Updating Windows 98 for optimal performence

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X2N

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Aug 22, 2013
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Just installed Windows 98 on a Gateway PC built for XP. Hoping to use it for stability purposes but it definitely seems to be running on thin ice. Original intentions were to run FL Studio and Wordpad.

I don't want internet, only upgrades/tweaks for my Soundcard, USB, Drivers, and Performance.

Also it would be neat to change the screen area aspect ratio.

Specs:

Pentium D Processor

1x 512MB of RAM
(took one out, also have 2x256 and 4x128)

250 GB SATA HD
(also have 350GB, 2x 20GB, and 2x 3GB)
Hoping to use two HD's for storage.

Can anyone tell me if I can utilize the strength of the hardware, and simplicity of the OS?

The SYSTEM.INI file is empty and on bootup it says VNETBIOS hardware is missing.
 
Solution
sdfox 7


This webpage has information on updating Windows 98.

ftp://tech.wsd1.org/pub/info/Archived/Procedures2008.html

It also contains a link for all Windows 98 SE patches through June 1, 2006 in one file. It only works on Windows 98 SE and it requires Internet Explorer 6 to be installed beforehand. All updates will be activated after a single reboot.

ftp://tech.wsd1.org/pub/updates/Win98Update2006.exe

The alternate route is visiting the archived Windows 98 update pages...
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
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Windows98? Really? For the love of FSM, WHY?

There are no 'optimal' updates for Win98. It is now 15 years old. MS stopped doing anything to it years ago. No new driver updates, nothing relate d to security...nothing.

What is the actual reason you want to use Wondows98?
WordPad? Any doc created by that is readable in many current applications. Office, OpenOffice, etc.
FL Studio? There are current versions that run on current software/hardware.

Sure you can run Win98. But there are no no 'updates' for it to 'optimize performance'. Let it die.
 
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C

cyberformer

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Aug 24, 2013
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Hello X2N!
I've got a Dell made for only XP, and it is running Win Me...and it runs it well. The same can be done for Windows 98, and 98 second Edition. Just Google for Unofficial Service Packs for Windows 98, and something is bound to come up! If you cannot obtain on-board drivers, you will have to go with Graphic, Sound, network--"PCI" cards. There is more you can do with 98Se these days though! There is even a free program by which you can use some "only XP" software!
 
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MidnightDistort

MidnightDistort

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May 11, 2012
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I don't know how well updated this is, doesn't really give what is included in the service pack as i never have tried it but: http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/unofficial_windows98_se_service_pack.html

use at your own risk if you really want to try using W98 as a primary system. Otherwise i'd just use a virtual OS application if your hardware is good enough and the software your using is not playing nice on the newer OS's.
 
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KingOfTheP4s

KingOfTheP4s

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Aug 28, 2013
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I believe that if you run Microsoft update on Windows 98, you can still download all updates released up until ~2006. After that, Microsoft stopped releasing new updates. If you aren't hooking ti up to the internet permanently, I'd suggest hooking it up to the internet temporarily, running Microsoft update, only installing the updates that apply to your hardware and software you want, and then disconnecting it. Also, you can download the most recent (well, for your computer anyways) drives for audio and video cards for your computer on a different computer and transfer them over on a CD to install them.

Final notes:
I'd swap your 1 stick of 512MB RAM and put in your two sticks of 256MB RAM as long as they are the same (or faster) speed.
Also, make sure your hard drives are partitioned for less than 125GB per logical drive as FAT32 has problems with drives over that and NTFS isn't officially supported on Windows 98. You'd probably be better off using your two 20GB drives.
 
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ex_bubblehead

ex_bubblehead

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Aug 24, 2012
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Nope, Microsoft shut down the V4 servers hosting the updates for 9x well over a year ago. Windows Update from within 9x no longer functions.
 
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sdfox 7

sdfox 7

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Mar 6, 2011
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This webpage has information on updating Windows 98.

ftp://tech.wsd1.org/pub/info/Archived/Procedures2008.html

It also contains a link for all Windows 98 SE patches through June 1, 2006 in one file. It only works on Windows 98 SE and it requires Internet Explorer 6 to be installed beforehand. All updates will be activated after a single reboot.

ftp://tech.wsd1.org/pub/updates/Win98Update2006.exe

The alternate route is visiting the archived Windows 98 update pages and manually and laboriously downloading and installing each patch one by one.

http://web.archive.org/web/20060707123624/http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/downloads/corporate.asp
 
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Solution
KingOfTheP4s

KingOfTheP4s

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Aug 28, 2013
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Was not aware of that. Then again, its been about a year sence I updates a 9x PC.
 
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