Difference between Windows 98 and 98SE

[Claw57]

I will soon be upgrading my system and would like to do a fresh install of the OS. I am currently using what I believe to be Windows 98. ( first edition? ) I see 98SE mentioned alot and it would seem that this is the most current version. My question is what makes 98SE different from 98? If I were to install 98 and then go through the many updates from the Windows Update site would that put me at 98SE? And what about the free ( $5.00 shipping ) service pack on cd- would that make it SE? I guess what I really want to know is if I would be better off getting 98SE or ME or 2K- or just use 98 and do all the updates. The system will be PIII700@933, MS-6309, 128mb PC133 CL2 ram, and MX300 sound. I intend to do mostly gaming with newer games.

Thanks.

 

[Bozo]

Interesting problem...........If you are going to purchase a new OS, I would suggest Win2k.
If thats a little much for your budget, go for WinMe.

Bozo

 

[iddqd]

My experience with 98SE is that it freezes VERY RERELY as opposed to the original 98. Also install was more pleasant because it knows more hardware.

 

[BCYL]

Win98SE has ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) built-in, normal win98 doesnt...

Also win98SE fixes a lot of the bugs win98 had...

 

[Cyph3r]

In essence, Win98SE is a compliation of all the fixes for the bugs in Win98 and a couple of added feature like ICS as BCYL mentioned..

If you want to stick with Win98, then upgrading to SE would be a good choice..if you wish to upgrade beyond, then look into WinME..and depending on your computing needs W2K..Regards

 

[Eug]

If you have broadband access it isn't so bad, but if you don't it's a pain. Win 2000 is good too, assuming all of your software is compatible with it.

I just reinstalled 98 yesterday, but also had to download about 50 Megs of updates. Not all of it was necessary, but even just the bare minimum service pack and critical updates was around 10 Megs I think.

(Before that I had been running 98+updates for a year, ultra stable, but reformatted because I wanted to get rid of some extra partitions I had and I had installed too much crap anyway that was taking up space and registry entries.)

 

[Piecia]

you're going to buy it?? huh...here in Poland we don't buy legal software...win98, 98se, 2k, me costs only 3-5$...nice country...huh?

 

[CalebTG]

win98se comes with dx7 preinstalled, IE 5.0, and ICS as well as a number of bug fixes from win98 (FE)

win98 (FE) came with dx 6.1 and IE 4 I believe

 

[Noriaki]

SE has DirectX 7.0A and IE 5.0
FE has DirectX 6.1 and IE 4.x

SE also has ICS...
but all this was mentioned

to me the most important difference is this: Win98 crashed my computer so much I reverted back to Win95OSR2.1

Win98SE is much more stable than either.

I'd use Win98SE or Win2000 depending on what you want or how much you can spend. WinME might be alright and suit your needs personally I strongly dislike it though (WinME blows! ).