Building a Windows 98 machine

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  1. Posts : 7,683
    Windows 10 Pro
       #1

    Building a Windows 98 machine


    Reading this post here - Windows 3.1 I decided that I wanted to build a Windows 98 machine. I certainly have to hardware to do so. The issue is getting the hardware and drivers to work with 98.

    System specs are....

    Abit BE6 II, ver 1.0
    Pentuim 3 733MHz
    512Meg SD RAM PC-133
    Western Digital 30Gig HD
    Creative Live Soundcard
    Radeon 8500LE (128meg)
    Plextor PleXwriter 40/12/40A CD Writer
    Linksys Wireless Network card
    Samsung floppy drive
    Antec 400W PS
    Antec Mid Tower case.

    Some pics.....

    Building a Windows 98 machine-win-98-system.jpg

    Building a Windows 98 machine-pentium-3-processor.jpg

    Building a Windows 98 machine-98-installed-hw.jpg

    I decided to try Wireless, so I went with a wireless card instead of the card card on the right of the last pic.

    Anyways right now all the hardware appears to be working, but 98 is giving me fits about various missing files. In fact I can't boot with out a warning about these missing files, and even when I attempt to install drivers for the hardware I'm still prompted to install the 98 disk to find missing files. And in case you're wondering.... yes I have a legitment copy of Windows 98.....

    Building a Windows 98 machine-win98-disk.jpg

    So I don't know what's up right now... still a work in progress :)
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 9,606
    Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x64 Ult 7600, TechNet RTM on AMD x64 (2.8Ghz)
       #2

    Try finding the win98 drivers you need online. Then put them on a CD or USB flash.
    Then when it asks for the Win98 CD, see if you can choose other location for drivers.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 6,879
    Win 7 Ultimate x64
       #3

    If you haven't found it yet the last 98 driver for that old 8500 can be found here,

    Ati Catalyst 3.10 Win Me|98 download from Guru3D.com

    Might also want to run memtest on it just in case. My first build back when was with Win 98, and what you're describing sounds familiar. In my case 98 would install no problem, but shortly after getting to the desktop and installing drivers it would start getting unstable. Turns out the stick of ram was bad out of the box and once replaced everything was fine, no more errors/missing files/etc.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 7,683
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Yeah, that's what I've been doing hafl the day. Thought I had some drivers but I'd have to dig through tons of CD's.

    Anyways all those files 98 was complaining about being missing was solved by updating to 98SE. I couldn't find the disk for the life of me earlier and was looking for something else when I happened upon it :)

    Building a Windows 98 machine-win98se-disk.jpg

    So the missing files issue is solved, now I just need to update the drivers for the hardware :)

    At the moment though I trying to get the wireles adapter configured. Got the drivers installed, just need to get the software configured so I can get on the net.

    @ stormy, thanks a million

    As for the missing files, well you've seen what I wrote.

    Thanks.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 7,683
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #5

    stormy13 said:
    If you haven't found it yet the last 98 driver for that old 8500 can be found here,

    Ati Catalyst 3.10 Win Me|98 download from Guru3D.com.
    Getting a "sorry this download link is expired" message

    Building a Windows 98 machine-guru3d.jpg
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 2,737
    Windows 7 Enterprise (x64); Windows Server 2008 R2 (x64)
       #6

    DocBrown said:
    Try finding the win98 drivers you need online. Then put them on a CD or USB flash.
    Then when it asks for the Win98 CD, see if you can choose other location for drivers.
    Windows 98 is floppy only. I tried USB and CD back in the day. :)
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 7,683
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Well I found the display drivers, spyre over at rage3d linked to ATI's site.

    As for the CD or flash thing, I believe Doc Brown means put the stuff on a CD or flash drive than transfer it over to the 98 machine, which is exactly what i'm in the process of doing

    Still having trouble configuring the Linksys wireless software to allow connect to my router. It's not alowing me to choose the security setting I have so I can input the password

    I just downloaded an update so I'll see how that goes.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 2,737
    Windows 7 Enterprise (x64); Windows Server 2008 R2 (x64)
       #8

    sygnus21 said:
    Well I found the display drivers, spyre over at rage3d linked to ATI's site.

    As for the CD or flash thing, I believe Doc Brown means put the stuff on a CD or flash drive than transfer it over to the 98 machine, which is exactly what i'm in the process of doing

    Still having trouble configuring the Linksys wireless software to allow connect to my router. It's not alowing me to choose the security setting I have so I can input the password

    I just downloaded an update so I'll see how that goes.
    Ahhh I see. :)
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 7,683
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Well seems the wireless card is problematic under 98. Everytime I try to use the wireless software to configure the card it freezes and I have to Ctrl+Alt+Del out. Just tried to update reinstall the drivers and I keep getting a windows saying it can't find this file - RT25009 and now Windows keeps crashing with this error....

    Building a Windows 98 machine-win98-error.jpg

    Anways it's time to give it a break since I've been at it a couple of days now. I may play with it some more this weekend but I'm probably going to move the OS to completely different setup - one with newer hardware.

    That's it for now.

    Later.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 8,375
    W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
       #10

    The video and sound drivers are typically the easiest to find once you locate a reference. As for any WiFi type setup with 98 you would be far better off using a nic card and ethernet cable with RJ-45 plugs patching to a router directly since hardly any drivers were written for the older Legacy versions.

    Before changing ISPs here in order to connect in the 64bit 7 the old dsl setup still saw 98-XP support but lacked for Vista even! That ruled out the old usb type adapter method even when the new ISP's provided connect by usb modem had to be replaced with one that saw ethernet. Now even other OSs are able to connect even on VMs.
      My Computers


 
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