Making Win9x Into a Winstation

We will assume that your client systems are currently logging on to a domain.

  1. Initial cleanup: Move all user data to the network; don't forget to check locations such as the user identity folder within Windows if OE is used as a mail client, and the desktop folders for any user profiles.  Disable everything that runs on start except for the Systray.
  2. Install the latest terminal services client.
  3. Make sure that WSH 5.1 or newer and the VB6 runtimes are installed.
  4. Download the Ws9xPack, which includes an ActiveX control (ws9x.dll), an RDP template file (default.rdp), and the TsExit script (TsExit.vbs) .
  5. extract all 3 files from the archive into your Windows folder; register ws9x.dll by opening a console window and typing
regsvr32 ws9x.dll
  1. Using any plain-text editor, edit the default.rdp file to point to your TS system; check the desktop width and height settings in the file also.
  2. Make the system into an anonymous standalone.  The only protocol you need is TCP/IP; the system should be set to use Windows Logon.  Reboot.
  3. Run Sysedit; in system.ini, comment out the current shell= line with a ; character.
shell=mstsc.exe c:\windows\default.rdp
  1. Start Regedit and navigate to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices.  Create a new String value named "TsExit" and give it the value "wscript c:\windows\TsExit.vbs".
  2. Reboot.
  3. At first boot, the system may prompt you about connecting ports to a remote system; click the box that says "don't ask me this question again" to avoid having it show up at every logon.
  4. If you need to troubleshoot later in GUI mode, you can hit  F5 during boot on Win95 or hold down the "control" key on 98/Me to prevent normal start.  Start up in safe mode then.