ITinfo: Windows 98 Service Pack Beta 2 Released

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Win98 Service Pack

Beta 2 released to vendors

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Windows 98 Service Pack Beta 2 Released

by Dave Murphy
ISSN 1535-3613

Microsoft released a second beta of its Service Pack for Windows 98 to computer manufacturers, but the final version of the fix may still be a long way off.

The Win98 Service Pack will eliminate a long list of annoying glitches affecting Win98. Although Win98 has been the top-selling software since its release last summer, but many users have complained about problems with the upgrade process as well as compatibility issues with peripherals such as modems.

Because of the delay in reviewing the Service Pack upgrade by the manufacturers newly-built computers won't include the updated version of Win98 until late in the first quarter of 1999. The SP-1 update will be available to current Win98 users at that time, also.

In a break with tradition, Microsoft is actually coming out with two separate Service Packs for Windows 98. One, called OSR, is designed for computer vendors, and this Beta 2 is part of the OSR development.

The other Win98 update, called SP-1, is designed for end users who will download the SP-1 update via Microsoft's website to update their already-installed versions of Win98.

Dave Murphy, founder of ITrain, the International Association of IT Trainers, commented that the two versions of Windows 98 updates could confuse end users. If the OSR and SP-1 versions don't create identical versions of Windows 98 after upgrading we could see problems in organizations that have mixed-use environments. OSR-updated systems and SP-1-updated systems may prove incompatible in some areas with the other systems.

"Only time will tell," said Murphy. "In the short term, IT managers will have to exercise vigilance in tracking system upgrades to prevent enterprise-wide compatibility issues," Murphy finished.

Microsoft has said both OSR and SP-1 for Windows 98 will include:

Support for modular Device Bay hardware.
Additional support for modem drivers.
Increased support for USB modems.
WebTV for Windows update.
Additional support for local area networks.
Security updates.
Networking enhancements that will enable dial-up connections over ATM networks.

Microsoft's website: www.microsoft.com
ITrain's website: itrain.org

Previous issues are on our website at http://itrain.org/itinfo/.

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http://itrain.org/itinfo/1999/it990101.html
updated January 1, 1999