Building a Windows 98 machine

[sygnus21]

Reading this post here - http://www.sevenforums.com/software/122229-windows-3-1-a.html 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.....







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.....



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

 

[DocBrown]

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.

 

[stormy13]

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.

 

[sygnus21]

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



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.

 

[sygnus21]

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

 

[WindowsStar]

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.

 

[sygnus21]

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.

 

[WindowsStar]

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.

 

[sygnus21]

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....



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.

 

[Night Hawk]

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.

 

[sygnus21]

Well I finally fixed my issue with the wireless network card.... sort of

After fixing the NDIS VxD error using a Microsoft fix from here..... Windows 98 Second Edition Problems with NDIS Intermediate Drivers, then finally getting the Linksys Wireless software properly installed and finding my network... I was presented with the message "Windows 98SE and ME do not support PSK2 mode", meaning 98SE dosn't support the security mode i'm using. I don't use WEP, I use WPA for my security feature on the router.

Oh well.... looks like I have to use the LAN card instead.... which means cable all over the place

Other than that everything else is working without issue as far as I can see.

 

[Night Hawk]

Don't you love those old NDis vxd errors! :roflmao: I put up with enough of that crap on the old dsl setup.

That certainly wasn't any attempt at WiFi but going through a usb adapter on the old version.

With a nic card in however there's hardly ever any drivers involved with the newer versions anyways unlike usb or wireless setups where you need some type of 3rd party driver set.

 

[sygnus21]

Project update...

Well I finally got 98SE up and running, even got the internet going with Internet Explorer 5 :huh:

Had to swap hardware as the Abit board died on me. So now the new specs are....

Intel D850MVL MB
Pentium 4 3.06GHZ (533FSB)
512Meg Samsung RDRAM (PC-1066)
Western Digital 30Gig HD
Creative Audigy Gamer Soundcard
Radeon 9700Pro (128meg)
Plextor PleXwriter 40/12/40A CD Writer
Samsung floppy drive
Antec 430W PS
Antec Mid Tower case

Drivers for the MB and other stuff are loaded and things seem to be ok hardware wise. Internet Explorer 5.0 on the other hand is being problematic as its constantly crashing. Looks like I'll have to update it.

Speaking of updates.... don't bother looking to Windows Update to update the OS as there's nothing listed for 98 since Microsoft killed support years ago. So I'm now left to figuring out how to get all the updates for it, or if it's even possible

Some things I learned during this project.....

- Its harder to build an "old" computer than it is a new one as you have to make sure the hardware matches/works with the OS, find drivers, and hope like hell those old parts still work

- Patience/temperament - LOL - I've done more cursing building this 98 machine now than I ever did building any computer at any time. There's nothing more frustrating than getting a system together only to have parts not work or suddenly die on you. A few on/off cycles tends to kill off those near death components

And lastly.... I discovered I was hanging on to a lot of dead hardware. Without this project I'd still be hording it

Anyway I'm done now.... I came, I saw,..... it conquered

I may play around with it when i'm bored but for now i'll tuck it away.

 

[Night Hawk]

:roflmao: Having so much fun aren't you?!

You might still find IE 5.5 somewhere but even that wouldn't go very far either since IE 6.0 is still the somewhat universal minimum standard on the web as far as IE.

Simply finding working drivers not expecting any "updates" is what to expect for the oldie there. 2000 was already dropped some time back pushing 98 even further into the abandoned zone. But you have something to look back at anyways.

(Dead hardwares? sounds like a few large shipping boxes here packed with old parts or extra ac cords or old floppy drives or simply put "CLUTTER"! )

 

[WindowsStar]

Well I finally got 98SE up and running, even got the internet going with Internet Explorer 5 :huh:

Had to swap hardware as the Abit board died on me. So now the new specs are....

Intel D850MVL MB
Pentium 4 3.06GHZ (533FSB)
512Meg Samsung RDRAM (PC-1066)
Western Digital 30Gig HD
Creative Audigy Gamer Soundcard
Radeon 9700Pro (128meg)
Plextor PleXwriter 40/12/40A CD Writer
Samsung floppy drive
Antec 430W PS
Antec Mid Tower case

Drivers for the MB and other stuff are loaded and things seem to be ok hardware wise. Internet Explorer 5.0 on the other hand is being problematic as its constantly crashing. Looks like I'll have to update it.

Speaking of updates.... don't bother looking to Windows Update to update the OS as there's nothing listed for 98 since Microsoft killed support years ago. So I'm now left to figuring out how to get all the updates for it, or if it's even possible

Some things I learned during this project.....

- Its harder to build an "old" computer than it is a new one as you have to make sure the hardware matches/works with the OS, find drivers, and hope like hell those old parts still work

- Patience/temperament - LOL - I've done more cursing building this 98 machine now than I ever did building any computer at any time. There's nothing more frustrating than getting a system together only to have parts not work or suddenly die on you. A few on/off cycles tends to kill off those near death components

And lastly.... I discovered I was hanging on to a lot of dead hardware. Without this project I'd still be hording it

Anyway I'm done now.... I came, I saw,..... it conquered

I may play around with it when i'm bored but for now i'll tuck it away.

I am not positive, but I may have my OLD TechNet CDs (YES CDs) from back in those days. I you are really desperate let me know and I will dig into the back dark deep parts of the shop for them.... -WS

 

[Night Hawk]

One thing I am glad to see at times for any old version is the original software disks(board, video and sound cards if used) when going through an old case needing a clean install of Windows. In a reverse situation of tossing a temp install of the 32bit 7 on an old case the XP drivers went right on without a hitch in contrast of trying to locate drivers for something used on an old ISA bus?(pre i486 era)

 

[tannim]

I believe Opera web browser supported windows 98 up until about 2008. You can probably find a version that works on windows 98 on Old versions website. It'll likely browse internet better than IE 5. I recall an unofficial Win98 service pack you could download too, though I don't recall where it was.

 

[sygnus21]

I am not positive, but I may have my OLD TechNet CDs (YES CDs) from back in those days. I you are really desperate let me know and I will dig into the back dark deep parts of the shop for them.... -WS

Thanks for the offer WindowStar. I have the original Win 98SE CD, I just need the updates and service pack(s)? and was wondering where I could find those on the net?

It's not the end of the world though, If I find them I find them, if not oh well.

One thing I am glad to see at times for any old version is the original software disks(board, video and sound cards if used) when going through an old case needing a clean install of Windows. In a reverse situation of tossing a temp install of the 32bit 7 on an old case the XP drivers went right on without a hitch in contrast of trying to locate drivers for something used on an old ISA bus?(pre i486 era)

I still have a lot of the original driver disks that came with my hardware, especailly the sound and video cards, and even some motherboards.

Speaking of ISA, my first board in this build (Abit) had an ISA slot. I was going to install my Creative AWE64 Gold soundcard (ISA) in that slot but couldn't find the card. Must have thrown it out already.

I believe Opera web browser supported windows 98 up until about 2008. You can probably find a version that works on windows 98 on Old versions website. It'll likely browse internet better than IE 5.

I'm going to try and find a copy of IE6 and see if that'll cure some of the crashes.

BTW any suggestions on a virus program??? I'm quite sure Microsoft Security Essentials won't work on 98SE

 

[Night Hawk]

There were no SPs for 98 1st with the SE being the service pack as well as the PLUS! edition. You simply updated everything else once the older legacy versions were installed. W95 saw the OSR2 however which offered 32bit support.

I do doubt that you will find any version of IE 6 that will run on 98 other then the original IE 6 SP1. Download details: Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1

Looking for a collection of browsers for the old ledacy versions all the way upto 7? Web-Browsers

Another place is seen with a collection of mostly unheard of browsers seen at Free Web Browsers - Freeware Web Browser List

The old Netscape Navigator is seen at the first place. Too bad you couldn't find an older version of Ice Weasel for Windows while FF saw a few. The first page however is for the stand alone installer you would use for IE on the older versions.

 

[sygnus21]

There were no SPs for 98 1st with the SE being the service pack

Yeah I thought that was the case. Just wanted to double check.

As far as browsers go I'll give IE6 a try since I'm running 98SE. I might lug out the machine an play around with tonight or tomorrow.

Thanks