Vany wrote on 2020-02-15, 15:30:

I was planning on putting Windows 98SE on it but there's no drivers for that os.

Yes there are:
https://thinkpads.com/support/Thinkpad-Driver … /ddfm/A30p.html

Just choose ME as the OS and all the Win98 drivers will show up.

schmatzler wrote on 2020-02-15, 18:17:

Yes there are: https://thinkpads.com/support/Thinkpad-Driver … /ddfm/A30p.html […]
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Vany wrote on 2020-02-15, 15:30:

I was planning on putting Windows 98SE on it but there's no drivers for that os.

Yes there are:
https://thinkpads.com/support/Thinkpad-Driver … /ddfm/A30p.html

Just choose ME as the OS and all the Win98 drivers will show up.

The problem is that some drivers aren't there even under that, for example the display driver.

Of course they are, just look carefully.

Even my A31p works with Windows 98, the A30 will certainly do, too.

schmatzler wrote on 2020-02-15, 19:02:

Of course they are, just look carefully.

Anmerkung 2020-02-15 200131.png

Even my A31p works with Windows 98, the A30 will certainly do, too.

When I click on that page it shows just the monitor file?

EDIT: Nvm, the driver is on the page, it's just not sorted under any OS. Thanks!

That sound chipset does not have DOS support, and for Windows-only games I would put WinME over 98SE anyways.

What intrigues me is the status of AC97 sound support for DOS games played under Windows? Does it exist? Does it require VXD drivers? Do these drivers work better under 98SE than under WinME?

dr_st wrote on 2020-02-15, 19:31:

That sound chipset does not have DOS support, and for Windows-only games I would put WinME over 98SE anyways.

What intrigues me is the status of AC97 sound support for DOS games played under Windows? Does it exist? Does it require VXD drivers? Do these drivers work better under 98SE than under WinME?

I am not sure exactly what you mean but I think it supports MPU-401 and I plan to use WinGroove with that, will make dos games sound decent if it works!

The audio drivers have SoundBlaster emulation for DOS games within Windows.
It can be enabled through the device manager.

schmatzler wrote on 2020-02-15, 22:24:

The audio drivers have SoundBlaster emulation for DOS games within Windows.
It can be enabled through the device manager.

I've read the A31p's driver has soundblaster emulation, Re: Windows 98se compaq evo n610c no sound in dos games , It's a VXD driver with GM MIDI virtual service for DOS, and I've tested the driver with my soundmax card and it's not working good, sound driver setup can't recognize the SB 'hardware' but old DOS games can.
I'm planning to get a A30p and I checked the driver from IBM, and it has soundblaster emulation. Here's INF:

1[Strings]
2String0="Crystal Semiconductor"
3String1="Crystal Semiconductor"
4KEY_IOC="SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\MediaResources\InstallOptionalComponents"
5KEY_BASE="SOFTWARE\Crystal Semiconductor\CS461x"
6SYNTH_BASE="Software\Crystal\CrystalWave\0.0"
7DeviceDesc="Crystal Audio Codec"
8BlasterDesc="Crystal Audio Codec Game Device"
9MediaClassName="Sound, video and game controllers"
10
11CSMfgName="Crystal Semiconductor Corporation"
12CSSYNTH.DeviceDesc="CrystalWave Synthesizer"
13ProviderCrystal="Crystal"
14V_CLSWAVEFORM="Audio"
15V_CLSMIDI="MIDI"
16V_CLSMIXER="Mixer"
17V_CLSAUX="Auxiliary"
18V_INTERNAL="FM Synthesis"
19V_EXTERNAL="External MIDI Port"

So would you bother to share the compatibility of the A30p driver's emulation? If it works for most DOS games (both digital sound and music) then I'll definitely get one.

Vany wrote on 2020-02-15, 15:30:

I was wondering what the best operating system would be for this machine. I'd like to run late 90s games on it but some are completely incompatible with Windows 2000 that it currently has. I was planning on putting Windows 98SE on it but there's no drivers for that os. Would Windows ME be a decent option in this case?

Although this is old, maybe you still have your Thinkpad. I have the A30P version that runs witrh Windows SE.
When it comes to Sound there is one more very interesting option. I got my hands on an IBM Dock 2877. It allows to install a PCI-card, so I upgraded the system with a Soundblaster Live card.
There are excellent guides online to set it up for Windows 98SE. Making it a great soundcard for retro gaming, since you also get a real gameport.

https://www.philscomputerlab.com/sound-blaster-live.html

See my setup in the attached photos.