VOGONS


First post, by jamesfx2

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I've just installed Windows 98 on my ThinkPad T43 and I'm going to be in for a lot of fun finding drivers for it that work in Windows 98 because apparently they are out there.

But before all that, I'm hoping I can get things working like reading USB storage, patching up the RAM support to 2GB and discovering all the things that you know already that I'll need to do too.

First question is what things should I get (as well as the above). Like DirectX 9.0c.

Second question is that I've come across stuff like this "Unofficial Windows 98 Service Packs" - http://www.htasoft.com/u98sesp/ and http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhanc … dows-98SE.shtml

Now both of them set my bullshit detectors off. Are they any use?

And question 3. I'd like to connect my Windows 98 laptop to my home network but I'd rather leave it unconnected to the internet because I'm not confident that it wouldn't become part of a Russian botnet in about 2 minutes. Is there any way of enabling local network without allowing it onto the Net?

Reply 1 of 3, by Fusion

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I wouldn't use those service packs myself, and I'd limit my RAM to 512MB instead of patching. Also depending on your sound and video card, I'd personally recommend you just use DX8.1 or DX8. Hope that helps a little.

USB support for Win98SE:
http://www.technical-assistance.co.uk/kb/win9 … age-drivers.php

DirectX8:
https://download.milesburton.com/Libretto/Win95Updates/

EDIT: After looking up your laptop (http://www.notebookreview.com/notebookreview/ … iew-pics-specs/) DX9 probably wouldn't hurt anything.

Pentium III @ 1.28Ghz - Intel SE440xBX-2 - 384MB PC100 - ATi Radeon DDR 64MB @ 207/207 - SB Live! 5.1 - Windows ME

Reply 2 of 3, by jesolo

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I always install the Unofficial Windows 98 Service Pack 2.1a, since (under the Main Updates), it contains a combination of the official patches released by Microsoft over the years.

For USB support, I just extract the USBStack file from one of the version 3.x Unofficial Windows 98 Service Packs and run that.

I haven't had any problems running DirectX 9.0c on Windows 98SE but, DirectX 8.1 should be fine as well.

Reply 3 of 3, by chinny22

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Q1
Must have Software for Win9x for me is Daemon tools 3.47, IE6 (needed for some drivers) WinRAR, Winamp, and as you said DirectX

Q2
I don't bother with the unofficial service packs, or any updates at all, but don't use USB or anything "fancy" just a basic gaming PC
I can how a laptop may benefit from one of the service packs, 2.1 is the more "official" service pack 3 includes tweaks/hacks/etc to run later software that had officially dropped support for Win98

Q3
If you keep the gateway blank in TCP/IP properties it wont know how to get out on the internet, catch is You'll have to turn off DHCP, and that's a good initial test to know if your on the network or not (no IP address something isn't right)
A better option is to block that PC on your router.
But in all honesty I wouldn't worry about it, vast amount of virus are written for NT kernel type OS's and really your laptop will only be on few hrs a week and not actively on the internet anyway right?
All my retro PC's from Win3x though to Win2k are on the main network without updates or antivirus and haven't picked up anything nasty.