Putting it simply
In order to get Programming Editor to run on these OSes, you need to install a 'compatibility layer' called Kernelex.
Full Details
To install and use PICAXE Programming Editor on a computer running Windows 98 or Me, you will need the following free downloads:
On Windows 98, the toolbar icons appear on a lighter background than the colours of the buttons and the undo/redo buttons become grey squares when disabled but this does not affect functionality:
On Windows Me, Programming Editor looks normal.
And yes, you can syntax check and program.
For now at least, no one has to downgrade their laptops to ones without serial ports or upgrade their operating system. However Windows 9x are still an insecure series of operating systems and Kernelex could improve compatibility of viruses as well. it might be wise to choose to only enable Kernelex for programs manually set to use it during the installation process.
The question now is will Programming Editor run on Linux using Wine and Kernelex together?
In order to get Programming Editor to run on these OSes, you need to install a 'compatibility layer' called Kernelex.
Full Details
To install and use PICAXE Programming Editor on a computer running Windows 98 or Me, you will need the following free downloads:
- Kernelex
- Microsoft Layer for Unicode (if the W98/Me computer is connected to the internet, the Kernelex installer will do this for you)
- Windows Installer 2.0 (Programming Editor will show an error message if you don't download this)
- vcredist_86.exe (Windows 98 only)
- PICAXE Programming Editor installer
- Download the four/five installers listed above using a computer connected to the internet.
- Move the downloads on to a USB drive or another format the internet-enabled computer and W98/Me computers accept. The Windows Installer 2.0 and PICAXE Programming Editor installers need to be in the same folder!
- On the target computers, first install Microsoft Layer for Unicode.
- Now install Kernelex. Programming Editor worked on Windows Me when installing Kernelex after installing Programming Editor but I only tried before with Windows 98 so install Kernelex first just in case.
- Now run the PICAXE Programming Editor installer. It will automatically install Windows Installer 2.0 as long as it is in the same folder. Install Programming Editor as usual.
- If you get a runtime error which tells you to install vcredist_86, install it. I got this on Windows 98 but not Windows Me. If you haven't installed Kernelex, you will get an error message regardless of installing vcredist_86.
- Download Kernelex, PICAXE Programming Editor and Windows Installer 2.0. The Windows Installer 2.0 and PICAXE Programming Editor installers need to be in the same folder!
- On the target computer, first install Kernelex, the installer for which will download Microsoft Layer for Unicode for you. Programming Editor worked on Windows Me when installing Kernelex after installing Programming Editor but I only tried before with Windows 98 so install Kernelex first just in case.
- Now run the PICAXE Programming Editor installer. It will automatically install Windows Installer 2.0 as long as it is in the same folder. Install Programming Editor as usual.
- If you get a runtime error which tells you to install vcredist_86, download and install it. I got this on Windows 98 but not Windows Me. If you haven't installed Kernelex, you will get an error message regardless of installing vcredist_86.
On Windows 98, the toolbar icons appear on a lighter background than the colours of the buttons and the undo/redo buttons become grey squares when disabled but this does not affect functionality:
On Windows Me, Programming Editor looks normal.
And yes, you can syntax check and program.
For now at least, no one has to downgrade their laptops to ones without serial ports or upgrade their operating system. However Windows 9x are still an insecure series of operating systems and Kernelex could improve compatibility of viruses as well. it might be wise to choose to only enable Kernelex for programs manually set to use it during the installation process.
The question now is will Programming Editor run on Linux using Wine and Kernelex together?