darry wrote on 2020-12-07, 02:02:
Try uncompressing this file into the folder where you uncompressed the driver and then try installing through device manager .
NV_mod.zip
Hey, thanks. Actually while I waited I tried doing something like that and for whatever reason it didn't work. So I kinda tried it another way, and I think I came to the same solution.
I then tried to dig into it, and perhaps the issue with the drivers sorta made sense. Geforce 6800/Quadro 3450 was one of those weird cases that used 3 different chips. NV40, NV41 and NV42. I was technically correct to assume that NV41 and NV42 are identical, however, they were never supported by Windows 98. The official driver packs for Windows 98 list device ID 0211h which is the NV40 variant.
This made it impossible to modify the ID via RivaTuner as well, as it was just letting me use other 00C[x]h series IDs. I don't know why NV41 and NV42 aren't supported, they are in Win2k drivers of the same revision.
Anyhow, I then realized there's an unofficial Windows 98 drivers version 82.69 that are meant to support everything up to the the Geforce 7, which of course supports Geforce 6800 with later NV41/42 chips.
However, when I looked into the device listings that came with 82.69, there was no Quadro 3450, but all the later GeForce 6800s were present. I kinda guessed whoever made this build, probably based the files on the Win2K drivers and perhaps they simply forgot to add the Quadro 3450 card to it.... so I just went ahead and added it myself. I used the Win2K device listings as basis and modified it for the format used in Win98 file. It worked flawlessly.
Can you imagine? I now have a Windows 98 machine with a what is essentially a freaking GeForce 6800 XT in it. Now that's what I call an ultimate Windows 98 PC. I tested it with 3D Mark 99 and it worked great. I don't expect to run anything other than DOS games in it, and I have dual boot Windows 2000 and Windows XP on the same computer anyway.
... and to think those cards are considered junk and are sold for $20 or less.