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Last Rites for Win9x



 
 
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  #41  
Old February 19th 06, 02:58 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion
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Default Last Rites for Win9x

Ivan Bútora wrote:
Wow, we got 11 extra days according to this:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/sup...ofsupport.mspx


Microsoft should be commended for extending support for Windows 9x back in
January 2004. They did not have to do it, but they did it, and thus extended the
practical life of those operating systems, seeing as otherwise some applications
developed in the meantime might not have included support for Windows 9x.

MS MVP's in particular should be commended for their efforts in this regard.


Customers should consider moving to the most recent version of
Windows, such as Windows XP, for the following reasons
* Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition and Windows ME are
products that are no longer suitable for the security demands of today's
internet environments.
* Customers will benefit and stay secure on Windows XP with many
of its improved security and protection features.


Microsoft wants people to buy new products. This is OK. It's not OK to make
misleading claims in their advertising. Using security as a seeling point for
Windows XP vs. Windows 98 is dubious. There are many aspects to security, and on
some of those Windows XP has done worse than Windows 98. (Example: vulnerable
services running in the background, two critical holes which allowed infection
via the Internet without any user action, etc.) I believe CQuirke would have
things to say on this topic.

Does Microsoft really expect those who haven't done so yet to upgrade their
Pentium III-era PCs to Windows XP at this point in time, considering that
Windows Vista is coming relatively soon?

For my purposes, I have got a Windows 98-based system on which I feel modern
enough for my needs - I can use the latest version of Firefox, I can do instant
messaging, I can use BitTorrent, I can play and work with media, I can use USB
drives, I can burn CDs, etc.


Best,

Ivan


--- In , Gary S. Terhune typed:

I assume someone already posted this at least once. But just in case...

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User

(MS Official Announcement and FAQs)

Effective June 30, 2006, support for Windows 98, Windows 98 Second
Edition and Windows Me (and their related components) will end. After
this date, incident support, security updates and Custom Support
Agreement will no longer be available to the public. Visit
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/sup...ofsupport.mspx for details.

* On June 30, 2006, assisted support for Windows 98, Windows 98
Second Edition and Windows Me (and their related components) will end.
* After this date, Microsoft will no longer provide any incident
support options or security updates. Microsoft is not offering a Custom
Support Agreement for these products.
* Online Support Content will continue to be available through
the Microsoft Support Product Solution Center Websites. This website
will continue to host a wealth of previous How-to, Troubleshooting and
Configuration content for anyone who may need self-service access to
this information. (http://support.microsoft.com/select/?target=hub)
* Additional information on the support lifecycle of Windows 98,
Windows 98 Second Edition and Windows Me can be located at:
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifean1 and
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/sup...ofsupport.mspx
* Microsoft continues to encourage all customers to upgrade to
Windows XP to achieve the highest possible level of security. Customers
will benefit and stay secure on Windows XP with many of its improved
security and protection features.
* Customers that are not able to obtain Windows XP based
versions of their applications are able to run these older applications
in Windows 98 compatibility mode within Windows XP
* Customers should visit the Windows XP Resource Kit
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d...XP/all/reskit/
en-us/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-
us/prba_dwp_ogli.asp to find out more information about migration to
Windows XP. This assistance resource helps customers understand the
requirements and Application Compatibility implications of migrating
from Windows 98/ME to XP.
Q. What does Microsoft mean when it says it is ending support for
Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows ME?
A. This means that after June 30, 2006, transitioning these products to
a non-supported status means that assisted support, including security
updates, will end. After this date, Microsoft will no longer provide any
incident support options or security updates.

(however, Online Support Content will continue to be available through
the Microsoft Support Product Solution Center Websites. This website
will continue to host a wealth of previous How-to, Troubleshooting and
Configuration content for anyone who may need self-service access to
this information. These Product Solution Center websites can be found at
http://support.microsoft.com http://support.microsoft.com/ )


Q. Why should I consider moving to a newer Windows operating system
version?
A. Customers should consider moving to the most recent version of
Windows, such as Windows XP, for the following reasons
* Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition and Windows ME are
products that are no longer suitable for the security demands of today's
internet environments.
* Customers will benefit and stay secure on Windows XP with many
of its improved security and protection features.
* Customers that are not able to obtain Windows XP based
versions of their applications are able to run these older applications
in Windows 98 compatibility mode within Windows XP
* Microsoft is not offering a Custom Support Agreement for these
products.


Q. Why is this announcement so sudden?
This announcement is not a last minute announcement. As early as
December 2002, we had announced an original end-of-support date for
Windows 98, 98SE and ME for January 2003. We later extended the
end-of-support date to June 2006 to allow customers enough time to
migrate to a new and updated Windows operating system in order to
continue receiving security and hotfix support. This last wave of
communications is a final reminder for those who have postponed or
delayed migrating from Windows 98 or Windows ME to Windows XP to finally
put their plans into action.

Q. Why will Microsoft no longer provide public security support for
Windows 98 and Windows ME?
The importance of a secure computing platform has never been greater.
Over the past decade, security vulnerabilities that could not have been
anticipated have emerged. Microsoft has responded with new design
methodologies, coding practices and test procedures. These enhancements
are included in new platforms such as Windows XP and even more enhanced
in the upcoming release of Windows Vista. These newer platforms offer
our customers a far greater level of security than is possible with
Windows 98 and Windows ME. You need to remember that Windows 98 and
Windows ME were developed before the era of sophisticated Internet based
attacks. These products have reached the point of architectural
obsolescence. It would be irresponsible to convey a false sense of
security by extending public support for these old products.

Q. Will there be 3rd parties that can continue supporting my
installations of Windows 98?
There are still multiple companies in the market today that are able to
provide for-fee configuration support for Windows 98 and Windows ME
computers. They do not, however, have access to the code base to be
able to create hotfix and security fixes. The absence of the critical
types of support components from their capabilities should encourage
customers to quickly migrate to more up-to-date versions of Microsoft
Windows.

Also, Online Support Content will continue to be available through the
Microsoft Support Product Solution Center Websites. This website will
continue to host a wealth of previous How-to, Troubleshooting and
Configuration content for anyone who may need self-service access to
this information. These Product Solution Center websites can be found at
http://support.microsoft.com http://support.microsoft.com/


Q. What resources does Microsoft offer to companies or individuals that
have yet to migrate to a newer Windows operating system?
Customers who are able to access the internet should visit the Windows
XP Resource Kit
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d...XP/all/reskit/
en-us/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-
us/prba_dwp_ogli.asp to find out more information about migration to
Windows XP. This assistance resource helps customers understand the
requirements and Application Compatibility implications of migrating
from Windows 98/ME to XP.



I agree Ivan that by having more services with XP it allows more entry
points to a user's PC. That is something that can make XP more
confusing and in some ways more vulnerable than 98SE. I wonder what
made Microsoft add 11 days although any extra support is nice and I
applaud Microsoft for all of the added support that they have given 98,
98SE and ME.
  #42  
Old February 19th 06, 05:10 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion
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Default Last Rites for Win9x

Hello!

"Dan" wrote in message ...
Ivan Bútora wrote:
Wow, we got 11 extra days according to this:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/sup...ofsupport.mspx


I agree Ivan that by having more services with XP it allows more entry points to a user's PC. That is something that can make XP
more confusing and in some ways more vulnerable than 98SE. I wonder what made Microsoft add 11 days although any extra support is
nice and I applaud Microsoft for all of the added support that they have given 98, 98SE and ME.


This is the second Tuesday in that month!

Cheers, Roman


  #43  
Old February 19th 06, 05:26 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion
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Default Last Rites for Win9x

"Dan" wrote in message ...
| PCR wrote:
| "Dan" wrote in message ...
| | PCR wrote:
| | Me 'n Colorado are sworn to wait for it to turn to dust! I KNOW he broke his word, though, ran JUST the XP tester & ended up with purple toes! Now, he is back & healing. Poatt too!
| |
| |
| | Do you think you will install Vista or is it too early to tell.
|
| Not until I have to! But, yea, I won't resist that one on the day Win98 crumbles to dust. I even suppose there is one chance in 1,073,741,824 that XP will prove to be the better OS, though, & I'd go for it, instead-- & take 12 pills a day for the radiation!
|
| LOL I have both since I dual-boot and I prefer 98SE although you can do
| more with XP.

You can! But it won't be long before you get XP-eyes! You'll only see things on the opposite side of every wall, like poatt! That's OK for him, though. He's got his son over there telling him what's on his side.
  #44  
Old February 19th 06, 06:22 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion
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Default Last Rites for Win9x

roman modic wrote:
Hello!

"Dan" wrote in message ...
Ivan Bútora wrote:
Wow, we got 11 extra days according to this:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/sup...ofsupport.mspx


I agree Ivan that by having more services with XP it allows more entry points to a user's PC. That is something that can make XP
more confusing and in some ways more vulnerable than 98SE. I wonder what made Microsoft add 11 days although any extra support is
nice and I applaud Microsoft for all of the added support that they have given 98, 98SE and ME.


This is the second Tuesday in that month!

Cheers, Roman


Good observation and so we will get that final round of security update(s).
  #45  
Old February 19th 06, 12:12 PM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion
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Default Last Rites for Win9x

In a word ... horse-hockey!

Services can be used for good and evil, exploited, even overflowed and shut
down; but Windows 9x will always be less secure than any WinNT based
operating system for one lethal and uncorrectable problem - lack of
security.

For example, on a WinNT based computer configured with default settings, the
NTFS file system locks the standard user (and thus the programs, worms and
viruses that user might run) out of many potentially lethal areas of the
hard drive. The user may have read-only rights to these areas, or no rights
at all. Win9x - no such luck, the entire drive is wide-open.

For another, the Registry. Again, WinNT systems give standard users only
limited access to most areas of the Registry. Win9x - yeah, once again,
wide open.

Oh, you want another? Okay. The WinNT kernel runs programs in separate
buckets so that one running program cannot touch or corrupt the memory
another program is using. Not so in Win9x - any program can stomp all over
memory in use by any other, and can read the data that program is
processing.

Given a little more time (and coffee!) I could almost surely come up with
others but you get the idea here. Win9x was designed for an entirely
different time - when one computer was generally used by one user, either at
home where it was rarely exposed to the Internet or other computers, or at
work where security was handled by the IT gurus, when the threats of today
were no more than a glimmer in someone's eye.

The time for Win9x has come and gone.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ...
http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Dan" wrote in message
...

I agree Ivan that by having more services with XP it allows more entry
points to a user's PC. That is something that can make XP more confusing
and in some ways more vulnerable than 98SE. I wonder what made Microsoft
add 11 days although any extra support is nice and I applaud Microsoft for
all of the added support that they have given 98, 98SE and ME.



  #46  
Old February 20th 06, 07:50 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Last Rites for Win9x

Would like to point out that most of what you refer to is germane to local
security--of particular interest in corporate installations, other
commercial sites, etc., but for a single home user, such as Ivan, the
advantage is much less clear-cut.

In such case, you're depending much more on whatever technique you use for
isolation from the net at large (e.g., firewall, site selection, method of
connection, etc.), and as someone in this thread said, once they're through,
it's a mess, and from what I can see, the mess is worse in XP. Not least
because of the lack of general accessibility of the system (at least partly
in the interest of security, no doubt) to the user.

Reinstallation as a panacea for all ills doesn't appeal to me.

Joe
"Richard G. Harper" wrote in message
...
In a word ... horse-hockey!

Services can be used for good and evil, exploited, even overflowed and

shut
down; but Windows 9x will always be less secure than any WinNT based
operating system for one lethal and uncorrectable problem - lack of
security.

For example, on a WinNT based computer configured with default settings,

the
NTFS file system locks the standard user (and thus the programs, worms and
viruses that user might run) out of many potentially lethal areas of the
hard drive. The user may have read-only rights to these areas, or no

rights
at all. Win9x - no such luck, the entire drive is wide-open.

For another, the Registry. Again, WinNT systems give standard users only
limited access to most areas of the Registry. Win9x - yeah, once again,
wide open.

Oh, you want another? Okay. The WinNT kernel runs programs in separate
buckets so that one running program cannot touch or corrupt the memory
another program is using. Not so in Win9x - any program can stomp all

over
memory in use by any other, and can read the data that program is
processing.

Given a little more time (and coffee!) I could almost surely come up with
others but you get the idea here. Win9x was designed for an entirely
different time - when one computer was generally used by one user, either

at
home where it was rarely exposed to the Internet or other computers, or at
work where security was handled by the IT gurus, when the threats of today
were no more than a glimmer in someone's eye.

The time for Win9x has come and gone.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ...
http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Dan" wrote in message
...

I agree Ivan that by having more services with XP it allows more entry
points to a user's PC. That is something that can make XP more

confusing
and in some ways more vulnerable than 98SE. I wonder what made

Microsoft
add 11 days although any extra support is nice and I applaud Microsoft

for
all of the added support that they have given 98, 98SE and ME.





  #47  
Old February 20th 06, 05:00 PM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion
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Posts: n/a
Default Last Rites for Win9x

Roger Fink wrote:
or maybe over to these guys...
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4131.html


I've heard of this "unoffical patch " before, but hesitated.

My W98SE has always worked very reliably on a P166, minimal patches installed.

Is this update:

A. Necessary (note above)

B. Safe for the average user?

C. Safe for an older computer?

TIA

MS
  #48  
Old February 20th 06, 10:02 PM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion
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Default Last Rites for Win9x

On Wed, 15 Feb 2006 12:58:03 -0800, Gary S. Terhune wrote:

I assume someone already posted this at least once. But just in case...


So what does this announcement mean for this ng?
  #49  
Old February 20th 06, 10:28 PM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion
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Default Last Rites for Win9x

Hard to say... But MS has a much different set of rules for NGs. They are
retired as people stop using them. An NG has to be moribund for several
months before they even consider canceling it.

I would expect that in a year or three, some of the Win98 NGs will be
retired. But this one and the other active ones will likely be here long
after XP has reached end-of-life-- and I for one am staying here for the
duration even if I start also participating in Vista forums.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User

"sf" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 15 Feb 2006 12:58:03 -0800, Gary S. Terhune wrote:

I assume someone already posted this at least once. But just in case...


So what does this announcement mean for this ng?



  #50  
Old February 21st 06, 12:20 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion
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Default Last Rites for Win9x

Gary S. Terhune wrote:
Hard to say... But MS has a much different set of rules for NGs. They are
retired as people stop using them. An NG has to be moribund for several
months before they even consider canceling it.

I would expect that in a year or three, some of the Win98 NGs will be
retired. But this one and the other active ones will likely be here long
after XP has reached end-of-life-- and I for one am staying here for the
duration even if I start also participating in Vista forums.

For those of us contemplating, with whatever misgivings,
moving on to XP, what groups are good to start with?

 




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