I'm trying to get a computer to run WIN98 SE for my kids. The computer I'm using was previously used for WIN 7. It's a Dell Dimension 9200 (Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6420 @ 2.13GHz). I got a new 1 TB SATA HD and formatted it with exFAT. (The drop down didn't have FAT 32.) When I boot the computer, I get a WIN 98 splash screen and it runs scan-disk and says I have bad sectors or a LAD(?) configuration problem. It offers to repair the sectors and slowly does so to no avail. I've tried different adjustments with the BIOS....After using WIN XP, VISTA, 7, 8.1 and 10 for a while, I have forgotten a lot of the finer points that went with this older OS. Any ideas?
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Trouble installing WIN98 SE?
- Thread starter WillyB777
- Start date
Solution
SinxarKnights
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- Jan 3, 2007
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exFAT is completely unsupported and unreadable. Could be a hardware issue as well (not broken, just unsupported).
Question though, why a 1tb drive for a 98se PC? The limit is what like 137GB? Why not use something a bit more modern and much more difficult to break like Ubuntu or similar Linux distro?
Question though, why a 1tb drive for a 98se PC? The limit is what like 137GB? Why not use something a bit more modern and much more difficult to break like Ubuntu or similar Linux distro?
I know 1 TB is overkill for WIN 98. It was the smallest and cheapest drive I could get at Best Buy. Yeah Ubuntu and Linux are a lot less trouble, but they won't run the old games my kids like...Mech Warrior Series, IDF simulation, etc.
Do you think not having FAT 32 is the whole issue?
ragnar-gd
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- Sep 30, 2014
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Hi,
you have multiple issues:
1. W98SE won't boot/run stable with more than 1.5 GB of RAM
2. You need a Fat32 formatted drive. w98se and ME cannot format drive with that size (30-120GB maximum, depending on the controller).
3. If your GPU has more than 256MB Ram (yours may have 512MB), w98se won't work (with a nvidia driver)
Ask yourself "Do i have time to solve this?"
For most sensible people, the answer is "No".
If your time is valuable, just buy a used computer on ebay that is compatible, or even has the OS installed.
On msfn.org, there is a die-hard community of w98se-fans, that can help you with your issues (i looked up the components of your PC-model), but it requires at least time, and perhaps some investmens in compatible components and additional software.
Your decision....
you have multiple issues:
1. W98SE won't boot/run stable with more than 1.5 GB of RAM
2. You need a Fat32 formatted drive. w98se and ME cannot format drive with that size (30-120GB maximum, depending on the controller).
3. If your GPU has more than 256MB Ram (yours may have 512MB), w98se won't work (with a nvidia driver)
Ask yourself "Do i have time to solve this?"
For most sensible people, the answer is "No".
If your time is valuable, just buy a used computer on ebay that is compatible, or even has the OS installed.
On msfn.org, there is a die-hard community of w98se-fans, that can help you with your issues (i looked up the components of your PC-model), but it requires at least time, and perhaps some investmens in compatible components and additional software.
Your decision....
Thanks Ragnar-gd for taking the time to reply. Very helpful in determining how I will proceed. I'm so used to WIN 7 - 10 and the low maintenance thereof, I had forgotten just how fragile the earlier OS's are to any variation from their original parameters.
ragnar-gd
Reputable
- Sep 30, 2014
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Thank you. I also can recommend to have a look for old games of your desire on gog.com or on steam. They have made a *lot* of games W10-compatible lately (i.e. packed some with DOSBox), so it might not be necessary to set up an old OS. On the forums of gog.com they also have a list of old games that will be made compatible in the future. And there is a W10-compatible NEW version of the BaldursGate Series. And Blizzard has made Diablo2 W10-compatible, and is supposed to make a high-res version of it (don't bet your life on it, though). So, updating that old box of yours to W10 might even be a more sensible idea, in case these games are available for that platform...
"if the pc case still has it oem sticker..you can download windows 7 iso and reload it or look on ebay for the restore disk for that pc. or contact dell for the disks. or jump to windows 10 using the pc oem code on the case."
I tried to get an authorization from Microsoft for an install of WIN XP Pro SP2, on a gov't surplus Compaq 5300 instead of WIN 98 SE on a Dell XPS. I used a nice ISO package (with all the updates) that I had made years ago. It installed smoothly. I used the code on the OEM sticker. Microsoft said it was invalid even though I double-checked the number with a code recovery program.
I tried to get an authorization from Microsoft for an install of WIN XP Pro SP2, on a gov't surplus Compaq 5300 instead of WIN 98 SE on a Dell XPS. I used a nice ISO package (with all the updates) that I had made years ago. It installed smoothly. I used the code on the OEM sticker. Microsoft said it was invalid even though I double-checked the number with a code recovery program.
smorizio said:
"if the pc case still has it oem sticker..you can download windows 7 iso and reload it or look on ebay for the restore disk for that pc. or contact dell for the disks. or jump to windows 10 using the pc oem code on the case."
I tried to get an authorization from Microsoft for an install of WIN XP Pro SP2, on a gov't surplus Compaq 5300 instead of WIN 98 SE on a Dell XPS. I used a nice ISO package (with all the updates) that I had made years ago. It installed smoothly. I used the code on the OEM sticker. Microsoft said it was invalid even though I double-checked the number with a code recovery program. [/quotemsg]
ragnar-gd said:
Thank you. I also can recommend to have a look for old games of your desire on gog.com or on steam. They have made a *lot* of games W10-compatible lately (i.e. packed some with DOSBox), so it might not be necessary to set up an old OS. On the forums of gog.com they also have a list of old games that will be made compatible in the future. And there is a W10-compatible NEW version of the BaldursGate Series. And Blizzard has made Diablo2 W10-compatible, and is supposed to make a high-res version of it (don't bet your life on it, though). So, updating that old box of yours to W10 might even be a more sensible idea, in case these games are available for that platform...
Another good idea for the WIN 98 situation. I've wondered if anyone would ever update or modify the classic old sims to run on newer machines. That's fantastic. I'll have to check that website out. Thanks again!
I know there are sites where you can download an OS, but you have to supply your own code. The thing is, my code is correct, right off the sticker. You'd think that since WIN98 and WIN XP are so ancient that MS wouldn't be so hardcore about the code.
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