Windows 98 SE Installation woes. \ VOGONS

Windows 98 SE Installation woes.

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First post, by palyon1981

Posted on 2025-12-12, 20:39

palyon1981 Offline

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I'm having trouble with installing Windows 98 SE, usually whenever I do so, it ends up hard-locking on me while installing.
I have copied the files off the installation media to the hard drive (SSD). My setup is as follows:
32gb SSD (SATA to IDE adapter).
256 MB memory. RAM is good, checked with memtest86+
300W Power Supply from a Dell Dimension 2400 computer.
Motherboard: Tyan S1856S - Socket 370
CPU/Processor: Intel Celeron 400MHz
Graphics Card: NVidia Vanta 2 - 16MB - AGP

I have tried various combinations, checked the ram, the SSD, etc, all check out just fine. I had the same issue when I previously had a Voodoo 5 5500 AGP card installed too. I thought it was the voodoo card at first, since every single time I went to go install the drivers (after Win98 SE was installed successfully), the computer would hard lock up.

So my question is, with everything else already checked out, how I can test to see if it's the motherboard, cpu or power supply, etc?

Reply 1 of 8, by palyon1981

Posted on 2025-12-12, 20:51

palyon1981 Offline

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Other thing I should mention as well, the SATA to IDE adapter works fine, no issues, nor is it the IDE cables, have tried several pairs of those. Also it locks up as well with an actual hard disk, as well as the SSD.

Reply 2 of 8, by AlaricD

Posted on 2025-12-12, 20:58

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If you have a PCI or ISA graphics card, retry the installation with one of those in instead of the AGP card. You need everything else (RAM, a hard drive, power supply, etc) but should the installation proceed correctly with a non-AGP card, that's a step further down the road.

Another thing to test before doing the VGA hardware swap is to disable AGP 2x mode (in the BIOS' "Chipset Features Setup" menu). If it works in 1x mode then maybe it is related to capacitors. Be sure the board capacitors at the very least *look* in good condition; any signs of swelling or leaking require those to be replaced.

Reply 3 of 8, by keenmaster486

Posted on 2025-12-12, 21:32

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The SATA to IDE adapter may well be the culprit. Try with a CF card.

World's foremost 486 enjoyer.

Reply 4 of 8, by palyon1981

Posted on 2025-12-12, 23:45

palyon1981 Offline

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keenmaster486 wrote on 2025-12-12, 21:32:

The SATA to IDE adapter may well be the culprit. Try with a CF card.

It definitely is not, I have tried with CF cards, and had worse luck. I've had the same symptoms with real hard drives, have tried more than one, also freezes.

Reply 5 of 8, by wierd_w

Posted on 2025-12-12, 23:48

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Maybe dodgy caps

Reply 6 of 8, by palyon1981

Posted on Yesterday, 00:54

palyon1981 Offline

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AlaricD wrote on 2025-12-12, 20:58:

If you have a PCI or ISA graphics card, retry the installation with one of those in instead of the AGP card. You need everything else (RAM, a hard drive, power supply, etc) but should the installation proceed correctly with a non-AGP card, that's a step further down the road.

Another thing to test before doing the VGA hardware swap is to disable AGP 2x mode (in the BIOS' "Chipset Features Setup" menu). If it works in 1x mode then maybe it is related to capacitors. Be sure the board capacitors at the very least *look* in good condition; any signs of swelling or leaking require those to be replaced.

I don't see an AGP 1X or 2X mode option in there, just an AGP Aperture Size.

Reply 7 of 8, by Greywolf1

Posted on Yesterday, 09:30

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Have you got the dell specific restore disk, I’ve got the 3000 p4 has it got onboard graphics try using that for installation then add cards once you’re in successfully. I also have specific drivers for both 2400 and 3000 cuz they are compatible on the 3000 if you need help sourcing drivers.

Reply 8 of 8, by palyon1981

Posted on Yesterday, 20:13

palyon1981 Offline

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Greywolf1 wrote on Yesterday, 09:30:

Have you got the dell specific restore disk, I’ve got the 3000 p4 has it got onboard graphics try using that for installation then add cards once you’re in successfully. I also have specific drivers for both 2400 and 3000 cuz they are compatible on the 3000 if you need help sourcing drivers.

This isn't a Dell system, just the power supply came out of the Dell Dimension 2400, and am using it in my custom pc build.

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