Guide and resources were provided to me by ivyflow3r/RayZen. Originally posted on YouTube, we've altered the guide to include better working files.
This guide will install KernelEx, along with a few unofficial updates and several DLLs from Windows XP. All of this will allow a Windows 98SE/Me system to run XUL Firefox and other browsers based on it.
Requirements
This setup will work on a Windows 98SE or a Windows Me installation. If you're using Windows 2000, there's probably something better out there.
For a somewhat decent experience, you should have the highest possible RAM. In base Windows98/Me, that would be 512mb. But HimemX and a few system.ini tweaks should allow you to use 1GB of RAM just fine.
You will also need a CPU with the SSE2 instruction set, like an Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon 64 for that "somewhat decent experience".
RT also provides New Moon builds for older SSE CPUs like the Pentium 3 and IA32 builds for i686 CPUs I believe?, but AFAIK it will be (especially IA32) terribly slow.
If you actually want to browse websites on one of those, you should give something actually made for this kind of hardware a try instead of attempting to run software tailored to the horrid bloat that is most of the modern Web.
Downloads
KernelEx, the updates and DLLs needed
The direct download link
Downloads for New Moon and Serpent
Firefox 52.9.0esr on Mozilla's FTP.
Mypal
Installation
1. Copy unicows.dll to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\
2. Install KernelEx via the installer program (duh) KernelEx-4.5.2.exe. If you automatically enable KernelEx for everything, you may run into issues with some (native Win98) programs. In that case, be ready to mess with the Compatibility tab in Properties.
3. Preferably in DOS mode, copy everything from \KernelExUpdates\KernelEx to C:\WINDOWS\KernelEx\ (copy path\to\KernelEx\*.* C:\WINDOWS\kernelex\*.*). If files happen to be conflicting, you overwrite.
4. Make sure that in C:\WINDOWS\kernelex\core.ini, [BASE] contains kstub824 and kexvista.
5. (specifically Firefox 52 requires you to) Copy ucrtbase.dll from the DLL folder to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM
6. Add KnownDLLs.reg to your registry.
Browser setup
The setup program for your browser will usually not work.
Download a ZIP archived folder, if the developer manufactures your browser like that or (for Mypal and Firefox) use an archive manager like 7-Zip to open the contents of the installer, and extract the "core" folder, which contains the browser itself.
Copy the DLLs from \KernelExUpdates\DLL to the browser's folder.
Open the Properties of the browser executable and set KernelEx to "use specific compatibility mode: Windows XP SP2". Do the same for xul.dll.
Edit dependentlibs.list with a text editor to only contain xul.dll.
Your browser should now boot.
In about:config, change gfx.content.azure.backends to user set string value "skia".
To fix a possible broken search bar,
go to C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\browser's name\Profiles\something.default\and replace search.json (which may have a slightly different name) to be an empty, read-only file.
To fix broken fonts in webpages,
Go to the Content tab in the browser's settings, then Fonts, and pick some fonts or use the defaults and untick "Allow pages to choose their own fonts, instead of my selections above."
Depending on your browser, some of these specific steps may change but it's always "force your fonts on webpages from the config" and "always empty search.json".
This should be the best you can do.
While Mypal 26 and Firefox 52 may be a bit outdated and will struggle with some webpages, New Moon and Serpent are up to date, and results may exceed your expectations.
I have previously managed to use Discord, however last time I had a basically unusable experience, probably due to being in too many servers or forgetting about the about:config step.
I couldn't get it to render actual channels this time. Sorry.
Have fun!
