This also works on Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 8.1.
Microsoft Plus Themes and screensavers are in all of the early version of Windows from Windows NT4 to Windows ME. There was also a Microsoft Plus 98 which has many more themes.
Here is how to get the screensavers back on Windows 7 and 8.
You will need the following:
A Windows 98 CD and a Microsoft Plus CD-To copy the files from.
Resource Hacker.
(To edit the Screensaver name so it shows up on Windows XP, Windows 7 and later versions of Windows.)
Dll files from Windows 98 or the CD-
WILDLB32.dll.
WL32DLL.dll.
Plus the screensavers you want to install and the screensaver dll file of the same name. Which can be found on the CD or in the Windows/System Folder on Windows 98. And the Screensaver dll file can be found next to the screensaver.
For Example if you want to install the Mystery Screensaver you need to copy the MysteryScreensaver and Mystery.dll and so on.
You will also need to edit the string value of the screensaver with a software such as Resource Hacker in order for the Screensaver to display the correct names in the list of programs before you copy them to the System32 Folder.
Otherwise it will only show up as Wildlife32 and any other screensavers you have installed from Microsoft Plus will NOT show up on the list.
For the other Screensavers Cathy,Doonesbury,Garfield,and Peanuts you only need to copy the Screensaver file from the Microsoft Plus 98 CD to System32 on Windows 7 or 8. You do not need to edit them.
Place all of the Screensavers including the dll files you copied from Windows 98 in your C/Windows/System32 Folder on Windows 7 or 8 and do the same thing if installing on Windows XP.
The screensavers will now show up in the drop down list on Windows 8 as seen here in the picture.
Most of them work just fine as you can see here and in my video.
Here is Mystery Screensaver running on my Windows 8.
Cathy Screensaver on Windows 8 also works just fine.
Most of the screensavers I tried from Windows 98 work on the later versions of Windows including Windows 7 and 8. The only ones that did not was Science and The 60's which kept on crashing and the high graphic ones, such as Organic Arts.
But most of them work. So yes it can be done!
Dec 06, 2018 Using Windows 98 Plus! Screensavers in Windows 10 Hello! If this has been asked before, please point me to the relevant thread. I liked the screensavers of Windows 98 Plus!, such as Underwater and World Traveler. I followed this Guide and managed to make most of them work, but not World Traveler and a couple others. I guess they need some. Microsoft Plus! Was an add-on package to Windows that added desktop themes, screen savers, sound effects, power-toys, and other assorted goodies for the home user. 95 also included Internet Explorer 1.0, which was not included in all Windows 95 distributions. Microsoft Plus! Microsoft Plus! Was an add-on package to Windows that added desktop themes, screen savers, sound effects, power-toys, and other assorted goodies for the home user. 95 also included Internet Explorer 1.0, which was not included in all Windows 95 distributions. This thread is locked. You can follow the question or vote as helpful, but you cannot reply to this thread.
Microsoft Plus Themes and screensavers are in all of the early version of Windows from Windows NT4 to Windows ME. There was also a Microsoft Plus 98 which has many more themes.
Here is how to get the screensavers back on Windows 7 and 8.
You will need the following:
A Windows 98 CD and a Microsoft Plus CD-To copy the files from.
Resource Hacker.
(To edit the Screensaver name so it shows up on Windows XP, Windows 7 and later versions of Windows.)
Dll files from Windows 98 or the CD-
WILDLB32.dll.
WL32DLL.dll.
Plus the screensavers you want to install and the screensaver dll file of the same name. Which can be found on the CD or in the Windows/System Folder on Windows 98. And the Screensaver dll file can be found next to the screensaver.
For Example if you want to install the Mystery Screensaver you need to copy the MysteryScreensaver and Mystery.dll and so on.
You will also need to edit the string value of the screensaver with a software such as Resource Hacker in order for the Screensaver to display the correct names in the list of programs before you copy them to the System32 Folder.
Otherwise it will only show up as Wildlife32 and any other screensavers you have installed from Microsoft Plus will NOT show up on the list.
For the other Screensavers Cathy,Doonesbury,Garfield,and Peanuts you only need to copy the Screensaver file from the Microsoft Plus 98 CD to System32 on Windows 7 or 8. You do not need to edit them.
Place all of the Screensavers including the dll files you copied from Windows 98 in your C/Windows/System32 Folder on Windows 7 or 8 and do the same thing if installing on Windows XP.
The screensavers will now show up in the drop down list on Windows 8 as seen here in the picture.
Most of them work just fine as you can see here and in my video.
Windows 98 Plus
Here is Mystery Screensaver running on my Windows 8.
Cathy Screensaver on Windows 8 also works just fine.
Most of the screensavers I tried from Windows 98 work on the later versions of Windows including Windows 7 and 8. The only ones that did not was Science and The 60's which kept on crashing and the high graphic ones, such as Organic Arts.
But most of them work. So yes it can be done!
WHERE can I find a free download of the 98 Plus! screensaver called science fiction? It's the one with 4 orange objects floating and morphing into each other. The background appears to be a desert planet or something. I've tried searching everywhere for this! Anyone?
Celeste2 years agoWindows 10 x64, Firefox
13 replies
Windows 98 Plus All Screensavers Downloads
- Hello Celeste,Thanks for posting to the message board. I'm sure that screensaver can be found somewhere on the Web, but I'm also pretty sure that it would not work on your computer running Windows 10 64-bit.Update: I found the screensaver and it's working on Windows 64-bit. See posts below.Most screensavers created for Windows 95 and 98 are 16-bit programs, which may still work on modern versions of Windows, like 8 and 10, but only on 32-bit versions, not on 64-bit. A 64-bit Windows will run 32-bit programs, but not 16-bit.However, if you're really keen on getting this Science Fiction screensaver working again on your computer, our tutorial for getting Johnny Castaway working on Windows 64-bit can probably also be used to get any other 16-bit screensaver working.I will see if I can find the group of screensavers from the 98 Plus! package.RobA moderator edited this post 2 years ago.Rob (Screensavers Planet)2 years ago
- Thanks, Rob! I have already downloaded and enjoyed the 'pipes' screensaver !! (which I believe is from Windows 98)I MUST have this screensaver! LOL!Celeste2 years ago
- Found it for you, Celeste! It's part of the Organic Art screensaver created in the late 90s by a company called Computer Artworks. I tested it to work on Windows 10 64-bit, but I'm still figuring out the best way to distribute it to you. I'll post an update soon.A moderator edited this post 2 years ago.Rob (Screensavers Planet)2 years ago
- Thank you, thank you!!!!Celeste2 years ago
- Hello Celeste,Please download this installation file I created for the screensaver. When you open it, simply click 'Install'. The screensaver will then automatically be installed, and the Screen Saver Settings panel should open. To improve the quality of the graphics, you may need to enter the Settings menu for the screensaver, toggle on 'Use Hardware Acceleration', and select the highest resolution where it says Display Mode.However, one computer where I tested it on had to have hardware acceleration disabled for the screensaver to work. See what works best for your computer.Hope it lives up to your memory of it!RobA moderator edited this post 2 years ago.Rob (Screensavers Planet)2 years ago
- Rob! You are AWESOME!! It's just like I remember! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!Celeste2 years ago
- You're welcome! I'm glad you like it.There are a couple more from the same series that I'll be adding to the site soon.Rob (Screensavers Planet)2 years ago
- I'll check in for those!Celeste2 years ago
- Rob, do you happen to have the Plus! (I think) of the one called Science? It is a magnifying orb that floats over your screen. I too am running Win 10, 64 bitDena Albright2 years ago
- Hello Dena,I do know that one, and I think I have the screensaver file, but I haven't been able to get it to work on Windows 10 just yet. I pulled it from the Windows 95 Plus! collection, so it's a little bit older still than the Science Fiction screensaver.I'll tinker with it a little more, and will post an update soon.RobRob (Screensavers Planet)2 years ago
- I found another version on a Windows 98 CD, but I'm afraid it's just not going to work well on Windows 10. I had it working at one point, but the magnifying lens would bounce around the screen way too fast, and it would always end up crashing.Apart from a few classics like Mystify, Starfield and Flying Windows, it seems that none of the screensavers from the Windows 98 CD can be made to work on Windows 10. If I ever find a solution, I'll be sure to update this post.Sorry I couldn't be of more help!RobRob (Screensavers Planet)2 years ago
- Rob, thank you so much for trying.Dena Albright2 years ago Disable battery charging windows 10.
- A 'magnifying lens' Screensaver (like the 60s USA from the old PLUS! CD) that works on 64bit Windows would be so great. But it seems that Nobody can find or create one :(Stif2 years ago
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