Windows 98 is NOT dead
With all the talk about Microsoft not supporting Windows 98 or older PC hardware, one would think that if you are using a Windows 98 PC you're in trouble. This couldn't be more untrue. It just takes a little understanding on how Windows 98 works to get the OS running and doing everything Windows XP can, this includes security wise as well.
This article will show you what you need to do to make Windows 98 the best it can be plus things you should never do in Windows 98.
First let's begin with what you need to do to make Windows 98 the best it can be:
Having problems playing media files online?
The Problem: Microsoft does not have a version of Windows Media Player 10 for Windows 98 and I'm sure you've ran into a lot of sites online that will not play video files with Windows Media Player 9
The Solution: All you need is a media player called VLC. This program will play ANY video file you find online. First go to this link to get the VLC player...
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-windows.html
After you have downloaded VLC go to this link and download this as well...
Microsoft Layer for Unicode on Windows 95/98/Me Systems
Now, run what you downloaded from Microsoft and it will extract some files where you specify. Take all those files and copy them into your C:\Windows\System32\ folder.
After that's done all there's left to do is install VLC and enjoy!
Are you getting a lot of spyware on Windows 98?
The Problem: If you think spyware is bad on Windows XP, on Windows 98 it can actually get so bad you need to reformat and reinstall Windows 98 constantly. Obviously this is the case due to Windows 98 being an older OS.
The Solution: REFRAIN from Using Internet Explorer as your internet browser! Using Internet Explorer in Windows 98 is a death wish for Windows 98 PC's these days. Even the most skilled Windows 98 user who know's how to avoid spyware cannot avoid spyware while using this browser. So what is the safest web browser you ask? Firefox. Follow this link to download Firefox...
http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/
Getting Firefox is the best thing you can do in getting your Windows 98 PC as secure as Windows XP. Remember those days while using IE with Windows 98 and you went to a site you never have been before? Undoubtedly your computer has caught spyware without even knowing it from that new site you visited! However with Firefox, this is not an issue. I am 100% confident in saying you could go to any website you could think of (seriously, ANY website) and your Windows 98 PC will NEVER get infected with spyware. Firefox is however ending support for Windows 98 and when that day finally comes, the next best internet browser is Opera. You can find Opera here...
Yes we are still on the same subject of spyware on Windows 98. Now you need to get some programs that can clean out spyware if your Windows 98 PC does get infected with spyware. The first is Ad-Aware...
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
And Spybot...
http://www.safer-networking.org/
Use both of these programs to clean out spyware from your Windows 98 PC.
Are you getting a lot of viruses in your email using Outlook Express?
The problem is Outlook Express is like IE with Windows 98 meaning DO NOT USE IT! Use this instead...
http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird/
This is a more secure e-mail client. While it might take awhile to get used to, it is still much safer to use than Outlook Express.
Are you getting a lot of viruses in general while using Windows 98?
COMMON SENSE PEOPLE! Come on, even if you are new to computers that use Microsoft Windows, common sesne can go a long way... Here's a little known secret: There are a lot of people out there who have never used virus protection software at all! You will get an idea on how they do it in the "things you should never do while using Windows 98" part later on in this article.
Windows 98 and speed...
Windows 98 has lot's of speed tweaks that are turned off by default. Check out this link to get some quick and easy Windows 98 tweaks...
http://www.webtechgeek.com/Windows_98_tips.htm
Some of these tweaks are not just little speed boots, certain tweaks can really make a slow Windows 98 a fast Windows 98!
Now here's a list you might want to print out on the things "YOU SHOULD NEVER DO WHILE USING WINDOWS 98":
1. Do NOT use P2P programs! Not only are most of the files you can download on P2P programs illegal, but they also carry many viruses. If you are going to use them though, it is at your own discretion!
For example, you find a video you have been looking for thats only 90kb in size... Ask yourself why it's so small? Don't think "Wow, I found that video I was looking for and it's a small file size! jackpot!". People do not have some magical skill to actually make big video files into tiny files. It is most likely, a VIRUS!
2. Have you seen sites that claim "download this software and make your dial-up/DSL/cable 10x faster!"? These programs for one are mostly bogus and would not harm a Windows XP PC. What about a Windows 98 PC you ask? In Windows 98 it's very easy to mess with network options that could crash your whole internet connection. These programs will mess with some settings that you simply should not mess with in Windows 98. Unless you are an expert on restoring your internet connection, getting your intenet connection back would require you to reformat Windows 98 or pay someone to fix your internet connection for you. These programs are not safe for Windows 98 and you should avoid them at all costs. Instead, look at tweaking your browser (Firefox) to make your online fatser. Check out this link on how to speed up Firefox...
http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/firefox/
3. It would be a good idea to stick with old software with Windows 98. The problem is as Windows 98 gets older, you will find the software you use is being designed for Windows XP and you get more errors using said program than you did before using Windows 98. Old software however should only be used for programs that do not connect to the web. Using old software that connects to the web WILL open your computer to viruses and even to hackers. Check out this link for all your old software needs...
4. Finally, I'm sure you've been tempted when you see "Windows 98 home made updates" online since you can no longer get new updates from Microsoft. The best bet is to use... common sense. If you do, you do not need these potentially harmful homemade Windows 98 updates. Only download updates for Windows 98 from Microsoft. Why not use these home made updates you ask? Because you never know what the creator of these homemade Windows 98 updates are really up to. Do they want to help out fellow Windows 98 users? or are they installing some trojan in the updates? There is no way to know for sure. This is a problem however for Windows 98 I admit. The lack of updates can no doubt make things harder on you since the updates used to patch security holes etc. But again, if you just remain aware and use common sense, you will never have any problems no matter how outdated Windows 98 becomes.
I hope this article has made you realize that with a little research and being cautious you can still have a pleasant experience using Windows 98.
-ourtweaks.com staff