Ask in Marvin. This is for old Windows games on modern systems.

GuyTechie wrote:

I don't remember the exact steps I got my 80 GB IDE HDD to work with Win 98 SE (the fdisk/format bug was supposed to be cosmetic, but it proved not to be - will elaborate if someone is curious - don't want to go off topic), but none of those updates seem to have replaced the fdisk/format with ones that didn't bug out for me.

If this is your principal criterion for gauging whether Windows is up-to-date, it would seem that elaboration is necessary.

Moved to Marvin.

Instead of using fdisk connect the ide drive to a reader attached to your main modern computer and format using this tool (Click the pick to download)--->http://www.ridgecrop.demon.co.uk/index.htm?guiformat.htm and just go on installing windows no need to use fdisk.

Now for updates use the unofficial service pack from here--->https://www.techtalk.cc/viewtopic.php?t=65 I use this for every win98 build. Windows 98 is very old and has lots of bug and this will keep the os very stable.

Also if you want full USB support for just about any device use this driver--->http://www.technical-assistance.co.uk/kb/usbmsd98.php

Another good tool to use if you want good picture for LCD monitors is RP9.7 (Requires Internet Explore 6 SP1)and it comes with themes to make win98 look like win7.

If you cant find IE6.1 and RP9.7 I can upload them.

GuyTechie wrote:

(the fdisk/format bug was supposed to be cosmetic, but it proved not to be - will elaborate if someone is curious - don't want to go off topic)

Don't keep me in suspense, man! I haven't seen the issue in using the old Format and Fdisk. (Always partitioning the entire capacity in one volume, 120-137 GB.)

just grab the Windows 98 Service Pack it has all main updates and alot of nice little things to boot

candle_86 wrote:

just grab the Windows 98 Service Pack it has all main updates and alot of nice little things to boot

The trouble is that there are several different ones at this point and it's hard to tell what the differences are between them.

Firstly, thanks for moving the thread. I thought this was appropriate for the Windows section since it was in regards to Windows. My mistake.

Jorpho wrote:

candle_86 wrote:

just grab the Windows 98 Service Pack it has all main updates and alot of nice little things to boot

The trouble is that there are several different ones at this point and it's hard to tell what the differences are between them.

Yes, this. The UW98SESP3 I knew about, but it includes a lot of extras. I'd like to keep mine as official as possible. Exceptions can be made for unofficial fixes that prevent it from being usable (ex: USB Mass Storage driver, 3rd party browser for internet access - IE6 just don't load today's sites very well or at all anymore, updated root certificates, etc). I'm not really into replacing the Explorer shell or icons, splash screen, start menu banner, 3rd party utilities, etc.) I wish UW98SESP3 made it easier for me to distinguish what's 3rd party and what's not.

The AutoPatcher I linked above seems to be the cleanest update.

So I'm guessing the consensus is UW98SESP3 (which is now at 3.56)?

firage wrote:

Don't keep me in suspense, man! I haven't seen the issue in using the old Format and Fdisk. (Always partitioning the entire capacity in one volume, 120-137 GB.)

I have an 80 GB IDE drive. When I fdisk the entire thing, it would only see 15 GB (and see it as 100%). When I try to use percentage (I read somewhere in a guide to use percentage and it will work out fine despite the wrong reported values - hence it was just cosmetic) - 20% C: 80% Extended - also used 100% of the extended for a D: logical.

Okay, formatted the drives (C: says 5.5 GB now, D: formatted fine I think - I don't recall now).

Installed Windows 98 SE. Hoping it was just cosmetic, that Explorer would report correctly - nope. C: was indeed 5.5 GB. So I had a chunk missing.

I used some kind of utility in one of those UBCD or Hirens CDs. I had to find an old version since the new ones requires too much memory (Parted Magic does not load at all on this machine). I ended up partitioning and formatting using one of those utilities (it was probably FreeDOS's fdisk and format).

Oldskoolmaniac wrote:

Instead of using fdisk connect the ide drive to a reader attached to your main modern computer and format using this tool (Click the pick to download)--->http://www.ridgecrop.demon.co.uk/index.htm?guiformat.htm and just go on installing windows no need to use fdisk.

I wish I still have an IDE to USB adapter. I would have soooo done that.

Oldskoolmaniac wrote:

Now for updates use the unofficial service pack from here--->https://www.techtalk.cc/viewtopic.php?t=65 I use this for every win98 build. Windows 98 is very old and has lots of bug and this will keep the os very stable.

I had that. In fact, I did respond in that forum - bug report. Near the last entries of the post - has my name on it. 😀

Oldskoolmaniac wrote:

Also if you want full USB support for just about any device use this driver--->http://www.technical-assistance.co.uk/kb/usbmsd98.php

Thanks. I had something like that in my collection of files. Not all USB drive works with what I had. Hopefully this will be better. I'll give it a go.

Oldskoolmaniac wrote:

Another good tool to use if you want good picture for LCD monitors is RP9.7 (Requires Internet Explore 6 SP1)and it comes with themes to make win98 look like win7.

If you cant find IE6.1 and RP9.7 I can upload them.

I'm not into themes. What is RP9.7 do to IE6.1? Does it make it work with modern sites? I can't even load google with the current IE6 and SP. Bing and MSN works, although not formatted correctly.

RP9.7 is just for having custom themes and clear type tuner for lcd's and it requires IE6.1 to be installed just to use RP9.

If you want modern websites to work on win98 then you will have to install kernelex and install firefox 10.0 ESR.

GuyTechie wrote:

I have an 80 GB IDE drive. When I fdisk the entire thing, it would only see 15 GB (and see it as 100%). When I try to use perc […]
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I have an 80 GB IDE drive. When I fdisk the entire thing, it would only see 15 GB (and see it as 100%). When I try to use percentage (I read somewhere in a guide to use percentage and it will work out fine despite the wrong reported values - hence it was just cosmetic) - 20% C: 80% Extended - also used 100% of the extended for a D: logical.

Okay, formatted the drives (C: says 5.5 GB now, D: formatted fine I think - I don't recall now).

Installed Windows 98 SE. Hoping it was just cosmetic, that Explorer would report correctly - nope. C: was indeed 5.5 GB. So I had a chunk missing.

I used some kind of utility in one of those UBCD or Hirens CDs. I had to find an old version since the new ones requires too much memory (Parted Magic does not load at all on this machine). I ended up partitioning and formatting using one of those utilities (it was probably FreeDOS's fdisk and format).

That sounds very much like the problem with the original Win98 FDisk, yes.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/263044

I'm not sure why that update wouldn't be included with any of the unofficial service packs, but then, it's not like you would need it after you finished installing Win98, and there are many better utilities than fdisk anyway.

So, seems like the only way to work with the original Fdisk is to never specify the size of the partition, only using the option to partition all available capacity on a disk with no partitions.

firage wrote:

So, seems like the only way to work with the original Fdisk is to never specify the size of the partition, only using the option to partition all available capacity on a disk with no partitions.

I always use all available capacity with the original FDISK, never had any issues. I do limit the capacity of the drive though. SeaTools does this for Seagate and Samsung drives.

As for the updates, I did use the unofficial SP3 for a while, but really, it made no difference. I never had issues with stock Windows 98 SE when it comes to gaming and benchmarking.

Maybe it's not FDISK's fault then ?

https://www.win.tue.nl/~aeb/partitions/partit … s-2.html#ss2.11

When i setup win98se on a samsung 80 GB HDD, i used fdisk from win98-CD.
But when i try to install scandisk shows lots of errors.

Then i set the 32GB Clip jumper on the HDD. create a partition and install 98.
All works fine, even after removing the 32GBClip-Jumper.

So i used the rest of the HDD for Linux.
I thought it has something to do with a bios-limit, but that was not true.

Years later, i did a new install of 98 and try Samsung diskmanager to get full access to the HDD under Win98.
I set the Diskmager to create 3 Partitions : 30GB, 30GB and 20 GB.

But Diskmanager says something like:
- Drive Overlay not needed
- Driver Overlay not installed.
- Only Partitions generated.

Win98 setup works fine now, scandisk shows no errors.

I can access all 3 Partitions in Win98.

I used Ultimate Boot CD.

Maybe this helps you too?
Create Partitions and Format with a BootCD and DiskManagemant software or GPARTED instead of Fdisk.