tested on 98SE only
download wmp10 (free), extract it to a folder with a good zip program
find l3codecp.acm (free), delete the rest.
make a folder called MP3WMP9
put l3codecp.acm in the folder & copy below, call it l3codecp.inf and put it in the folder also.
;---------------------------------copy in between these lines-----------------------------

; WIN98SE WMP9 MP3 SUPPORT FROM WMP10
; INTERNAL USE ONLY !
; 2005
; miko.

[Version]
Signature="$CHICAGO$"
Class=MEDIA

[SourceDisksNames]
1="MP3WMP9",,0001

[SourceDisksFiles]
l3codecp.acm=1
l3codecp.inf=1

[Installable.Drivers]
l3codec=1:l3codecp.acm,"msacm.l3codecp","Fhg IIS MPEG Layer-3 Codec (professional)",,,

[DefaultInstall]
CopyFiles=MP3WMP9.Copy,MP3WMP9.Copy.Dec,MP3WMP9.Copy.Inf
Updateinis=MP3WMP9.Updateini
AddReg=MP3WMP9.AddReg,MP3WMP9.AddReg.9x,MP3WMP9.DoReg
MediaType=SOFTWARE

[DefaultUninstall]
AddReg=MP3WMP9.UnReg
DelReg=MP3WMP9.DelReg
DelFiles=MP3WMP9.Copy.Inf
UpdateInis=MP3WMP9.DelIni

[MP3WMP9.Copy]
l3codecp.acm

[MP3WMP9.Copy.Dec]

[MP3WMP9.Copy.Inf]
l3codecp.inf

[MP3WMP9.UpdateIni]
system.ini,drivers32,,"msacm.l3codec=l3codecp.acm"

[MP3WMP9.DelIni]
system.ini,drivers32,"msacm.l3codec=l3codecp.acm",

[MP3WMP9.AddReg]

[MP3WMP9.AddReg.9x]
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\drivers.desc",l3codecp.acm,,%L3ProAudio%
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Drivers32",msacm.l3codec,,l3codecp.acm

; WMP9 ENCODING SETTINGS
; LOWRATE
; 64 kBps @ 22.050 Hz
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Settings\MP3Encoding",LowRate,0x10001,00,fa,00,00
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Settings\MP3Encoding",LowRateSample,0x10001,22,56,00,00
; MEDIUM RATE
; 128 kBps @ 44.100 Hz
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Settings\MP3Encoding",MediumRate,0x10001,00,f4,01,00
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Settings\MP3Encoding",MediumRateSample,0x10001,44,ac,00,00
; MEDIUM HIGH RATE
; 160 kBps @ 44.100 Hz
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Settings\MP3Encoding",MediumHighRate,0x10001,00,71,02,00
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Settings\MP3Encoding",MediumHighRateSample,0x10001,44,ac,00,00
; HIGH RATE
; 192 kBps @ 44.100 Hz
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Settings\MP3Encoding",HighRate,0x10001,00,ee,02,00
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Settings\MP3Encoding",HighRateSample,0x10001,44,ac,00,00

HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Settings\MP3Encoding",PreferredCodecName,0,"Fraunhofer MP3 (professional)"
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Settings\MP3Encoding",PreferredCodecPath,0,"%11%\L3CODECP.ACM"

HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\MediaResources\acm\msacm.l3codec",Description,,%L3ProAudio%
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\MediaResources\acm\msacm.l3codec",Driver,,l3codecp.acm
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\MediaResources\acm\msacm.l3codec",FriendlyName,,%L3ProAudio%

HKLM,"%UnInstallPath%","DisplayName",,"%UninstallDispName%"
HKLM,"%UnInstallPath%","UninstallString",,"%10%\rundll.exe setupx.dll,InstallHinfSection DefaultUninstall 132 %17%\%InfFile%"

[MP3WMP9.DoReg]

[MP3WMP9.DelReg]
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\MediaResources\acm\msacm.l3codec"
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Settings\MP3Encoding"
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\drivers.desc",l3codecp.acm,,""
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Drivers32",msacm.l3codec,,""
HKLM,"%UnInstallPath%"

[MP3WMP9.UnReg]

[DestinationDirs]
DefaultDestDir=11;LDID_SYS
MP3WMP9.Copy=11
MP3WMP9.Copy.Inf=17

[Strings]
L3ProAudio="Fhg IIS MPEG Layer-3 Codec (professional) v3.3.2.44"
InfFile="l3Codecp.inf"
UninstallDispName="Fraunhofer MP3 Codec (remove only)"
UnInstallPath="Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\MZIND_MP3WMP9"
MediaClassName="Media Devices"
Mfgname="MZIND"

;---------------------------------copy in between these lines-----------------------------

right click l3codecp.inf and click 'Install'

thats it.

you can also uninstall from the usual places

this codec is fast (which is good for slower machines)
and in my experience, wmp9 will not
automatically download an inferior version if the
'Download codecs automatically' setting is enabled.

the following bitrates are setup for encoding
and can be selected from the four 'Audio quality'
settings in WMP9 (btw WMP10 apparently doesn't do 160 kBps)

64 kBps @ 22.050 Hz
128 kBps @ 44.100 Hz
160 kBps @ 44.100 Hz
192 kBps @ 44.100 Hz

all encoding is 'joint stereo' by default,
(and cannot be changed via the GUI )
this is the same as WMP10 in XP.

album title, song name, artist, etc
can be downloaded and added to ID3 tags
automatically.

files will be named inline with the downloaded info
and your selection of settings in WMP9 at
Tools > Options > Copy Music > Copy music to this location >
'File Name'.

mp3s will be placed in folders named by album
in 'My Music' inside 'My Documents' by default.
however you can change this in WMP9 via
Tools > Options > Copy Music > Copy music to this location >
'Change'.

D.A.E.
afaik digital audio extraction can be enabled as follows :

1. your CD-ROM and sound card should be
correctly connected with the correct lead.

2. in 'Multimedia Properties' in the 'Control
Panel' on the 'CD Music' tab, select the correct CD-ROM
from the drop down list and tick the checkbox for
'Enable digital CD audio for this CD-ROM device.'.

3. in WMP9 go to Tools > Options > Devices
select your CD-ROM, then click the 'Properties' button
here you can fine tune your CD-ROM playback & copying.
for digital extraction you should probably select
'Digital' and 'Use error correction'.

accumulated from various bits and pieces
thought some might like.

miko.

http://www.msfn.org/board/lofiversion/index.php/t38261.html