Windows 98 build 1546

4.10.1546
Build of Windows 98
Screenshot
Release nameBeta 2
OS familyWindows 9x
Version number4.10
Build number1546
Architecturex86
Compiled on1997-07-25
Expiration date
Timebomb1998-01-31 (+190 days)
About dialog
Windows98-4.1.1546-About.PNG
TCB.png TCBGallery.png

Windows 98 build 1546 is the official Beta 2 release of Windows 98, released on 31 July 1997[1] and is available in the English, Simplified Chinese, and German languages. The warez-group SWAT leaked the English-variant 4 days before the official release. A Spanish version was shown in a magazine scan, but as of 2024 it remains unleaked.[2] A French version was also reportedly known to exist according to a BBS forum post, but it also remains unleaked.[3]

NFO files[edit | edit source]

The following NFO files were included as part of the SWAT and TC releases [4]:

SWAT

       _oOOo                                                            
      oO$$$$$Oo       _,oO   Oo,_              oo         _oO$$$$$$$$$Oo_
     '$$$$$$$$$'  _,oO$$$$   $$$$Oo,_      _,oO--Oo,_     $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
     |$$$$$\$$$| $$$$$$$$$   $$$$$$$$$ _,oO$$$$  $$$$Oo,_  $$$  $$$$ $$$ 
      '$$$$$\$$' '$$$$$$$$   $$$$$$$$' $$$$$$$$  $$$$$$$$   $   $$$$  $  
       '$$$$$\'   '$$$$$$$   $$$$$$$'  `$$$$$$$aa$$$$$$$'       $$$$     
      oO\$$$$$\    '$$$$$$   $$$$$$'    `$$$$$$  $$$$$$'        $$$$     
     |$$$\$$$$$'    '$$$$$/^\$$$$$'      `$$$$$  $$$$$'         $$$$     
     '$$$$\$$$$$|    '$$$$O$O$$$$'        `$$$$  $$$$'          $$$$     
      '$$$$$$$$$'     '$$$$$$$$$'          `$$$  $$$'          '$$$$'    
        o$$$$$$O       $$$$$$$$$             $$  $$            $$$$$$    
         Oo$$Oo         $$$$$$$               $  $            $$$$$$$$   

         .,ss$$Sss,.   .,s²²ss ·-[S.\\'./\.T.]-· ss²²s,.   .,ssS$$ss,.
        y$'       `";s²"'                             `"²s;"'       `$y
        $$  ┌═══════─══[Ms Windows 98 Beta 2 ( Build 1546 )]═─════┐  ²$b
        $$  │┌════════─══─────═──═══──┐ ┌─═════─═─────═───═════──┐│  ,$$
        ²$b ├╡ CrACKeR: N/A           ╞─╡ ReLeaSe DaTe: 07/27/97 ╞┤  S$'
        ,$$ │└─═────════════─═────═───┘ └──═════─═─═──────═════─═┘│  $$
        $$' │┌──════──═───═══──══──═──┐ ┌───═══════─═─────══───═─┐│  $$
       d$'  ├╡ PaCkaGeR: HiGhLaNdR    ╞─╡ NuMBaH 0f DiSKS:       ╞┤  $$
       $$,  │└────════─═────════──═───┘ └─════════─═───═══════─═─┘│  $$
       `$i  │┌═════──═────═──────═══──┐ ┌─════─═─────═════════──═┐│  $$
       ,$P  ├╡ SuPPliER: #oldmemphis  ╞─╡ RaTiN': [ you decide ] ╞┤  ²$$b,
       $$   │└───═════════─═──────═══─┘ └───═══════─═─═───══─════┘│  s,'²$$
       $$   │┌═───══──═─═══════─[rELEAZE n0TEZ]─═───═══════─═──══┐│  $$   $
       $$   ││                                                   ││  $$   $
    ,$ $$   ├╡ Just Windows98 :)) Beta 2 :((( Well get it and try╞┤  $$   i
  ,s²" $$   ││ it's much better than last glow release.          ││  $$   :
 d$bs, $P   ││ Thx Purning for all your WoRK, and for helping me ││  $$   .
  `""²$$'   ││ Package this:) ehh                                ││  $$b
       ,s   ││                                                   ││  `Y$b
       $$   ││                                                   ││    `$$
       $$   ││                                                   ││    ,$P
       $$   ├╡                                                   ╞┤  ,d$P
       $l   ││                                                   ││  $$'
      ;$;   │└─═─═════════─═────════─═════─═───═[eon:end^of^note]┘│  $$
      $$    │┌═─═─────════─═─══─[iNSTALLATi0N]─══════──═─══─═──══┐│  $$
     ,$$    ││ Just unzip, then unrar, then unzip again and run  ││ d$'
     $$$Ss, ├╡ setup.exe finally :)).                            ╞┤ $$,
     `Y$$$$ ││                                                   ││ `$$,   ,y²'
        `ⁿ' ││                                                   ││  `$$,.d$
       .,s%$││                                                   ││  b,²$$²'
       $$$$ ││                                                   ││  $$
       l$$² ││                                                   ││,$'
       ;$`  ││                                                   ││$'
       $Y   ├╡                                                   ╞┤$
       $'   ││                                                   ││$,
       l    │└══─═══─═══─════─══════─═───═─═══─═[eon:end^of^note]┘│'$$,
       ;    │┌═─══─════════───═─[gREETZ&pHUKZ]══───────═─════──══┐│  $$
            ││┌[pERS0NAL]─═════──────══─═══─────══════════─═─═══┐││ ,$$
       ¡    │││   WooDSoN · CP · GaNDaLf · VaRthlKr · FKrueger  │││ ;
       $    │││   IneBriAtE · ZeUS · SNeeZee · DeVaN · eZeKiLL  │││ l,
       $;   │││      BaSS · iCu812 · ReD_DRa · FraCtAL GuRu     │││ $$$s
      $Sl,  ││╞[gROUP]─═─════════─═──════════──═─═───══════════─╡││ $$$$b.
     $$$$$  │││   PaRaDiGM · MoRTaLiTy · NeMeSiS · FaTe · TRG   │││ $$$$$'
    ;$$$$$s.│││    TeKnO RaGe · DsC · NvC · RisC · DoD · EwC    │││ l$$$$,
    ;$$$$$s.│││                                                 │││ l$$$$,
    $$$$$$ⁿ'├╪┤ Did i Miss aNyone ??? Well w8 for the next time.├╪┤ ;$$$$$b.
   ;$$$$ⁿ'  ││└───═════════════════─═──═══════─═──════════─═─═══┘││  ?$$$$$$S,
   `S$$$    │└─═══──═─════════════════─═══─═══─═[eon:end^of^note]┘│  `$$$$$$$$
    $$$$Ss. └[swatswatswatswatswatswatswatswatswatswatswatswatswa]┘   `ⁿ$$$$ⁿ'
     ²$$$$$$$$$$b,..,d$$$$$$$b,.     .s,..,d$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$S%$$P'
      °`Y$$$$$$$$$$$$$P"'"²$$$$$b,..d$$$S#²"'"²S$$$$$$$$$$$$S²"°'''
          '²S²"^''          ²$$$$$$$$$P'        'S$P'
                             `²S$$$S²'           ,²
                                           .· ^²'
                                          °
          .,s$²"^' ~
       ,d$$$$$ $$$"""°ⁿS $$$gs       `"""$$$$$$²^"ⁿ$Ss$$$²^"ⁿ$Ss ;
     ,$$$²'²$$ $$$ssssggg$$$  "$$$sS$ⁿ^"ⁿ$$"$$$   ,$$"$$$   ,$$$ l.
    .$$'    `l ggg   ,$$°$$$   $$$ⁿ$$    $$g$$$ss $$$'$$$ss $$$' $$b.,d$$$b,
    d$'      ; $$$sss$$$s$$$sss$$$s$$ssss$$$$$$       $$$     .,d$$$$$S²'`$$
    $$                                                                    $$
    $$                            swat^PREZ                               $$
    $$                              Ice-T                                 $$
    $$                                                                    $$
    $$                          swat^ViCe-PreZ                            $$
    $$                             NailBomB                               $$
    $$                                                                    $$
    $$                           swat^SeNiOrS                             $$
    $$   TSlayeR xXx ICe-T xXx ZaRaGoZ xXx SoSaY xXx KosMiK xXx [OdiN]    $$
    $$       PiZMaN xXx HiGhLaNdeR xXx NailBomB xXx SiREqU xXx WsS        $$
    $$                                                                    $$
    $$ ::::;:;;%;%%%%%#%######[bbs^warez^divizi0n]######%#%%%%%;%;;:;:::: $$
    $$                                                                    $$
    $$                            bbs^sysops                              $$
    $$                         xXx ThDraGoN xXx                           $$
    $$                                                                    $$
    $$                           bbs^c0urierz                             $$
    $$                          xXx RoCKMaN xXx                           $$
    $$                                                                    $$
    $$ ::::;:;;%;%%%%%#%######[inet^warez^divizi0n]#####%#%%%%%;%;;:;:::: $$
    $$                                                                    $$
    $$                        internet^c00rdinat0rz                       $$
    $$              SoSaY xXx NailBomB xXx IcE-T xXx ZaRaGoZ              $$
    $$                                                                    $$
    $$                          internet^c0urierz                         $$
    $$    D|aBLo xXx WsS xXx AssWeaViO xXx ^DoT xXx ^SneeZe xXx TRuBS     $$
    $$         |ViRGiN| xXx MaXiMiZeR xXx KiNG4EveR xXx MarKGoH           $$
    $$    GroSS xXx TwOFaCe xXx _lol_ xXx ZoBRa xXx `KaiN` xXx KrYGoDs    $$
    $$      xXx xx2 xXx ^MoRBiouS xXx Kp1 xXx RiX xXx BlckKiGhT xXx       $$
    $$                                                                    $$
    $$                          internet^site^0pz                         $$
    $$         eYeS22 xXx VeRTiG0 xXx VeCtoR xXx HeReSy xXx SiREqU        $$
    $$         xXx KillJoCks xXx AzAzEl xXx MaLiBu xXx SMaRtY xXx         $$
    $$                             B|aCkSTaR                              $$
    $$ ::::;:;;%;%%%%%#%########[mizk^divizi0n]#########%#%%%%%;%;;:;:::: $$
    $$                                                                    $$
    $$                             CraCKeRS                               $$
    $$                           xXx GoA xXx                              $$
    $$                                                                    $$
    $$                             SuPPlieRs                              $$
    $$                 xXx KeRM xXx eCl|pSe xXx S0BeRMaN xXx              $$
    $$                                                                    $$
    $$                            LiNuX HeaD                              $$
    $$                         xXx GriNdeR xXx                            $$
    $$                                                                    $$
    $$                            pc^c0ding                               $$
    $$                        xXx HiGhLaNdeR xXx                          $$
    $$                                                                    $$
    $$                            BoT^MasTeR                              $$
    $$              xXx MARkGoH xXx BiGPeRM xXx HiGhLaNdeR xXx            $$
    $$                                                                    $$
    $$                        ancee$atsciim^artistz                       $$
    $$                       HiGhLaNdeR xXx BeaNDiP                       $$
    $$                                                                    $$
    $$                             FouNdErS                               $$
    $$   HiGhLaNdeR xXx FraCtaLG xXx UndeRtaKeR xXx PoLeX xXx TaZMaiNiA   $$
    $$                                                                    $$
    $$ ┌─════─═─════════─════───══════─═──═─═══════─═─══════════─═══─═─═┐ $$
    $$ │         · ···∙·∙∙∙SWAT·······bBS·hEADKUARTERZ∙∙∙·∙··· ·        │ $$
    $$ ├═════════════─═──═════─═──════════─═─═══─═══════──═──═══════════┤ $$
    $$ │ name             sysg0d     ph0nenumbah       n0dez     statuz │ $$
    $$ ├──═─══════════──═────══════───══───═══════════───════──═──═════─┤ $$
    $$ │ ThDraGoN         ThDraGoN   xxxxxxxxxxxxxx     xxx         EHQ │ $$
    $$ └═════════─═─═──═══────────═════════──════───══─═──═─════════──═─┘ $$
    $$ ┌─════─═─════════─════───══════─═──═─═══════─═─══════════─═══─═─═┐ $$
    $$ │         · ···∙·∙∙∙SWAT·······fTP·hEADKUARTERZ∙∙∙·∙··· ·        │ $$
    $$ ├═════════════─═──═════─═──════════─═─═══─═══════──═──═══════════┤ $$
    $$ │ name             sysg0d    address   max. us   c0untry   speed │ $$
    $$ ├──═─══════════──═────══════───══───═══════════───════──═──═════─┤ $$
    $$ │ Txx Fxxxx        eYeS22    xxxxxxx        xx   xxxxxxx      T1 │ $$
    $$ │ Hxxxxxx          HeReSy    down v.        xx   xxxxxxx      T3 │ $$
    $$ │ Hxxxxx Gxxx      V & V     xxxxxxx        xx   xxxxxxx DuALOc9 │ $$
    $$ │ Wxxxxxxxxxx      SiREqU    down v.        xx   xxxxxxx      T3 │ $$
    $$ │ Txx Bxxxx Fxxxx  SmaRtY    xxxxxxx        xx   xxxxxxx   CaBle │ $$
    $$ │ Txx Cxxx Bxxxx   AzAzEl    xxxxxxx        xx   xxxxxxx   CaBle │ $$
    $$ │ xxxxxxxxx        KillJoCkS down v.        xx   xxxxxxx      T1 │ $$
    $$ │ xxxxxxxxx        BLACKSTAR xxxxxxx        xx   xxxxxxx   CaBle │ $$
    $$,└═════════─═─═──═══────────═════════──════───══─═──═─════════──═─┘,$$
    `YSssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssSY'

                  $$$aⁿ^²$Ss,sS²^°ⁿ$$$$$$       ggg$$$"""°ⁿS
     ,ssssssssss$ $$$    $$$$$$    $$$$$$  $$$  $$°$$$ssssggg $sssssssssss,
    d$$²²²²²²²²²$ $$$   ,$$$$$$ssssSⁿ'$$$  $$$  $$sggg   ,$$$ $²²²²²²²²²²$$b
    $$'           $$$   $$$'$$$sssss  $$$ss$$$ss$$$$$$sss$$$$            `$$
    $$                                                                    $$
    $$ ∞ SWAT web page at: http://www.swat97.com                          $$
    $$ ∞ Get on #swat97 at effnet and apply us if u got enough skills.    $$
    $$ ∞ If you work or deal with software contact us.                    $$
    $$,                                                                  ,$$
    `$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$'
     AsCii By DaRkGoD and HiGhLaNdeR                     Nf0 by HiGhLaNdeR

                         LasT UPDaTeD In 07\27\97

TC

╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓  ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓      ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓  ▓▓▓ ▓▓▓▓▓▓  ▓▓▓  ▓▓▓  ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓  ▓▓▓▓▓▓ ║
║▓       ▓ ▓  ▓ ▓▓     ▓     ▓▓   ▓ ▓  ▓ ▓▓▓    ▓▓▓▓ ▓▓▓▓ ▓▓▓▓     ▓▓▓▓    ▓▓║
║▓▓▓▓ ▓▓▓▓ ▓  ▓ ▓▓ ▓▓▓▓▓    ▓▓  ▓▓▓ ▓  ▓ ▓▓ ▓▓▓▓ ▓▓ ▓ ▓▓ ▓ ▓▓ ▓▓▓▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓▓▓ ▓║
║   ▓ ▓  ▓ ▓  ▓ ▓▓ ▓       ▓▓  ▓▓ ▓ ▓  ▓ ▓▓ ▓  ▓ ▓▓ ▓▓  ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓   ▓ ▓▓ ▓  ▓▓▓║
║   ▓ ▓  ▓ ▓▓▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓▓▓▓  ▓▓  ▓▓  ▓ ▓▓▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓▓▓▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓▓▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓▓▓▓ ║
║   ▓ ▓  ▓      ▓▓     ▓  ▓  ▓▓   ▓      ▓▓      ▓▓ ▓ ▓▓ ▓ ▓▓      ▓▓▓▓    ▓▓║
║   ▓ ▓  ▓ ▓▓▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓▓▓▓  ▓▓  ▓▓  ▓ ▓▓▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓▓▓ ▓▓ ▓    ▓ ▓▓ ▓▓▓▓▓▓  ▓▓▓▓▓ ▓║
║   ▓ ▓  ▓ ▓  ▓ ▓▓ ▓       ▓▓  ▓▓ ▓ ▓  ▓ ▓▓ ▓  ▓ ▓▓ ▓    ▓ ▓▓ ▓      ▓▓▓  ▓ ▓║
║   ▓ ▓  ▓ ▓  ▓ ▓▓ ▓▓▓▓▓    ▓▓  ▓▓▓ ▓  ▓ ▓▓ ▓  ▓ ▓▓ ▓    ▓ ▓▓ ▓      ▓ ▓▓▓▓ ▓║
║   ▓ ▓  ▓ ▓  ▓ ▓▓     ▓     ▓▓   ▓ ▓  ▓ ▓▓ ▓  ▓ ▓▓ ▓    ▓ ▓▓ ▓      ▓▓    ▓▓║
║   ▓▓▓  ▓▓▓  ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ P.R. ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓  ▓▓▓▓▓▓  ▓▓▓▓▓▓    ▓▓▓▓▓▓       ▓▓▓▓▓▓ ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║                                                                            ║
║                           Windows 98   Build 1546 >>>GERMAN<<<             ║
║                                                                            ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ SUPPLiER:   │Dirty Harry/The Champ   │ TYPE:Windows 98 Built 1546          ║
║ PACKAGER:   │The Champ               │ # OF DiSKS:   │ xx * 1.44 mb        ║
║ PROTECTiON: │N/A                     │ RELEASE DATE: │ 16/12/97            ║
║ CRACKER:    │N/A                     │ RATiNG:       │ [xxxxxxxxxx] 10/1O  ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ SYSTEM REQUiREMENTS:486DX/Pentium/                                         ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ RELEASE NOTES: Fulluup da isset nu die Beta 2 Built 1546                   ║
║		 Buaaaaa old shit sagen jezza viele hehehe                   ║
║                Aber Folks its the >>GERMAN<< Version of Beta 2....!!!!!    ║
║ iNSTALL NOTES:                                                             ║
║ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~   unpack and start da setup.exe to Install the German        ║
║                 Version of Windows 98                                      ║
║                                             .......thats all.....          ║
║                                                                            ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Changes[edit | edit source]

  • Introduced a new boot screen which is branded Windows 98 Beta 2.
  • Renamed some of the remaining Memphis references to Windows 98, including the start menu banner. The start menu banner however will be later renamed to Memphis in the next build, and later reverted in build 1593.
  • Welcome to Windows 98 now automatically opens on the first boot, unlike in build 1544, but it still contains Memphis references.

Bugs and quirks[edit | edit source]

Installation[edit | edit source]

  • It is recommended to not use "Realtek RTL8029AS" as network adapter, as it may prevent Windows from booting.
  • In the setup of the Simplified Chinese language version of this build, Windows Update has been misspelled as "Window Update".
  • Setup has a WINSETUP.BIN that is not recognized by setup at all times and causes setup to crash on most virtualizers except Microsoft Virtual PC, 86Box, VARCem, and some versions of VMware, due to incorrect emulation of the segment limits of the CPU core. To patch this build to run on any virtualizer, use a WINSETUP.BIN from an earlier build or the RTM.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

English version[edit | edit source]

German version[edit | edit source]

Simplified Chinese version[edit | edit source]

Spanish version (unleaked)[edit | edit source]

Miscellaneous[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]