Windows 98 Second Edition (SE) was released in 1999, and since then many component updates and critical security hotfixes have also been released. Also, in July of 2006 Microsoft stopped support for Windows 98, and many vulnerabilities discovered since then have not been officially patched.

So keeping a Windows 98 machine fully patched and secure is nearly impossible these days and definitely time-consuming regardless. Thus the project to create an "auto-patcher" was born.

Whatever state your computer is currently in, you can use Auto-Patcher for Windows 98 SE (English) to do all the patching for you. Of course, if you have just recently re-installed your operating system, this program will save you hours and hours of time re-installing everything.

Auto-Patcher includes: Internet Explorer 6 SP1, Direct X 9.0c (October 2006), Microsoft Data Access Components 2.8 SP1, and Windows Media Player 9. It also includes every update that has been released by Microsoft and every unofficial update posted on MSFN - It also includes optional components like .NET Framework 2 and the System Policy Editor for Windows 98SE. There are 9 in total. The only things missing are the other unofficial service packs and update packs that are floating around. But there should be nothing critical from those packs missing from Auto-Patcher.

Auto-patcher for Windows 98SE will work on any existing Windows 98 SE (English) system and will still only install updates and hotfixes if your computer is missing them. If you want to know before-hand what Auto-Patcher thinks is missing, there is a report function available that will compile a list of all missing updates.

The goal in the end is to have Auto-Patcher do everything you need to have your computer ready to go just as if you performed a complete re-installation of Windows 98 SE.

Auto-patcher for Windows 98SE will not work for Windows 98 first edition (gold edition), even if you have installed the service pack. And it will not work for any localised version of Windows that is not English.

Here are some key features of "Auto patcher for Windows 98SE":

· one-click & one-button full auto-patching of your system
· updates and hotfixes are grouped into selectable modules.
· optional updates available from most modules
· only install updates you are missing (default setting)
· report function: search for missing updates and send to text file for viewing
· every Auto-Patcher process is logged with timestamped file & hotfix
· version information. The log file automatically opens after Auto-Patcher finishes.
· option to force re-installation of updates already installed (NOT the default setting)
· to fully patch a freshly installed Window 98 machine, many reboots are required. If the process is interrupted, recovery is available as a menu option
· beware, this a DOS-based program written in batch file language