VOGONS


First post, by zorp9000

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Hello! I came across this forum and it seemed like a relevant place for my current scenario and hoping to get some input.

I just got an IBM Aptiva 2137-E26 machine that came without an HDD. I installed an HDD and have installed Windows 95 OSR2.1, it installed without any issue and without error.

However checking in Device Manager I see several entries in 'Other devices' view that I'm having trouble getting resolved (screenshot attached as well):

CS4237B (four entries with this)
LT Win Modem
PCI Universal Serial Bus

I've tried installing some Crystal Audio drivers that I've found online which seem to reference CS4237B, but none of them are addressing the issue. The modem isn't all that important to me as I am not planning on using it.

The IBM number on the modem itself installed in my machine is 02K2557.
Machine model is IBM Aptiva 2137-E26
The model number on the motherboard in my machine shows 02K2551
Processor shows K6 233MHz Processor
RAM is 64MB

Not sure about the PCI Universal Serial Bus driver, I am guessing this is for USB?

I did find this mega pack of drivers and info for an Aptiva linked here on internet archive, but the drivers are scattered about and most show Win3.1 on them - https://archive.org/details/ibmaptiva2137e14

Appreciate any help with this one, and thanks.

Reply 1 of 7, by OVERK|LL

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Your modem driver might be here:
http://ps-2.kev009.com/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/10056.htm

Don't see the Audio drivers unfortunately, but I suggest poking around there, you may find them.

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Reply 2 of 7, by zorp9000

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Just an update, checking around I ran across this ISO on Internet Archive (IBM Aptiva Master CD 02K2472) and burned it to CD: https://archive.org/details/ibm-aptiva-master-cd_202110

Using a Win 95 boot floppy I ran the CD setup and it ran through an install, afterwards all of those drivers have been addressed!

However it looks like this may wipe out any files you had on your Windows 95 install, a word of warning for anyone running the installer from the CD. Since this was a fresh install for me I just went ahead with defaults.

Attached a screen from the internet archive link above that showed some instructions there, I believe it does format the C: drive.

So maybe this wasn't the nicest resolution for anyone coming here in the future, but at least it was one method for my Aptiva.

Reply 3 of 7, by VivienM

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zorp9000 wrote on 2025-02-11, 18:02:

However it looks like this may wipe out any files you had on your Windows 95 install, a word of warning for anyone running the installer from the CD. Since this was a fresh install for me I just went ahead with defaults.

Attached a screen from the internet archive link above that showed some instructions there, I believe it does format the C: drive.

So... I had an Aptiva 2137-E56 back in the day. I... don't think I still have the original restore CD for it but I might. These machines were finicky, so were the older pre-Acer Aptivas, and IBM tech support's answer to everything was 'use the restore CD'. I even had them try to insist on that before agreeing to replace a moody CRT under warranty - that's how insane IBM support was (and a reason everybody switched to buying Dells).

So, people on the Aptiva newsgroup learned the hard way that the way to go was to partition the drive. Put your documents on D:, then you could blow up your C: with the restore CD any time Win95 ate itself without data loss. Interesting, all my desktop machines until... some time in the 2010s... had a separate drive/partition for documents, that's how strong that trauma was. But after a decade or so after Windows had last eaten itself, I stopped doing that.

Reply 4 of 7, by VivienM

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Just to answer one of the original questions - the LT WinModem was actually well-supported by Lucent, although IBM only really released 2-3 versions of the LT Winmodem drivers. There used to be generic drivers available from Lucent.

Note that this is a K56Flex modem upgradable to v. 90. I forget whether it's the 4.x or 5.x version of the drivers that add v. 90 support.

If this has the Rage II+ ATI, drivers for that were a buggy mess and ATI never released better ones. I don't remember anything about the sound card except... when I replaced my 2137-E56 with a Dell with the standard Dell SB Live Value, I remember being astounded that ICQ beeps could sound while playing an MP3. The Crystal 4237 couldn't do that. My advice: turn that POS off in the BIOS, find yourself a nice period-correct sound card from Creative, and live happily ever after...

Reply 5 of 7, by zorp9000

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VivienM wrote on 2025-02-11, 22:54:

Just to answer one of the original questions - the LT WinModem was actually well-supported by Lucent, although IBM only really released 2-3 versions of the LT Winmodem drivers. There used to be generic drivers available from Lucent.

Note that this is a K56Flex modem upgradable to v. 90. I forget whether it's the 4.x or 5.x version of the drivers that add v. 90 support.

If this has the Rage II+ ATI, drivers for that were a buggy mess and ATI never released better ones. I don't remember anything about the sound card except... when I replaced my 2137-E56 with a Dell with the standard Dell SB Live Value, I remember being astounded that ICQ beeps could sound while playing an MP3. The Crystal 4237 couldn't do that. My advice: turn that POS off in the BIOS, find yourself a nice period-correct sound card from Creative, and live happily ever after...

Nice, that's great advice! Thank you for that. I wasn't sure how much I would benefit sound wise getting a different card but will now look into that. So far I'm loving this Aptiva model and the experience with Windows 95 (again). Not sure how much I will build this system out, mostly wanted to enjoy playing some of the games that I had from that period on this with my IBM CRT to get that feel again. It was playing Doom and Diablo OK so far and didn't notice anything too terrible graphic/sound wise, though it's nothing near my emulated setups and such.

My computer trajectory was C64 in the 80's as an kid/early teen, Amiga 500 in the mid late 80's up till 1995 or so. I was late joining the PC scene, and started with Windows 95. Just trying to scratch that nostalgic itch a bit this winter.

Reply 6 of 7, by zorp9000

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@VivienM any chance you still have that original restore CD for the 2137-E26 around? I think the restore CD I used is for the IBM specific motherboard number 02K2472. The motherboard in my Aptiva shows 02K2551. Been having a few system instability issues and wondered if maybe the Aptiva Master CD I used might be the culprit, but either way if you do end up finding that CD I would be indebted to you if you could create an ISO to share. Thank you!

Reply 7 of 7, by VivienM

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zorp9000 wrote on 2025-02-16, 19:03:

@VivienM any chance you still have that original restore CD for the 2137-E26 around? I think the restore CD I used is for the IBM specific motherboard number 02K2472. The motherboard in my Aptiva shows 02K2551. Been having a few system instability issues and wondered if maybe the Aptiva Master CD I used might be the culprit, but either way if you do end up finding that CD I would be indebted to you if you could create an ISO to share. Thank you!

Mine was a 2137-E56 although I presume it would be the same restore CD, and... I just checked, I don't seem to have it with all my other vintage discs. (I still have a recovery CD for an AST Advantage Adventure 6050d... maybe I should upload that to the internet archive, they only have the UK version, but I don't think I ever had the IBM discs with all my other CDs...)

Also... not sure what you mean by system instability issues. These were not stable systems at the best of times - if you wanted a stable system, you should have bought a Dell Dimension with an Intel motherboard/chipset/CPU and good add-in cards. Mine enjoyed eating Win95 installs and that got only fixed with a full format. Its Win98 compatibility was spotty at best - the Win98 upgrade CDs IBM sent out didn't even boot properly due to improper DMA defaults. Oddly enough, the 'best' results I had with it was running Win2000 for my aunt...