setting the new registry flag essentially changes the meaning of the existing check box from "require encryption" to "require strong encryption".
Distributed
Communication Object Model (DCOM98)
The DCOM98 wire protocol transparently provides support for reliable, secure, and efficient communication between Component Object Model (COM) components such as ActiveX controls, scripts, and Java tools residing on different machines in a LAN, a Wide Area Network (WAN), or the Internet. Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
ICS
Provides support for multiple computers to obtain access to the Internet
through a single connection using Network Address Translation (NAT). ICS
routes TCP/IP packets from a small LAN to the Internet. ICS maps individual
IP addresses of local computers to unused port numbers in the TCP/IP stack.
Due to the nature of the NAT, IP addresses on the local computer are not
visible on the Internet. All packets leaving or entering the LAN are sent
from or to the IP address of the external adapter on the ICS host computer.
Internet Explorer 5 (build 5.00.2614.3500). For information about Internet
Explorer 5, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge
Base:
Q221787
New Features in Internet Explorer 5
Microsoft
Data Access Components (MDAC) Version 2.1
This update includes the ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) version 2.1, and
seek and index property method that adds fast, index-based location of
rows in a record set. For additional information about ActiveX technologies,
please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q154544
Description of ActiveX Technologies
Microsoft Active Accessibility
(MSAA)
This update of MSAA fixes several compatibility issues with programs and clients that use Active Accessibility. When you install this upgrade, your accessibility aids such as screen readers, voice-input utilities, and the Microsoft Magnifier performs better with a wider range of programs.
Wallet version 3.0 improves the capabilities for merchants to easily extend Wallet to support additional credit card payment protocols. Developers can build support for their own custom encryption and payment instruction methods into the Credit Card Payment Module.
NetMeeting 3.0 is a smaller, easier to use interface, a Web-based directory for finding others, data security, as well as many other performance and ease-of-use benefits.
Wake-on-LAN enables a computer to be power-managed, yet available on the network. When a network interface card (NIC) and driver are installed, a computer can go into a low-power state and conserve energy. When activity to the computer from another computer on the network is detected, the NIC detects this, and "wakes up" the computer to respond to the request. Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM)
WBEM is an industry standard you can use to administer Internet Web browser-based networked computers. WebTV for Windows Update
The hardware updates in WebTV for Windows provide support for the ATI BT829 chip set and includes added support for the BT848, BT878 and BT879 chip sets. This update also provides support for WaveTop version 2.0. WaveTop is the nationwide data broadcast medium that is used to deliver multimedia content through existing television transmissions to your computer.
Windows Driver
Model (WDM) for Modems
The WDM driver model is a standard that provides features so that independent hardware vendors (IHV) can write one driver for hardware that works on both Windows 98 and Microsoft Windows NT platforms. This feature also provides support for Universal Serial Bus (USB) modems.
Windows Media Player
Version 6.2
The Windows Media Player offers FM-stereo quality audio over a modem, MP3 quality at a fraction of the normal file size, and more. With Windows Media Player, you can play most audio and video file types found on the Internet, as well as on your own computer.
For information about the specific Y2K updates, please see the following
articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q168116
Microsoft Windows 98 Year 2000 Update
Q234561 Microsoft Windows 98 Year 2000 Update 2 README File
Q232972 Contents of the Microsoft Windows 98 System Update
MSN, The Microsoft
Network Version 5.0
This updated version of MSN is faster, easier, and is much more powerful
than before. For information about the availability of Windows 98 Second
Edition, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q234305
Availability of Windows 98 Second Edition
To determine if you are running Windows 98 Second Edition, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties. If you are running Windows 98 Second Edition, you see the following information:
Microsoft Windows 98
Second Edition
4.10.2222A
Windows 98 Second Edition includes these new features:
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 (build 5.00.2614.3500)
Microsoft NetMeeting 3.0 (build 4.4.3345)
Internet Connection Sharing
Device Bay support
DirectX 6.1
USB modem support
MSN, The Microsoft Network, version 5.0
Microsoft has released Service Pack 1 (aka SP1) for Windows 98 for those
who decide not to update to Second Edition (SE). There's quite a
difference between the two.
but there are two terms used incorrectly so here's the Real Deal:
Service Pack 1 (SP-1) has bug fixes only. It is NOT a single download, but a set of separate updates, we recommend you get the first three and the other two if applicable:
Windows 98 System Update 1: core security fixes, hardware driver updates, Active Accessibility Update, USB Updates and Networking Updates. Size: 1,089kb (just over a megabyte)
Windows 98 Year 2000 Update: the 1st part of a Y2K update. Size: 1,283kb
Windows 98 Year 2000 Update 2: the 2nd instalment in the Y2K update. Size: 651kb
Year 2000 Update for Outlook Express version 4.72.3612.1713 (aka 4.01).
Size: 143kb
Internet Explorer 4.01 SP2: Internet related updates and security fixes
for users of IE4.01 only. Size varies according to what update you already
have.
There's a Windows 98 Service Pack 1 CD for US$5 S&H. This CD only has the downloadable updates - no IE5 nor the other goodies.
Second Edition updates CD has the SP1 bug fix files plus Internet Explorer 5 (which you can download separately) and Windows Media Player 6.1. Also on this CD are components not currently available for download: Internet Connection Sharing (lets you share an internet link among several computers), Net Meeting 3 and some new hardware drivers. This CD is for existing (pre-Second Edition) Windows 98 users. An SE updates CD is available for US$24.95 ($19.95 + $5 S&H).
Outside North America the situation varies:
In UK and Ireland retail purchasers of Windows 98 can get a "Second Edition Update CD" sent to them at no charge. From the name we think this is the 'updates' CD referred to above and not just the Service Packs -- but the truth will be revealed when CD's start arriving. Details with application form are on the UK branch web site.
In Australia the updates CD costs AUD$13.95 and be ordered online or
by phone. No word on the Service Pack 1 CD.
Otherwise, check with your local Microsoft subsidiary or their part
of the Microsoft web site.
Getting the downloads
You can get the downloadable files through Windows Update (Tools | Windows Update in IE5) or use the direct download address we discussed several issues ago.
If you use direct download, that page shows Service Pack 1 divided up into the separate components listed above.
We recommend you use direct download since the Update page is so often so busy that it doesn't work right! As we discussed earlier, unless you are in the market for the internet sharing capability, the SE updates CD is not a compelling purchase at $25 so we recommend going for SP1.
When we ran the downloaded SP1 file, it did not give us any message, not even a request to reboot. Only when we rebooted was the update actually installed. Help/About (from Explorer) gives no indication that SP1 has been installed.
ZDnet Help Channel has a (Windows 98 Second Edition uperguide)
http://www.zdnet.com/zdhelp/stories/main/0%2C5594%2C2279188%2C00.html
which covers all the new features in detail including a guide to the
option for buying the new version.
What's fixed
Lurking in the nooks and crannies of the Microsoft web site are some details of the Service Pack 1 fixes. We've compiled this information into one list for easier reference:
Windows 98 System Update
Active Accessibility
This update addresses issues with color schemes when using Microsoft
Active Accessibility options.
Computer Does Not Resume To Recognize USB Device From Standby
If you connect a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device to your Windows
98 computer while the computer is in Standby mode, the computer does not
resume. The computer remains in Standby mode and may not recognize the
USB device once it has resumed.
Bulk Transfer URBs Can Specify More Than 64 Bytes
The Universal Serial Bus (USB) 1.00 specification defines bulk transfers to be 4, 8,16, 32 or 64 bytes. However, the TransferBufferLength field of _URB_BULK_OR_INTERRUPT_TRANSFER can specify a much larger byte size. The USB specification limits the bulk transfer size to a maximum of 64 bytes at the port driver level.
Computer with Plug and Play Network Adapter Is Not Found
After you have upgraded to Windows 98 on a Windows 95-based computer with a Plug and Play Network Interface Card (NIC) installed, your computer may not be visible in Network Neighborhood to other computers on the network.
System Policy to Require Validation by Network May Not Work
If you are using a system policy that requires validation by the network for Windows access, you may be able to access the desktop even when the network does not validate your user account.
Computer Hangs After 49.7 Days
If your computer is left running for 49.7 days without restarting, your Windows 98 computer may stop responding (hang). This is caused by a problem with the timing algorithm in the Vtdapi.vxd file.
New Dialing Rules for Spain and Italy Require TAPI Update
A new numbering and dialing plan for Spain became effective on April 3, 1998. The previous numbering and dialing plan was discontinued on June 5, 1998. As a result, when using a computer running Windows 98 you may not be able to correctly dial long-distance telephone numbers if your current dialing location is in Spain or Italy.
Windows 98 Year 2000 update
Regional Settings Date/Time - If Regional Settings in Control Panel are set to use two-digit years, the date/time function may not return the proper date because only two digits at a time can be accepted.
Microsoft Wallet
- When entering credit card information in versions of Wallet before
2.1.0.1383, you must enter month, day, and year for expiration dates beyond
2000. Otherwise, information may be read incorrectly. For example, entering
a credit card with expiration 5/01 will be interpreted as May 1 of the
current year.
Java Virtual Machine
- Some Year 2000 issues have been reported in connection with Java
virtual machines based on the Sun Microsystems Java Development Kit (versions
1.1.1-1.1.5). For example, if your Web site uses Java and makes use of
the java.txt.SimpleDateFormat class library and you enter four digits for
the year, the date functions may use only the first two digits.
Dialer.Exe Log
- If you make a phone call using the phone dialer, the log file that
is created displays the year portion of the call date incorrectly.
Date/Time control - If you open Date/Time in Control Panel and set the date to February 29 of a leap year and then use the up/down buttons to change years, February 29 might be displayed even for non-leap years.
WordPad custom properties
- If you select Properties/Custom on a Wordpad or Word document, the
custom date settings will not accept the Year 2000 as a valid entry when
entered as a two-digit year, or "00." Additionally, since all two digit
dates are assumed to be in the 20th century, if the time zone is set to
Far East, the date properties will lose a day when you enter the year as
2000.
Date Rollover
- If your system boots up at the precise fraction of a second when
the date rolls at midnight, the system clock may display an inaccurate
time/date. This is an extremely rare occurrence.
Lagging IP Lease dates
- If you log on to a LAN after March 1, 2000 and run Winipcfg from
the Run command or Ipconfig from the DOS VM, the DHCP client reports the
IP lease date as having been obtained on the previous day.
Programming to data access components
- If you are a programmer and code to ADO or OLE DB, use data access
components such as adDate, adDBDate, Dbtype_Filetime, chose to use an international
date format with periods as separators, and specify a year less than 60,
your date may be translated as a time.
Microsoft Foundation Class Library
- After the Year 2000, programs that use the COleDateTime function
may improperly parse a date.
DOS Xcopy
- When using xcopy in real mode with the optional parameter /D:date,
xcopy does not accept years entered as two digits, except for the years
80 through 99. The message "Invalid date" is displayed. When using xcopy
in protected mode (from within Windows) two-digit dates are accepted but
are recognized as being within the 20th century (02/05/01 is seen as 02/05/1901).
OLE Automation
- The Microsoft Automation library contains routines for interpreting
two digit years and provides convenient way for applications to create
unambiguous (serial) dates. In Windows 98 the current two digit year cutoff
is 2029. This means that two digit years beginning with 30 will be interpreted
as being in the 20th century, i.e. 1/1/30 is converted to 1/1/1930, irrespective
of the user's century window settings in Control Panel\Regional Settings\Date
tab.
DOS Xcopy
- When using xcopy in real mode with the optional parameter /D:date,
xcopy does not accept years entered as 2 digits, except for the years 80
- 99. The message "Invalid date" is displayed. When using xcopy in protected
mode (from within Windows) 2 digit dates are accepted but are recognized
as being within the 20th century (02/05/01 is seen as 02/05/1901).
MQRT.DLL
- Microsoft Message Queue (MSMQ) is installed as part of Personal Web
Server and works with two types of digital certificates - external and
internal. The internal certificates is a concept supported by MSMQ to allow
MSMQ applications to allocate certificates for the purpose of sending authenticated
messages. The code creating the requests for internal certificates for
MSMQ 1.0 requests to set the validity of the newly created certificates
to 10 years. The problem materializes when MSMQ tries to create such a
certificate on February 29, 2000 (or any leap year such as 2004, 2008,
etc.). This fails because it computes the validity by adding 10 years to
the current date which yields 2/29/2010. This is an illegal date because
2010 is not a leap year.
Outlook Express Year 2000 update
Outlook Express 4.01, which is installed in a standard Internet Explorer 4.01, SP1, and SP2 setup. The Year 2000 issue occurs when receiving an IMAP mail message or a News message with a 2-digit year as the sent date. The date can be misinterpreted under certain conditions. If the 2-digit year is anything other than ‘99, Outlook Express assumes the century value is the same as the current century. If the current year is 2000, and a 2-digit date is received as '97, then the year will be interpreted as 2097.
However, there is one special case when different logic is applied. If a 2-digit year of '99 is received and the current year is a multiple of 100 (e.g. 2000), the year will be interpreted as the current year plus 98 (e.g. 2098).
Internet Explorer 4.01 with Service Pack 2
This Service Pack includes Year 2000 updates and security fixes, improves what you see on your monitor, and resolves other minor issues. Because Service Packs are cumulative, this release contains all previous Service Pack updates and any new updates that are available. To get this update you have to download and run the IE4 setup program which will analyse your system and download the necessary components.