[WIP] Windows Vista Extended Kernel

[Calameres]

a link to win32s extended kernal thread on msfn [WIP] Windows Vista Extended Kernel for those hoping to keep up to date on the latest extended kernal news and announcements

 

[Vistaar]

We do have at least one active member who uses the extended kernel (but not me). There has been no new version since October 2022. Unless a new version is forthcoming that supports Chromium 110 and above, I suspect this fad will soon fade away, and dozens of bright young people around the world will find something else to occupy their time. Developer win32 says he is devoted to the Chromium issue, so we’ll see what happens.

 

[erpster4]

don't hold your breath on the vista extended kernel project as it hasn't been active for almost a year

 

[Vistaar]

don't hold your breath on the vista extended kernel project as it hasn't been active for almost a year

The latest news is that Win32’s newest Supermium browser version (based on Chromium 119) no longer requires the extended kernel to work on Vista SP2! Perhaps wither 3 might be brave enough to test it:

Release Version 119.0.6045.192 · win32ss/supermium

This would pretty much eliminate any need for his extended kernel, with the exception of Firefox diehards who would like to be stuck with the same ESR as Windows 7/8. Of course Chromium has clearly won the browser wars, and Mozilla might not even exist much longer.

 

[wither 3]

Do I need to download the .zip file or would I just download one of the .exe files?

Edit: I downloaded the 64 bit .exe file and am running it right now.

 

[Vistaar]

I downloaded the 64 bit .exe file and am running it right now.

Tell us more wither 3! This is the most interesting Vista news in years.

 

[wither 3]

Well, I installed it and it opened on the internet. It looks very sparse but works well. There are practically no settings other than bookmarks, unlike 360Chrome and other browsers . Problem is, it didn't create a desktop shortcut and I had a heck of a time finding where the files were installed, other than Appdata/Local to run it this morning. Turns out, the latter is the only place for it's files so I created a desktop shortcut from there.

 

[Vistaar]

Can you log in at Google/Gmail/YouTube using that Supermium browser?

I’m pretty sure that you never installed KB4474419, hence it is evidently not required by the latest Supermium - but could you please search Installed Updates and confirm that you do not have update KB4474419 installed?

Thank You wither 3!

 

[wither 3]

I can login to Google using my account information. I thought I had a Gmail account from years ago but I can't find the info. However, Gmail offers to let me login or create an account to log in with. I can go directly to YouTube and watch video.

I don't have the KB you mentioned.

As I mentioned before, I'm underwhelmed by the settings available. I much prefer 360chrome, even if I have to occasionally put up with pages and dialog boxes which are in chinese.

On the other hand, if the powers to be put the kabosh (sic) on 360 on their websites, then it appears this would be a good alternate (perhaps the only one).

 

[Vistaar]

Thanks for the info wither 3! Do you know what Chromium version your 360 browser is based on? I believe it’s a few years old now, although much more recent than Chrome 49 (or Firefox 52). Perhaps you could let the developer know about any missing settings that you regard as essential. The latest versions of 360 no longer support XP/Vista.

I wish someone running Vista x86 would also test the latest Supermium browser.

 

[wither 3]

The About for 360 says it's based on Chrome 86.042................. and there are no updates.

Now, what's really special is that, when I launched Supermium this morning (took forever) and went to settings, it gave me a completely new list of settings that it didn't before. Much better.

I don't know what you mean by your last sentence in the first paragraph. Here-

360 Chrome Archive | Operating System Revival

it shows that I have the latest version.

 

[Vistaar]

I’m glad you found the settings!

I don't know what you mean by your last sentence in the first paragraph.

I mean the latest 360 browser version 22.1.1056.64 based on Chromium 119 cannot be used on Windows XP or Vista, so you are stuck with 13.x (or older) versions based on Chromium 86 (or older). An interesting question is whether 22.x versions can be used on Windows 7, but I’ll leave that to Windows 7 gurus like yourself since I can’t read Chinese anyway. Supermium has the advantage of being a Chromium fork from an English-speaking developer. (I don’t think it supports XP, or else it would be all the rage at MSFN.)

 

[wither 3]

I tried searching on that version and all the selections were in chinese. When I asked to translate a page, it locked my system up (actually, it just probably takes longer than what I'm willing to wait.)

 

[Vistaar]

I wish someone running Vista x86 would also test the latest Supermium browser.

Bleeping Computer member cafejose has reported successfully using the latest Supermium on Vista x86! (There was never any extended kernel for Vista x86, and it runs better on newer Intel hardware than Vista x64 does.) @wither 3 you might want to post about Supermium in the “What browser do you use?” sticky thread.

 

[wither 3]

I haven't switched to Supermium yet but, when (if ) I do, I'll post there. Thanks.

 

[wither 3]

Today, I accidently found that 360Chrome had hijacked some of the more common video and audio file formats within Default Programs. I fixed all those manually. There were also other files that I'm not familiar with that it hijacked.