Late 90's Windows 98 - Internet Explorer build \ VOGONS

Late 90's Windows 98 - Internet Explorer build

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First post, by fromage

Posted on 2021-07-17, 04:38

fromage Offline

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Hello, I've been fiddling with my system for a few years now - replacing parts and re-installing Windows - and I finally think it's worth sharing.
It runs Windows 98 SE, and I use it to play mid-late 90's software. The hardware is an amalgamation of what I've seen other Vogons posters recommend.

My build as of this post:

Intel SE440BX-2 motherboard
Pentium III SL5QV (1ghz) + MSI 6905 Master Slot 1/Socket 370 adapter
120gb Western Digital Caviar SE
512mb Micron RAM
Leadtek WinFast GeForce 4 Ti 4200
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS
3Com 3C905B-TX network card
Belkin USB 2.0 PCI Adapter
Plextor PX-W1210TA CD drive
Teac FD-235HF floppy drive
AOpen ATX-300GU power supply

1ghz S370 P3's were much easier to find than 1ghz Slot 1's, so I have an SL5QV plugged into a Slot 1 adapter, with a Startech copper heatsink sitting on top of it.

The Ti 4200 has VGA+DVI output, which is very convenient because I can hook up the VGA to a monitor and the DVI to a capture box.

My current Windows installation has been very stable 🤞. I installed the Shutdown Supplement patches (4756US8 and Q246817) immediately, and that's it other than drivers.
There are USB ports hidden in the front bezel, but there are no USB headers on the motherboard, so it's good that they're hidden.
Also, FYI to anybody cleaning their stuff, be careful with isopropyl alcohol - I rubbed a patch of cheap paint right off the bezel and spent an hour blending out the color. I think it looks pretty good now, but only because I covered the really bad spots up with stickers.

Yes, that's the Internet Explorer icon embossed on the side of the case. Even better, the manufacturer used the same plate for both sides, so on the opposite side, the IE icon is upside down. 😁Fantastic!

Reply 1 of 10, by bZbZbZ

Posted on 2021-07-17, 04:55

bZbZbZ Offline

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That looks terrific. I especially like the Y2K Compliant sticker! 😁

Reply 2 of 10, by Joseph_Joestar

Posted on 2021-07-17, 06:45

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That's a very well thought out build. Powerful enough to comfortably run any Win9x game and possibly even some early WinXP titles. Also, very stable and compatible.

I particularly like your GPU choice. Leadtek made some excellent GeForce cards back in the day. I had a WinFast Titanium 200 T (GeForce3 Ti 200) around 2002. Great build quality.

PC#1: Pentium MMX 166 / Soyo SY-5BT / S3 Trio64V+ / Voodoo1 / YMF719 / AWE64 Gold / SC-155
PC#2: AthlonXP 2100+ / ECS K7VTA3 / Voodoo3 / Audigy2 / Vortex2
PC#3: Athlon64 3400+ / Asus K8V-MX / 5900XT / Audigy2
PC#4: i5-3570K / MSI Z77A-G43 / GTX 970 / X-Fi

Reply 3 of 10, by britain4

Posted on 2021-07-17, 15:17

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I had that very same case back in the day - remember the random IE logo - a very well specced build!

- P-MMX 200MHZ, PCChips M598LMR, Voodoo
- P-MMX 233MHz, FIC PA2013, S3 ViRGE + Voodoo
- PII 400MHz, MSI MS6119, ATI Rage Pro Turbo + Voodoo2 SLI
- PIII 1400MHz, ECS P6IPAT, Voodoo5 5500
- Toshiba Libretto 110CT, 300MHz, 96MB RAM

Reply 4 of 10, by Jo22

Posted on 2021-07-17, 15:32

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Cool build! 😎

But if you're planning to go online with this bad boy,
please consider using a dedicated firewall.
An old DSL router or a spare Raspberry Pi with PiHole software is a possibility.
They allow blocking unnecessary ports, too. 😃

I know, it's annoying. But I've had a bad experience with 98SE and the net in the late 2000s.

Recent malware infected a PC of a f(r)iend, despite Avira Antivir 8/9 and Kerio Personal Firewall.
Since then, I feel I've got to warn people. The network security in Win 9x is very bad.
The encryption strength in IE 5.x is weak, too (merely 40bit).

That being said, surfing the web from time to time is okay.
If the PC isn't unattended for long and not secretly becomming part of a bot net, it's tolerable, I guess. 😉

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//

Reply 5 of 10, by dormcat

Posted on 2021-07-17, 15:54

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Wow that's an excellent build, combining some best components for Win9x games. 😀

Like Jo22 said, if I were you I wouldn't browse the web with this machine; hook it up to a secure intranet or just use USB to transfer files.

Reply 6 of 10, by fromage

Posted on 2021-07-17, 17:57

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Don't worry, this system won't be connecting to the internet

Reply 7 of 10, by chinny22

Posted on 2021-07-19, 09:10

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Ha, I understand the confusion but also get what OP meant with the title 😀
It's called the Internet Explorer build because the IE logo on the side panel, not because of some sadistic desire to surf the web with an ancient version of IE!

Love the backwards e, that's a sign of quality! 🤣
Love the build but I am biased as have almost the exact same build.
I can brag and say I got a Ti4600 and a Slot 1 Ghz, but I did build mine almost 10 years ago when prices were not so bad. If I was doing again today I'd do the same as you.
You win with a true Intel M/B vs my Dell version and Plextor CD drive.
I'm still on the lookout for a beige I/O panel for the Audigy 2 ZS. They do exist but rare.
No ISA soundcard?

Reply 8 of 10, by H3nrik V!

Posted on 2021-07-19, 10:27

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fromage wrote on 2021-07-17, 04:38:

Yes, that's the Internet Explorer icon embossed on the side of the case. Even better, the manufacturer used the same plate for both sides, so on the opposite side, the IE icon is upside down. 😁Fantastic!

Picture or it didn't happen! 🤣

Please use the "quote" option if asking questions to what I write - it will really up the chances of me noticing 😀

Reply 9 of 10, by PcBytes

Posted on 2021-07-25, 17:34

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I have two of those "Internet Explorer" cases, made by JNC/ANS, two well-known Deer subsidiaries in the Eastern Europe.
Usually came with craptacular PSUs that, more often than not, loved to go kaboom.

"Enter at your own peril, past the bolted door..."
Main PC: i5 3470, GB B75M-D3H, 16GB RAM, 2x1TB
98SE : P3 650, Soyo SY-6BA+IV, 384MB RAM, 80GB

Reply 10 of 10, by fromage

Posted on 2021-07-27, 20:17

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chinny22 wrote on 2021-07-19, 09:10:

No ISA soundcard?

No ISA soundcard right now. I'm not very knowledgeable with older ISA stuff, but I would like to install one eventually.

H3nrik V! wrote on 2021-07-19, 10:27:

Picture or it didn't happen! 🤣

PcBytes, thank you for the info, I didn't know that.

Reply 11 of 10, by H3nrik V!

Posted on 2021-07-28, 06:01

H3nrik V! Offline

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Oh, it's the exact same side, just upside down? B-)

Please use the "quote" option if asking questions to what I write - it will really up the chances of me noticing 😀

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