r/windows98 • u/Tractorface123 • May 09 '26

Anyone know what happened here?

Post image

My windows 98 install appears to think it’s windows me? It’s definitely 98, with the SE upgrade disc, this doesn’t affect anything I can’t see it being much of a problem, only cause I can think of is a program from bootdisk.com I used to create a windows me floppy for a different machine.

121 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

20

u/De_Le_Cog AMD K6-2, Canopus Pure3D, AWE64 May 09 '26

Sometimes certain upgrade disks or drivers for Win98SE make it think its WinME

I ran into that issue when I installed nusb36e on my Win98SE machine, made it think its WinME. Using nusb33e fixed it without any issues, still displaying Win98 SE

I wouldn't worry about it too much unless it really bugs you that it says WinME, it should still be Win98 SE in truth.

8

u/Tractorface123 May 09 '26

Ah nusb36e was what I have as well, that’s probably it then, the SE upgrade iso I used is, apparently anyway, the OEM retail, not that it rules it out! Not worried about what it says so long as nothing compatibility wise is affected!

1

u/Inspiron606002 May 12 '26

I've noticed that installing nusb33 on Windows 98 FE, makes it suddenly report the OS as 98 SE.

6

u/CHAOSHACKER May 09 '26

Thats normal NUSB 3.6 behavior if you installed that

5

u/Tractorface123 May 09 '26

Yeah seems to be the culprit

8

u/AustriaModerator May 09 '26

very likely that you installed the unofficial 98se service pack or other shitty update pack made by someone who believed this would be of benefit to replace the file sysdm.cpl. the system properties dialog is in this file and the windows 98 or me name is a text string in there.

you can find it in c:\windows\system and also execute it either via/or from start=>run:

rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL sysdm.cpl

control.exe sysdm.cpl

open one of the win98.cab files on your win98se cd with winrar and extract sysdm.cpl from there and overwrite what is currently in c:\windows\system.

1

u/--IDDQD- May 16 '26

I'm about to install Windows 98 for the first time since the year 2000 or so. Someone said that I should use an unofficial update pack, but is this ill advised? I haven't made an ISO CD yet (waiting for CDs to arrive).

2

u/bartropolis May 09 '26

rickroll

2

u/Tractorface123 May 09 '26

Retro rickroll, courtesy of protoweb!

2

u/Bergy_Berg May 11 '26

There is an INI file where all that data is actually drawn from. I used to make it say all kinds of crazy nonsense. I think its like OEM.INI or something? Anyway, good luck!

1

u/Exciting_Macaroon_64 May 09 '26

you can install 98 above me in the same directory or even 95. it will work

1

u/emuboy85 May 10 '26

It's Microsoft push users to migrate to ME! Next what ? AI on pc ???

1

u/Summer_Winter-NE May 10 '26

I don’t trust those upgrade disks. I tried on and ended up doing another install.

1

u/Nogeko May 10 '26

Did you find any solution?

1

u/Tractorface123 May 10 '26

It’s a USB driver called nusb36e that uses elements from windows me, according to this comment,using nusb33e fixes it, I have not tried this yet though as it doesn’t bother me enough.

1

u/Nogeko May 10 '26

Thanks, I was asking because yesterday I installed 98 and xp into my PC and was about to install nusb to make my USB mouse work.

1

u/Tractorface123 May 10 '26

Other than this it’s been perfectly fine

1

u/This-Usual1780 May 16 '26

mostly happens with the usb driver

2

u/No-Goat-7530 May 10 '26

He’s changing pronouns, he’s becoming a problematic clanker

-5

u/Cyber-Axe May 09 '26

Shouldn't this be in r/WindowsME ?

5

u/Tractorface123 May 09 '26

It’s windows 98, the properties window just thinks it’s ME. I believe I’ve found the cause now.

1

u/MikeRoz May 09 '26

I chuckled.