Win98 unofficial upgrade changes IE security settings

  • Thread starter Thread starter Achim Nolcken Lohse
  • Start date Start date
A

Achim Nolcken Lohse

Because I've been unable for reasons unknow to order the official MS
upgrade disk for Win98, or to use the MS upgrade site (it tells me I'm
running Win2000 and need to get admin status!), I decided to use the
unofficial Win98 upgrade ver.1.5 favourably reviewed in this NS.

When I used Internet Explorer after the upgrade, I noticed that all my
security settings had been changed, which would have been nice to
know. I changed them back, and didn't worry further about it.

However, since then, I've found them changed again, and neither I nor
my wife, the only other user on the system have done this manually.
So now I'm wondering whether this upgrade has enabled websites or
internal applications to change the IE security settings without the
user's intervention?

Some settings I've found changed to "enabled"


cookies, active scripting, scripting of java applets, java
permissions-high security, run active-X controls marked safe for
scripting

I've always kept all java and active-x settings on "disable", and
always leave active scripting (required by my bank, and some other
essential services) on the "prompt" setting, so I don't forget to turn
it off again.

Can anyone shed some light on this, and what I can do about it? I
gather the Win98 upgrade is irreversible, but I'd consider wiping my
Windows installation and reinstalling from the original. However, I do
feel the need to install at least the security upgrades provided by MS
- just don't know how to do it.
 
Achim said:
Because I've been unable for reasons unknow to order the official MS
upgrade disk for Win98, or to use the MS upgrade site (it tells me I'm
running Win2000 and need to get admin status!), I decided to use the
unofficial Win98 upgrade ver.1.5 favourably reviewed in this NS.

When I used Internet Explorer after the upgrade, I noticed that all my
security settings had been changed, which would have been nice to
know. I changed them back, and didn't worry further about it.

However, since then, I've found them changed again, and neither I nor
my wife, the only other user on the system have done this manually.
So now I'm wondering whether this upgrade has enabled websites or
internal applications to change the IE security settings without the
user's intervention?

Some settings I've found changed to "enabled"


cookies, active scripting, scripting of java applets, java
permissions-high security, run active-X controls marked safe for
scripting

I've always kept all java and active-x settings on "disable", and
always leave active scripting (required by my bank, and some other
essential services) on the "prompt" setting, so I don't forget to turn
it off again.

Can anyone shed some light on this, and what I can do about it? I
gather the Win98 upgrade is irreversible, but I'd consider wiping my
Windows installation and reinstalling from the original. However, I do
feel the need to install at least the security upgrades provided by MS
- just don't know how to do it.
Click to expand...
From: Gordon Darling <[email protected]>
Newsgroups: alt.comp.freeware
Subject: Windows 98 Updates
Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2003 17:51:58 +0000 (UTC)
Organization: BT Openworld
Lines: 31
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Reply-To: (e-mail address removed)
NNTP-Posting-Host: dial81-135-117-136.in-addr.btopenworld.com
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
X-Trace: hercules.btinternet.com 1065289918 5793 81.135.117.136 (4 Oct 2003
17:51:58 GMT)
X-Complaints-To: (e-mail address removed)
NNTP-Posting-Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2003 17:51:58 +0000 (UTC)
User-Agent: Pan/0.14.2 (This is not a psychotic episode. It's a cleansing
moment of clarity.)


Whilst Windows 98 is still the most widely installed OS in the world it
ain't making any money for Microsoft - they want you to move to XP. As
many will be aware support for Win98 will be withdrawn at the end of this
year.

It is possible to set up "Windows Update" to allow you to download ALL of
the updates individually. You can then copy them all to another
partition/hard disk or burn to a CDR. It's easy enough on broadband but
still possible on dial up if you download bits at a time.

Couple of caveats.
You must be running a Microsoft operating system (i.e. you can't do it on
Solaris or BSD, etc) but you can d/l updates for an OS other than the one
you are running. (You can d/l Win98SE updates from a Win2K or WinXP box).

The procedure is as follows.

Tip: Make the destination directory smaller that 50 characters (Why I don't
know - But longer it will warn you to make another eg. c
\downloads\Win98UD)

a) Go to the Windows update site.
b) Choose personalize Windows update in the left frame.
c) Put a check mark in "Display the link to Windows Update Catalog".
d) There's a new link to Windows Update Catalog under See Also.**(Left
Frame)
e) Click on the link. (Find updates for Microsoft Windows operating systems)
f) Make your selection of operating system.(dropdowm menu in center)
g) Make your selection updates.(I had 58 + 1 + 1)
h) Download as appropriate.

I copied them to 4 1.44meg floppies

Hope this helps those of you still using Win98

Regards
Gordon
 
Achim Nolcken Lohse said:
Because I've been unable for reasons unknow to order the official MS
upgrade disk for Win98, or to use the MS upgrade site (it tells me I'm
running Win2000 and need to get admin status!), I decided to use the
unofficial Win98 upgrade ver.1.5 favourably reviewed in this NS.
Click to expand...
<snip>

Critical and other updates for Windows 98 can be downloaded from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/downloads/corporate.asp

What "reasons unknown" are interfering with your attempts to order the CD
from Microsoft? Try ordering it from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/cd/order.mspx It really
does work.

Windows Update problems?
http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/

What is this upgrade thing you just installed on your system?
 
Achim said:
Can anyone shed some light on this, and what I can do about it? I
gather the Win98 upgrade is irreversible, but I'd consider wiping my
Windows installation and reinstalling from the original. However, I do
feel the need to install at least the security upgrades provided by MS
- just don't know how to do it.
Click to expand...

I tried the unofficial win98 too, and my computer did not even work
afterwards, I had to use partition saving to restore an image of the C
drive I had saved a few weeks earlier.

The unofficial update should have very heavy warnings about it, and
should not be used, as it works like the worst virus I have seen in many
years.

To get the update on microsoft web site to work you need to use IE and
allow javascript and cookies etc..
You can set up microsoft.com as a trusted site to make it work better.

Good luck.
 
I tried the unofficial win98 too, and my computer did not even work
afterwards, I had to use partition saving to restore an image of the C
drive I had saved a few weeks earlier.

The unofficial update should have very heavy warnings about it, and
should not be used, as it works like the worst virus I have seen in many
years.

To get the update on microsoft web site to work you need to use IE and
allow javascript and cookies etc..
You can set up microsoft.com as a trusted site to make it work better.
Click to expand...

Roger,

It does warn that it's intended only for clean, unmodified installs of 98.
If you have updated IE or downloaded patches, installing the Unofficial 98
Update could hose the OS.

As for the OP, I think all those settings are default.

Bob
 
It does warn that it's intended only for clean, unmodified installs of 98.
If you have updated IE or downloaded patches, installing the Unofficial 98
Update could hose the OS.
Click to expand...

Yes it had some warnings and I took a chance, I could afford that
because I use Partition Saving of the C: drive as backup, but I think
the warnings should be even stronger, telling the user about the very
serious consequences which can happen.

Having to reinstall the operating system is one of the most serious
consequences which can happen.

It wouldn't hurt if the updater program had some checks built in, to see
if the system it is applied to really is in a shape suitable for this
unofficial update.
 
Having to reinstall the operating system is one of the most serious
consequences which can happen.
Click to expand...

But then, some people like pain. That does not include me! :)
It wouldn't hurt if the updater program had some checks built in, to see
if the system it is applied to really is in a shape suitable for this
unofficial update.
Click to expand...

Excellent idea. It doesn't seem like it would be that hard for the author to
modify the program to scan for certain versions, registry keys, file dates,
and INF data.

Bob
 
Achim Nolcken Lohse said:
When I used Internet Explorer after the upgrade, I noticed that all my
security settings had been changed, which would have been nice to
know. I changed them back, and didn't worry further about it.

However, since then, I've found them changed again, and neither I nor
my wife, the only other user on the system have done this manually.
So now I'm wondering whether this upgrade has enabled websites or
internal applications to change the IE security settings without the
user's intervention?

Some settings I've found changed to "enabled"


cookies, active scripting, scripting of java applets, java
permissions-high security, run active-X controls marked safe for
scripting

I've always kept all java and active-x settings on "disable", and
always leave active scripting (required by my bank, and some other
essential services) on the "prompt" setting, so I don't forget to turn
it off again.
Click to expand...

Odd. I used the unofficial service pack v1.5 without experiencing this. In
fact, I had no problems with it at all.
Can anyone shed some light on this, and what I can do about it? I
gather the Win98 upgrade is irreversible,
Click to expand...

No, it is reversible. On my system, it added an entry for "Unofficial
Windows 98 SE Service Pack 1.5" in my Add/Remove Programs.

Daze
 
Haven't experienced any noticeable problems other than the IE
settings, but am only running Pegasus Mail, Forte Free Agent,
ZoneAlarm4.5, and OpenOffice1.1.2 at the moment.
I did that, but it still wouldn't work for me.
Roger,

It does warn that it's intended only for clean, unmodified installs of 98.
If you have updated IE or downloaded patches, installing the Unofficial 98
Update could hose the OS.
Click to expand...

Not applicable in my case, as I had just installed Win98SE from the
original disk.
As for the OP, I think all those settings are default.
Click to expand...

It's the unprompted IE security reversions that bother me.
 
Roger,

It does warn that it's intended only for clean, unmodified installs of 98.
If you have updated IE or downloaded patches, installing the Unofficial 98
Update could hose the OS.
Click to expand...

My upgrade was done on a clean install of Win98SE.
As for the OP, I think all those settings are default.
Click to expand...

Makes sense, it's their apparent ability to reset without user
intervention that bothers me.
 
Odd. I used the unofficial service pack v1.5 without experiencing this. In
fact, I had no problems with it at all.


No, it is reversible. On my system, it added an entry for "Unofficial
Windows 98 SE Service Pack 1.5" in my Add/Remove Programs.
Click to expand...

True, it does list in the Add and Remove Programs window, but have you
actually tried to remove it?

What gives me pause is the fact that a number of the individual
security upgrades that presumably are included in this package are
listed as irreversible on the MS upgrade site IIRC.
 
No, it is reversible. On my system, it added an entry for "Unofficial
Windows 98 SE Service Pack 1.5" in my Add/Remove Programs.
Click to expand...

And the reversal works too, without any ill effects.

At least it did on my W98SE machine.

I found no advantages to running it with the upgrade, and none of the
troubles that others have reported.

Cheers,

Roy
 
Roy said:
I found no advantages to running it with the upgrade, and none of the
troubles that others have reported.
Click to expand...


Before the Windows Security Update CD came out, I thought this would be
a must-have. Now, it all seems pretty pointless.
 
Mark Warner said:
Before the Windows Security Update CD came out, I thought this would be
a must-have. Now, it all seems pretty pointless.
Click to expand...

Yep, I have to agree with you, Mark. And I suspect the "Unofficial" author
does, as well, since he has issued no new versions since 1.5 and has never
completed his long-under-development WinME service pack, either.
I wish M$ would issue these CDs on a regular basis, however. The one that
we're using, although dated 2/04, only contains patches and updates issued
"through October 2003."
www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/cd/order.mspx

Regards,
Daze
 
Back
Top