Windows 98 Updates Quit Working Today

I work in an K-12 Educational System. We still have a tremendous amount of
Windows 98 SE computers...Just the nature of the business.

I know that Microsoft does not put out any new updates for Windows 98 but up
through yesterday...The Windows Update page would work and download all of
the previous updates. I use this regularly if I have to reload a computer.

Today...the page does not work. Says something about the wrong operating
system and gives me a link to the Microsoft/Mac site.

Does anyone have any ideas????

Thanks in advance!!!!

Tim

Tim,

Other MVPs have reported the same behavior to me as you've been
witnessing. I haven't seen it on a ME system nor on a VPC installation
of Windows 98.
It is possible that it's a temporary glitch or an indication that the
installed scripting component may be damaged. Suggest you first attempt
deleting all of the Temporary Internet Files, Cookies, and History using
Internet Options in the Control Panel.
If that doesn't rectify the issue then download and install :

Windows Script 5.6 for Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, and
Windows NT 4.0
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en

The only other variable that would obscure the identification of the OS
could be the corruption of MSXML, the firewall, or the installed
antivirus program.

BTW, did you try to access the Windows Update Catalog ?
http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.co...en/default.asp

MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============


Tim Southerland wrote:

> I work in an K-12 Educational System. We still have a tremendous amount of
> Windows 98 SE computers...Just the nature of the business.
>
> I know that Microsoft does not put out any new updates for Windows 98 but up
> through yesterday...The Windows Update page would work and download all of
> the previous updates. I use this regularly if I have to reload a computer.
>
> Today...the page does not work. Says something about the wrong operating
> system and gives me a link to the Microsoft/Mac site.
>
> Does anyone have any ideas????
>
> Thanks in advance!!!!
>
> Tim

I tried both options that you gave.

I deleted all Temp Internet Files, Cookies, and History.

I downloaded the Windows Script 5.6 and installed.

Neither of these worked.

I thought it might be a bad installation because I noticed it yesterday
while I was reloading 3 Win98 SE boxes. But then I went to one of the other
550 Win98SE boxes that I have installed in the system and they gave the same
error.

I can access the Windows Update Catalog. But don't you have to install
those updates one at a time? Where as Windows Update installs all them
unattended.

Thanks again!

Tim

"MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:

> Tim,
>
> Other MVPs have reported the same behavior to me as you've been
> witnessing. I haven't seen it on a ME system nor on a VPC installation
> of Windows 98.
> It is possible that it's a temporary glitch or an indication that the
> installed scripting component may be damaged. Suggest you first attempt
> deleting all of the Temporary Internet Files, Cookies, and History using
> Internet Options in the Control Panel.
> If that doesn't rectify the issue then download and install :
>
> Windows Script 5.6 for Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, and
> Windows NT 4.0
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en
>
> The only other variable that would obscure the identification of the OS
> could be the corruption of MSXML, the firewall, or the installed
> antivirus program.
>
> BTW, did you try to access the Windows Update Catalog ?
> http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.co...en/default.asp
>
> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
> ===============
> *-343-* FDNY
> Never Forgotten
> ===============
>
>
> Tim Southerland wrote:
>
> > I work in an K-12 Educational System. We still have a tremendous amount of
> > Windows 98 SE computers...Just the nature of the business.
> >
> > I know that Microsoft does not put out any new updates for Windows 98 but up
> > through yesterday...The Windows Update page would work and download all of
> > the previous updates. I use this regularly if I have to reload a computer.
> >
> > Today...the page does not work. Says something about the wrong operating
> > system and gives me a link to the Microsoft/Mac site.
> >
> > Does anyone have any ideas????
> >
> > Thanks in advance!!!!
> >
> > Tim
>

Tim,

This issue starting popping up just recently. It *may* just be an issue
with the Update site. If you can access the Update Catalog, then suggest
you download all available updates for Win 98 SE systems from there.
Burn them to one CD and then you'll have them all on hand should they
then be needed. BTW, there is a way to install them in one felled swoop:

How to install multiple Windows updates or hotfixes with only one reboot
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/296861

Since you are noticing this issue on systems that were not rebuilt nor
reinstalled, then I strongly suspect the issue lies with Windows Update,
UNLESS the firewall software/hardware was updated, the security software
was updated, or the network these system are on was updated.

I'll attempt to contact someone from MS today, but can't guarantee that
I'll get an answer for you

MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============


Tim Southerland wrote:

> I tried both options that you gave.
>
> I deleted all Temp Internet Files, Cookies, and History.
>
> I downloaded the Windows Script 5.6 and installed.
>
> Neither of these worked.
>
> I thought it might be a bad installation because I noticed it yesterday
> while I was reloading 3 Win98 SE boxes. But then I went to one of the other
> 550 Win98SE boxes that I have installed in the system and they gave the same
> error.
>
> I can access the Windows Update Catalog. But don't you have to install
> those updates one at a time? Where as Windows Update installs all them
> unattended.
>
> Thanks again!
>
> Tim
>
> "MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:
>
>
>>Tim,
>>
>>Other MVPs have reported the same behavior to me as you've been
>>witnessing. I haven't seen it on a ME system nor on a VPC installation
>>of Windows 98.
>>It is possible that it's a temporary glitch or an indication that the
>>installed scripting component may be damaged. Suggest you first attempt
>>deleting all of the Temporary Internet Files, Cookies, and History using
>>Internet Options in the Control Panel.
>>If that doesn't rectify the issue then download and install :
>>
>>Windows Script 5.6 for Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, and
>>Windows NT 4.0
>>http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en
>>
>>The only other variable that would obscure the identification of the OS
>>could be the corruption of MSXML, the firewall, or the installed
>>antivirus program.
>>
>>BTW, did you try to access the Windows Update Catalog ?
>>http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.co...en/default.asp
>>
>>MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
>>===============
>> *-343-* FDNY
>>Never Forgotten
>>===============
>>
>>
>>Tim Southerland wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I work in an K-12 Educational System. We still have a tremendous amount of
>>>Windows 98 SE computers...Just the nature of the business.
>>>
>>>I know that Microsoft does not put out any new updates for Windows 98 but up
>>>through yesterday...The Windows Update page would work and download all of
>>>the previous updates. I use this regularly if I have to reload a computer.
>>>
>>>Today...the page does not work. Says something about the wrong operating
>>>system and gives me a link to the Microsoft/Mac site.
>>>
>>>Does anyone have any ideas????
>>>
>>>Thanks in advance!!!!
>>>
>>>Tim
>>

I've been having the same problem since sunday, my machine is a stand alone
pc, I haven't noticed any other problems.
--
thanks

rob


"MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:

> Tim,
>
> This issue starting popping up just recently. It *may* just be an issue
> with the Update site. If you can access the Update Catalog, then suggest
> you download all available updates for Win 98 SE systems from there.
> Burn them to one CD and then you'll have them all on hand should they
> then be needed. BTW, there is a way to install them in one felled swoop:
>
> How to install multiple Windows updates or hotfixes with only one reboot
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/296861
>
> Since you are noticing this issue on systems that were not rebuilt nor
> reinstalled, then I strongly suspect the issue lies with Windows Update,
> UNLESS the firewall software/hardware was updated, the security software
> was updated, or the network these system are on was updated.
>
> I'll attempt to contact someone from MS today, but can't guarantee that
> I'll get an answer for you
>
> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
> ===============
> *-343-* FDNY
> Never Forgotten
> ===============
>
>
> Tim Southerland wrote:
>
> > I tried both options that you gave.
> >
> > I deleted all Temp Internet Files, Cookies, and History.
> >
> > I downloaded the Windows Script 5.6 and installed.
> >
> > Neither of these worked.
> >
> > I thought it might be a bad installation because I noticed it yesterday
> > while I was reloading 3 Win98 SE boxes. But then I went to one of the other
> > 550 Win98SE boxes that I have installed in the system and they gave the same
> > error.
> >
> > I can access the Windows Update Catalog. But don't you have to install
> > those updates one at a time? Where as Windows Update installs all them
> > unattended.
> >
> > Thanks again!
> >
> > Tim
> >
> > "MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Tim,
> >>
> >>Other MVPs have reported the same behavior to me as you've been
> >>witnessing. I haven't seen it on a ME system nor on a VPC installation
> >>of Windows 98.
> >>It is possible that it's a temporary glitch or an indication that the
> >>installed scripting component may be damaged. Suggest you first attempt
> >>deleting all of the Temporary Internet Files, Cookies, and History using
> >>Internet Options in the Control Panel.
> >>If that doesn't rectify the issue then download and install :
> >>
> >>Windows Script 5.6 for Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, and
> >>Windows NT 4.0
> >>http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en
> >>
> >>The only other variable that would obscure the identification of the OS
> >>could be the corruption of MSXML, the firewall, or the installed
> >>antivirus program.
> >>
> >>BTW, did you try to access the Windows Update Catalog ?
> >>http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.co...en/default.asp
> >>
> >>MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
> >>===============
> >> *-343-* FDNY
> >>Never Forgotten
> >>===============
> >>
> >>
> >>Tim Southerland wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>I work in an K-12 Educational System. We still have a tremendous amount of
> >>>Windows 98 SE computers...Just the nature of the business.
> >>>
> >>>I know that Microsoft does not put out any new updates for Windows 98 but up
> >>>through yesterday...The Windows Update page would work and download all of
> >>>the previous updates. I use this regularly if I have to reload a computer.
> >>>
> >>>Today...the page does not work. Says something about the wrong operating
> >>>system and gives me a link to the Microsoft/Mac site.
> >>>
> >>>Does anyone have any ideas????
> >>>
> >>>Thanks in advance!!!!
> >>>
> >>>Tim
> >>
>

rob,

I've been playing with a VPC install of Win 98 SE and found out that if
the installed firewall was running, an older version of Zone Alarm,
then the " Thank you for your interest in Windows Update ... "
and the Mac OS message came up.

To resolve it, close Internet Explorer. Exit Zone Alarm (if another
firewall is installed, suggest you leave it running to see if that's
what is contributing to the issue)

Open Internet Options in the Control Panel.
Under Temporary Internet Files, click the Delete Cookies button
Now click the Delete Files button and put a check next to 'Delete all
offline content'. Click OK
Click the Clear History button

If the system still can not access WU, then disable the firewall
temporarily. Do the Internet Options routine as described above.
When done, click the Windows Update link on the Start Menu or, open IE,
click Tools, Windows Update.

Can the system now connect to WU ?


MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============






rob oxley wrote:

> I've been having the same problem since sunday, my machine is a stand alone
> pc, I haven't noticed any other problems.

Been doing a little research here.

All of my Windows 98SE computers are sitting behind a Dell 2600 running
Windows Server 2003 and ISA Server 2000.

I ran critical updates on this box on Saturday and noticed my problem on
Monday morning.

Today is Wednesday and I went in this morning and remove the seven updates
that I installed on Saturday.

Then I deleted cookies, Temp Internet files, and history....and woooohooooo
WU works correctly.

The updates that I installed on Sunday were:

KB923689
KB911897
KB929969
KB890830
KB925454
KB925398
KB923694

I'm not sure as of yet which one caused this issue.

Any of you have any ideas????

Tim

"MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:

> rob,
>
> I've been playing with a VPC install of Win 98 SE and found out that if
> the installed firewall was running, an older version of Zone Alarm,
> then the " Thank you for your interest in Windows Update ... "
> and the Mac OS message came up.
>
> To resolve it, close Internet Explorer. Exit Zone Alarm (if another
> firewall is installed, suggest you leave it running to see if that's
> what is contributing to the issue)
>
> Open Internet Options in the Control Panel.
> Under Temporary Internet Files, click the Delete Cookies button
> Now click the Delete Files button and put a check next to 'Delete all
> offline content'. Click OK
> Click the Clear History button
>
> If the system still can not access WU, then disable the firewall
> temporarily. Do the Internet Options routine as described above.
> When done, click the Windows Update link on the Start Menu or, open IE,
> click Tools, Windows Update.
>
> Can the system now connect to WU ?
>
>
> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
> ===============
> *-343-* FDNY
> Never Forgotten
> ===============
>
>
>
>
>
>
> rob oxley wrote:
>
> > I've been having the same problem since sunday, my machine is a stand alone
> > pc, I haven't noticed any other problems.
>

Tim,

The previous post was meant for rob, not aimed to you. I doubt that
updating the server is what brought up the message as there are posts in
the Windows 98 and ME NGs about the message and none of the systems are
on networks nor were updated.
After consulting with another MVP, the only thing we've found that
doesn't bring up the message is to delete Cookies | Temporary Internet
Files | and Offline content.
We've deleted TIF without deleting Offline content and the message still
appeared.

So, it's down to a combination of a Cookie plus TIF w/offline content
that brings up the erroneous OS message.
If I had someone to contact at MS I would, but ... I don't. Since Win 9x
is no longer supported, I doubt MS even cares about this issue.
Unless Sys admins contact them to voice their concerns, MS will continue
to not care nor even be aware of the issue.


MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============



Tim Southerland wrote:

> Been doing a little research here.
>
> All of my Windows 98SE computers are sitting behind a Dell 2600 running
> Windows Server 2003 and ISA Server 2000.
>
> I ran critical updates on this box on Saturday and noticed my problem on
> Monday morning.
>
> Today is Wednesday and I went in this morning and remove the seven updates
> that I installed on Saturday.
>
> Then I deleted cookies, Temp Internet files, and history....and woooohooooo
> WU works correctly.
>
> The updates that I installed on Sunday were:
>
> KB923689
> KB911897
> KB929969
> KB890830
> KB925454
> KB925398
> KB923694
>
> I'm not sure as of yet which one caused this issue.
>
> Any of you have any ideas????
>
> Tim
>
> "MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:
>
>
>>rob,
>>
>>I've been playing with a VPC install of Win 98 SE and found out that if
>> the installed firewall was running, an older version of Zone Alarm,
>>then the " Thank you for your interest in Windows Update ... "
>>and the Mac OS message came up.
>>
>>To resolve it, close Internet Explorer. Exit Zone Alarm (if another
>>firewall is installed, suggest you leave it running to see if that's
>>what is contributing to the issue)
>>
>>Open Internet Options in the Control Panel.
>>Under Temporary Internet Files, click the Delete Cookies button
>>Now click the Delete Files button and put a check next to 'Delete all
>>offline content'. Click OK
>>Click the Clear History button
>>
>>If the system still can not access WU, then disable the firewall
>>temporarily. Do the Internet Options routine as described above.
>>When done, click the Windows Update link on the Start Menu or, open IE,
>>click Tools, Windows Update.
>>
>>Can the system now connect to WU ?
>>
>>
>>MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
>>===============
>> *-343-* FDNY
>>Never Forgotten
>>===============
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>rob oxley wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I've been having the same problem since sunday, my machine is a stand alone
>>>pc, I haven't noticed any other problems.
>>

Tim,

MS is aware of the issue and has contacted me. Will let you know what's up.

MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============



MowGreen [MVP] wrote:

> Tim,
>
> The previous post was meant for rob, not aimed to you. I doubt that
> updating the server is what brought up the message as there are posts in
> the Windows 98 and ME NGs about the message and none of the systems are
> on networks nor were updated.
> After consulting with another MVP, the only thing we've found that
> doesn't bring up the message is to delete Cookies | Temporary Internet
> Files | and Offline content.
> We've deleted TIF without deleting Offline content and the message still
> appeared.
>
> So, it's down to a combination of a Cookie plus TIF w/offline content
> that brings up the erroneous OS message.
> If I had someone to contact at MS I would, but ... I don't. Since Win 9x
> is no longer supported, I doubt MS even cares about this issue.
> Unless Sys admins contact them to voice their concerns, MS will continue
> to not care nor even be aware of the issue.
>
>
> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
> ===============
> *-343-* FDNY
> Never Forgotten
> ===============
>
>
>
> Tim Southerland wrote:
>
>> Been doing a little research here.
>>
>> All of my Windows 98SE computers are sitting behind a Dell 2600
>> running Windows Server 2003 and ISA Server 2000.
>>
>> I ran critical updates on this box on Saturday and noticed my problem
>> on Monday morning.
>>
>> Today is Wednesday and I went in this morning and remove the seven
>> updates that I installed on Saturday.
>>
>> Then I deleted cookies, Temp Internet files, and history....and
>> woooohooooo WU works correctly.
>>
>> The updates that I installed on Sunday were:
>>
>> KB923689
>> KB911897
>> KB929969
>> KB890830
>> KB925454
>> KB925398
>> KB923694
>>
>> I'm not sure as of yet which one caused this issue.
>>
>> Any of you have any ideas????
>>
>> Tim
>>
>> "MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:
>>
>>
>>> rob,
>>>
>>> I've been playing with a VPC install of Win 98 SE and found out that
>>> if the installed firewall was running, an older version of Zone
>>> Alarm, then the " Thank you for your interest in Windows Update ... "
>>> and the Mac OS message came up.
>>>
>>> To resolve it, close Internet Explorer. Exit Zone Alarm (if another
>>> firewall is installed, suggest you leave it running to see if that's
>>> what is contributing to the issue)
>>>
>>> Open Internet Options in the Control Panel.
>>> Under Temporary Internet Files, click the Delete Cookies button
>>> Now click the Delete Files button and put a check next to 'Delete all
>>> offline content'. Click OK
>>> Click the Clear History button
>>>
>>> If the system still can not access WU, then disable the firewall
>>> temporarily. Do the Internet Options routine as described above.
>>> When done, click the Windows Update link on the Start Menu or, open
>>> IE, click Tools, Windows Update.
>>>
>>> Can the system now connect to WU ?
>>>
>>>
>>> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
>>> ===============
>>> *-343-* FDNY
>>> Never Forgotten
>>> ===============
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> rob oxley wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> I've been having the same problem since sunday, my machine is a
>>>> stand alone pc, I haven't noticed any other problems.
>>>
>>>

Hey moe have you heard frommicrosoft yet this 98 update failure is giving me
fits?...jj

"MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:

> Tim,
>
> MS is aware of the issue and has contacted me. Will let you know what's up.
>
> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
> ===============
> *-343-* FDNY
> Never Forgotten
> ===============
>
>
>
> MowGreen [MVP] wrote:
>
> > Tim,
> >
> > The previous post was meant for rob, not aimed to you. I doubt that
> > updating the server is what brought up the message as there are posts in
> > the Windows 98 and ME NGs about the message and none of the systems are
> > on networks nor were updated.
> > After consulting with another MVP, the only thing we've found that
> > doesn't bring up the message is to delete Cookies | Temporary Internet
> > Files | and Offline content.
> > We've deleted TIF without deleting Offline content and the message still
> > appeared.
> >
> > So, it's down to a combination of a Cookie plus TIF w/offline content
> > that brings up the erroneous OS message.
> > If I had someone to contact at MS I would, but ... I don't. Since Win 9x
> > is no longer supported, I doubt MS even cares about this issue.
> > Unless Sys admins contact them to voice their concerns, MS will continue
> > to not care nor even be aware of the issue.
> >
> >
> > MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
> > ===============
> > *-343-* FDNY
> > Never Forgotten
> > ===============
> >
> >
> >
> > Tim Southerland wrote:
> >
> >> Been doing a little research here.
> >>
> >> All of my Windows 98SE computers are sitting behind a Dell 2600
> >> running Windows Server 2003 and ISA Server 2000.
> >>
> >> I ran critical updates on this box on Saturday and noticed my problem
> >> on Monday morning.
> >>
> >> Today is Wednesday and I went in this morning and remove the seven
> >> updates that I installed on Saturday.
> >>
> >> Then I deleted cookies, Temp Internet files, and history....and
> >> woooohooooo WU works correctly.
> >>
> >> The updates that I installed on Sunday were:
> >>
> >> KB923689
> >> KB911897
> >> KB929969
> >> KB890830
> >> KB925454
> >> KB925398
> >> KB923694
> >>
> >> I'm not sure as of yet which one caused this issue.
> >>
> >> Any of you have any ideas????
> >>
> >> Tim
> >>
> >> "MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>> rob,
> >>>
> >>> I've been playing with a VPC install of Win 98 SE and found out that
> >>> if the installed firewall was running, an older version of Zone
> >>> Alarm, then the " Thank you for your interest in Windows Update ... "
> >>> and the Mac OS message came up.
> >>>
> >>> To resolve it, close Internet Explorer. Exit Zone Alarm (if another
> >>> firewall is installed, suggest you leave it running to see if that's
> >>> what is contributing to the issue)
> >>>
> >>> Open Internet Options in the Control Panel.
> >>> Under Temporary Internet Files, click the Delete Cookies button
> >>> Now click the Delete Files button and put a check next to 'Delete all
> >>> offline content'. Click OK
> >>> Click the Clear History button
> >>>
> >>> If the system still can not access WU, then disable the firewall
> >>> temporarily. Do the Internet Options routine as described above.
> >>> When done, click the Windows Update link on the Start Menu or, open
> >>> IE, click Tools, Windows Update.
> >>>
> >>> Can the system now connect to WU ?
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
> >>> ===============
> >>> *-343-* FDNY
> >>> Never Forgotten
> >>> ===============
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> rob oxley wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> I've been having the same problem since sunday, my machine is a
> >>>> stand alone pc, I haven't noticed any other problems.
> >>>
> >>>
>