bestemor wrote on 2022-06-19, 14:35:
You have to add PCI-E bus manually once Windows 98SE installation is done
What does this mean, and how is it done, and using what software if any ?
On a typical Windows 98SE installation, you might get a blue screen when detecting hardware, but this is not the end... After restart, installation will continue and you'll get to desktop. In this scenario there are no unknown devices in the control panel, just some basic standard devices like "Plug and play BIOS".
win98SE_control_panel.gif
To install PCI-E or PCI hardware you need to add the PCI bus using "Add new hardware" option in the control panel. At this point Windows will get crazy... it will take about 5-10 minutes to close 30-40 dialog boxes: "Next -> Next -> Finish" for basic hardware like "PCI to PCI bridge"or you can already provide drivers for sound, video, USB cards. (if you have any)
So, given the inherent 128GB hdd limit, what did you do to make this work reliably ?
On this particular installation, I made a simple FAT bootable partition with 98SE installation files on it. It wasn't important to access the rest of the drive. You can make a dual boot configuration with Windows 10 partition on the remaining space. If you want more space in 98 you can install a PCI-E to SATA card with Windows 98 support, or the AHCI patch from Rloew.
This CMI8738 chip is actually from 1998. I used these drivers: https://download.cnet.com/C-Media-CMI8738-WDM … 4-10518533.html
If I hook-up a PCI-E to USB with VIA6212 chip I get a fully functional Windows 98SE on a PCI-E only motherboard.
And this sentence, what do you mean here ? What exactly is that thing you are hooking up ? And why would that give a fully functional Win98 ?
(or was that just the 'last' part needed perhaps... ?)
At this point, this Windows 98 installation has proper video and sound divers, but no USB. I won't talk now about how USB can make your life easier... 😀
There is an unofficial USB patch to get on board USB recognized in Windows 98, but this solution won't work with very new motherboards. You can use a PCI-E to PCI adapter with an older PCI to USB card. Fortunately, there are some PCI-E cards that card are basically the same as an PCI-E to PCI adapter + and older PCI card but in a single card. I have one of these cards in my main Windows 10/9x machine (Ryzen 3900X)