Active Desktop Channel Bar Missing in Windows 98 Second Edition

When you install Windows 98 Second Edition on a computer with no previous version of Windows with Microsoft Internet Explorer, the Channel bar is not available.

By default, the version of Internet Explorer included with Windows 98 Second Edition does not install the Channel bar.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To install the Internet Explorer Channel bar:

1. Use Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) to locate the following registry key:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components
2. On the Edit menu, click New, and then add the following registry values:
   Value Name: DeskHtmlVersion
   Data Type: DWORD
   Value: 0000010f
   
   Value Name: DeskHtmlMinorVersion
   Data Type: DWORD
   Value: 00000001
   
   Value Name: Settings
   Data Type: DWORD
   Value: 00000001
   
   Value Name: GeneralFlags
   Data Type: DWORD
   Value: 00000001
3. Locate the following key in the registry:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components\0
4. On the Edit menu, click New, and then add the following registry values:
   Value Name: Source
   Data Type: String Value
   Value: 131A6951-7F78-11D0-A979-00C04FD705A2
   
   Value Name: SubscribedURL
   Data Type: String Value
   Value: 131A6951-7F78-11D0-A979-00C04FD705A2
   
   Value Name: FriendlyName
   Data Type: String Value
   Value: Internet Explorer Channel Bar
   
   Value Name: Flags
   Data Type: DWORD
   Value: 00000003
5. Locate the following key in the registry:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
6. Change the data value of the Show_ChannelBand value from No to Yes.
7. Quit Registry Editor and restart the computer.

After you enable the Channel bar by following the steps above, follow these steps to add the Channel Guide:

1. Create a temporary folder on your hard disk.
   
   For information about how to create a folder, click Start, click Help, click the Index tab, type creating, click Folders, click Display, click Creating A Folder, and then click Display.
2. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Windows Explorer.
3. Locate the Win98\Chl99.cab file on the Windows 98 Second Edition CD-ROM.
4. Double-click the Chl99.cab cabinet file.
5. On the Edit menu, click Select All.
6. On the File menu, click Extract.
7. In the Browse For Folder dialog box, click the folder you created in step 1, and then click OK.
8. Locate the folder you created in step 1.
9. Right-click the Chl99.inf file, and then click Install.
   
   NOTE: If you have a Windows 98 CD-ROM, continue with steps 10-16. If you do not have a Windows 98 CD-ROM, skip to step 17. After you install the Channel bar, click the Channel Guide to install additional channels. Note that you will be prompted to connect to the Internet to install additional channels.
10. Locate the Win98\Channels folder on the Windows 98 CD-ROM.
11. Double-click the Channels folder, and then double-click the Chlen_us cabinet file.
12. On the Edit menu, click Select All.
13. On the File menu, click Extract.
14. In the Browse For Folder dialog box, click the folder you created in step 1, and then click OK.
15. Locate the folder you created in step 1.
16. Right-click the Chlen-us.inf file, and then click Install.
17. Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart, and then click OK.
18. Delete the folder you created in step 1.
    
    For information about how to delete a folder, click Start, click Help, click the Index tab, type deleting, click Files Or Folders, click Display, and then click Display.

The Channel bar does not return automatically when you restart the computer if you do not have Active Desktop enabled. To turn it back on after closing it, you must manually modify the the Show_ChannelBand value referenced above in the registry.