With a machine able to POST it was time to install an operating system. There is not really much of a debate about which one to pick.
I made a mistake when I decided to get the software in the original boxes. The version of Windows 98 was still sealed. And I could not get myself to crack it open. So I did the only logical thing. I bought it again in the OEM version.
Sadly no bootable CD but it came with a boot floppy that automatically configured the CD drive. The installation was as smooth as I remembered it.
I was always amazed by the quality of Microsoft stuff from that era. Back then, you could take the HDD out of an old machine, insert it in a completely different PC, and the thing would boot all the way to a 640x480 desktop. All you had to do was install a few drivers.
Windows 98 came with support for the Matrox Mystique out-of-the-box. I only had to use the drivers that came with the SoundBlaster Live and network card to get them working.
The next thing I wanted to be able to do was transferring files from/to the Quake PC. All I had to do was to enable File Sharing in Windows 98 and check the SMB 1.0 option in Windows 11 Features list.
Once again, I tip my hat to Microsoft for its remarkable focus on backward compatibility. That being said, transfer speed was slower than I anticipated. So I only transferred a single file, ftpserver3pro.zip for Quick ‘n Easy FTP Server Pro. It is a marvel of a stand-alone FTP server with blazing fast transfer speed.
The only weird thing about it is that it is skinned for Windows XP so you get a little bit of a visual mismatch. Overall it is well worth it given how useful it is.
If you don't have a Windows machine available, you can also just run an FTP server and use Internet Explorer to download Quick ‘n Easy FTP Server Pro. Modern browsers have dropped support for FTP but IE4 will have it forever!
The latest version of winrar supporting Windows 98 is wrar311.exe. It allows to decompress anything that was ever compressed (except 7z :/). I also followed the example of LGR[2] and register my version after all these years of free-loading.
For IT administrators, system deployers, and creative studio managers, installing this software manually across dozens or hundreds of workstations is inefficient. Deploying the using automated command-line scripts ensures a fast, standardized configuration without user intervention. Why Use the Ardfry PSD Codec?
Managing large repositories of Adobe Photoshop (.PSD) and Photoshop Big (.PSB) files can severely slow down system performance and creative workflows. By default, Windows Explorer cannot native-render thumbnails for PSD files. Graphic designers, studios, and agency IT administrators rely on specialized codecs to view file previews without opening heavy software.
Before deploying the codec across your network, ensure that your environment meets the following baseline requirements:
# Define installer path and arguments $InstallerPath = "C:\Deploy\mshaz1000.exe" $InstallArgs = "/VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART" # Verify file existence before execution if (Test-Path $InstallerPath) Write-Output "Starting silent installation of Ardfry PSD Codec 17..." # Run the installer with elevated administrative rights Start-Process -FilePath $InstallerPath -ArgumentList $InstallArgs -Wait -NoNewWindow Write-Output "Installation command executed successfully." else Write-Error "Installer executable not found at specified path: $InstallerPath" Use code with caution. Verifying a Successful Deployment ardfry psd codec 17 silent install mshaz1000exe better
Once the silent installation script terminates, verification can be audited through two primary methodologies: Verification Target Expected Result
The following command-line options and MSI installer parameters can be used to customize the silent installation:
Navigate to the directory containing your installer executable using the cd command. Execute the following string: mshaz1000.exe /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART Use code with caution. For IT administrators, system deployers, and creative studio
When performing a silent install of ARDFry PSD Codec 17 using MSHAZ1000.EXE, keep the following tips and best practices in mind:
Always run any repacked software in a sandboxed environment first to ensure it's safe and scan it with multiple antivirus engines before deployment. Most importantly, keep your PSD files stored in a centralized location with proper backups to maximize the benefits of thumbnails across your workflow.
If you already have that file, scan it immediately with VirusTotal before any use. Managing large repositories of Adobe Photoshop (
Ardfry installers were frequently built with Inno Setup. If the /silent switch fails, try the more robust Inno Setup flags:
Open the Windows Registry Editor ( regedit.exe ) and verify that the application registered its uninstallation string. Check the following path: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\ Look for the subkey associated with . 2. File System Check
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If it’s an .exe wrapper (InnoSetup or NSIS), try:
: Ideal for IT admins deploying the codec across multiple machines simultaneously. Clean Setup