Windows 98
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Windows 98 (codenamed Memphis) is a graphical operating system released on June 25 1998 by Microsoft and the successor to Windows 95. Like its predecessor, it is a hybrid 16-bit/32-bit monolithic product. An update to the operating system, Windows 98 Second Edition (Windows 98 SE), was released on May 5 1999.
The first edition of Windows 98 is designated by the internal version numbers 4.10.1998, or 4.10.1998A if it has been updated with the Security CD from Microsoft. Windows 98 Second Edition is designated by the internal version numbers 4.10.2222A or 4.10.2222B if it has been updated with the Security CD from Microsoft. The successor to Windows 98 is Windows Me.
Microsoft terminated support for Windows 98 (thus rendering it obsolete) on July 11th, 2006 , although some users have yet to upgrade to later versions of Windows such as Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Users of Windows 98 may be unable to afford to upgrade or purchase the requisite hardware.
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[edit] New and updated features
Among the new features of Windows 98 were better AGP support, functional USB drivers, and support for multiple monitors and WebTV. It also featured support for the FAT32 file system, allowing it to support disk partitions larger than the two gigabyte maximum accepted by Windows 95. It was also the first version of Windows to support ACPI. As in later releases of Windows 95, Internet Explorer continued to be integrated into the Windows Explorer interface (a feature called Active Desktop).
Later, the release of Windows 98 SE included fixes for many minor issues, improved USB support, the replacement of Internet Explorer 4.0 with the significantly faster Internet Explorer 5. Also included was Internet Connection Sharing, which allowed multiple computers on a LAN to share a single Internet connection through Network Address Translation. Other features in the update include Microsoft NetMeeting 3.0 and integrated support for DVD-ROM drives.
[edit] System requirements
- 486 DX2, 66 MHz or higher processor
- 16MB of RAM (24MB recommended)
- Adequate Space available on your Hard Disk. The amount of space required depends on your installation method and the components you select.
- Upgrading from Windows 95, or 3.1 140-315 MB (typically 205 MB) of space.
- New Installation FAT16 file system 210-400 MB (typically 260 MB) of space.
- New Installation FAT32 file system 190-305 MB (typically 210 MB) of space.
- NOTE: Both Windows 98 and Windows 98SE have major problems with Hard Drives that are over 32 Gigabytes (GB) in size. A Software update has been made available to fix this shortcoming.<ref>Staff (December 28, 1999). Windows 98 Large IDE Update. Microsoft Windows Update. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved on 2006-08-30.</ref>
- VGA or higher resolution monitor
- CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive
- Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device.
<ref>System requirements from the Microsoft Windows 98 SE manual</ref>
[edit] Reception
The release of Windows 98 was preceded by a notable press demonstration at Comdex, in April 1998. Microsoft CEO Bill Gates was highlighting the operating system's ease of use and enhanced support for Plug and Play (PnP). However, when program manager Chris Capossela plugged in a scanner and attempted to install it, the operating system crashed, showing a BSOD.<ref> Rick Lockridge, Associated Press, Reuters. "Windows 98 crashes during Gates' Comdex demo", CNN, April 20, 1998. Retrieved on 2006-08-30.</ref> Bill Gates quipped that "this must be why we're not shipping Windows 98 yet." Video footage of this event became a popular Internet meme. The update, Windows 98 SE, was also a successful product. However, it was not a free upgrade for Windows 98 (first edition) customers.
[edit] Product life cycle
Microsoft planned to discontinue its support for Windows 98 on January 16 2004. However, due to the continued popularity of the operating system (27% of Google's pageviews were on Windows 98 systems during October-November, 2003),<ref>Zeitgeist. Google Press Center. Google (October-November 2003). Retrieved on April 22, 2006. Note: A graphic depicting the decline in use of Windows 98 from June 2001 to June 2004 as an operating system to access Google is available on Wikimedia Commons; IMAGE.</ref> Microsoft decided to maintain support until July 11 2006. Support for Windows Me also ended on this date.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
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[edit] General references
- Windows 98 Homepage. Microsoft. Retrieved on 22 April, 2006.
[edit] External links
- HPC:Factor Windows 98 / 98SE Patches & Updates Guide
- Windows 98 System Requirements
- GUIdebook: Windows 98 Gallery - A website dedicated to preserving and showcasing Graphical User Interfaces
- BBC News: Microsoft shuts down Windows 98
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