Windows 98 build 1998.5

Windows 98 build 1998.5 is the official Release Candidate 5 build of Windows 98, which was released by Microsoft to beta testers on or around 10 May 1998, then became lost shortly after. It was supposedly rediscovered by Chinese beta community BetaWorld on 16 September 2019.https://www.betaworld.cn/Windows_98:4.1.1998.5 A possibly incomplete copy of this build was found on a Russian warez compilation CD, which was uploaded to the Internet Archive on 22 April 2020.https://archive.org/details/final19980518 A more complete copy of the build containing the full contents of the WIN98 directory was publicly shared on 4 January 2024.
The build is relatively close to the RTM build, with most differences between the two being two minor bugfixes as described in the RTM build's release notes.
== Release noteshttps://groups.google.com/g/microsoft.public.win98.pre-release/c/bIexrTHgL2w/m/RN0maOFKEDYJ==
Dear Windows 98 Beta Testers,
The fifth Release Candidate for Windows 98 is now availble for download from
the winbeta.microsoft.com server.
Due to feedback from beta sites we have decided to post a "Full" install
version.
This version corresponds with the product key letters you received via
regular mail. If you still have not received your product key letter via
regular mail then please send mail to mem...@microsoft.com with your name,
Beta ID, phone number, and a beta representative will contact you.
At this point, you should consider this build "as good as final". We ask
that you download and install this build as soon as possible. We also ask
that you register your vote as to whether thisbuild is ready to ship via the
go/no go survey on Winbeta.
Again, we ask that you limit your bug reports to "critical" show-stopper
issues.
We also ask that you look for any critical bug that may have been recently
introduced. The criteria at this point are:
Major functionality impairment for which there is no
workaround, that would prevent you from using Windows 98 or some significant
feature.
Setup problem that prevents a successful upgrade, and leaves a system
unusable.
Significant hardware or software incompatibility, that renders the device,
system or program unusable, with no workaround.
Disk Data loss.
Etc.
Where did the install survey go? We have removed the install survey at this
point in the product cycle. Rather than answering a full install survey we
are asking you for your vote as to whether or not this build is ready to
ship. Please answer the go/no go survey located on Winbeta:
http://winbeta.microsoft.com/memphis/isapi/us/ie3/betardy/betardy.asp
Should I wait for the RC5 CD or Download Now? RC5 will not be sent out on CD
due to time limitations.
Will I get a final CD when Windows 98 is released to manufacturing, or is
RC0 the last CD that all beta sites get? All Active testers (bug reports
and/or installation surveys) will receive a copy of the final RTM CD.
Windows 98: Built on Customer Feedback: Over the past few years, we have
worked to improve the core Windows 95, while adding improvements throughout
the product. We believe that the resulting Windows 98 product provides
seamless Internet integration, significant quality improvements, and
improved supportability.
The product reflects significant customer impact, a great deal of which has
come directly from Beta sites, in previous Windows 95 beta programs as well
as during the Memphis/Windows 98 beta program. Your feedback and testing has
directly resulted in significant improvements and fixes.
We need to minimize the changes at this point so that we don't introduce any
additional regressions, so the requirements for making a fix are fairly
high. But at the same time, now is not the time to give up. Please help us
to find and fix those last few issues that will make the most impact in
improving the overall product quality.
Special Testing Notes
Bug Reporting - Your participation and timely feedback are critical to the
success of this product. Install Windows 98 on as many different hardware
configurations as possible and report any problems that you encounter as
soon as possible. We prefer that you report bugs by using the Web-based bug
reporting tools available from your Help menu. MS Report is no longer
shipped on the CD as the \betaonly directory has been removed in preparation
for final product. If you are unable to use the Web based tools please refer
to one of you previous Beta CD's in order to retrieve the MS Report utility,
or you can download it from the winbeta web site.
The build we have posted is an FULL VERSION.
Product Key: This download build WILL require a Product Key.
We have mailed each beta site an individual private, personal Product Key
via regular mail. This will be required for all future builds as well as the
final product. Please read the letter carefully, as these new Product Keys
are yours and yours alone, and should never be shared at all.
For those of you who would like to download, it is available on the WinBeta
HTTP and FTP sites as listed below.
Sincerely,
The Windows 98 Product Team
== Gallery ==
Windows-98-4.10.1998-Boot.png|Boot screen
Windows98-4.10.1998-SystemProperties.png|System Properties
== References ==
Category:Windows 98 builds