MSDN - Where did Windows 98 go?

[Administrator]

Well, I must have just awoken from a coma, and stupid me for not keeping older MSDN CD/DVD's! As I have just decided to move from Microsoft Virtual PC to VMWare Workstation, I need to install Windows 98 again for my test set. Well, I can't find a Windows 98 CD nor is it downloadable from MSDN. Ummm, hello Microsoft, a lot of people out there still use Windows 98, Me, (16-bit OS's) and we developers need to test our "stuff" against these OS's.

Anyone know if 98/Me is available on MSDN or some other location for developers (legit only please!)

 

[JohnH]

According to this OS Platform Statistics only 1,4% is on Win98 still, I know that could make many people in numbers, but it's not a lot. MS extended support for this OS platform ended july 11th 2006, this means regular support was ended long time ago. Win98 is severly outdated and is not supported by Microsoft any longer. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/support/endofsupport.mspx The wakeup call for Win98 users was in 2003, regular support ended January 2004.

 

[Administrator]

Well, it's all based on the audience "interviewed" by whatever their measurement means! Take a look at the right side chart on this page! Shows 14% (of their visitors) have Win98. It's still a big chunk, and of course WinMe. Sure, MSFT doesn't have to support it, but WE do!

 

[ThatOldGuy]

Who cares how many users?

We can still download DOS 6.0 and Win 3.1, so why is 98 not available, really?

It does not have to do with how many users since there are fewer 3.1 users.
It does not have to do with support since DOS6 is not supported.

If there is a real reason, it would be great to know. Something does not add up here. Was there a copyright infringement?