Limits With Windows 98se

[AngelfireUk83]

I want to build a Windows 98 machine and I understand Microsoft have now ended support but I reckon I can still get any security fix. From there website or find them through Google anyways I want to know what limits Windows 98 has with not so modern day hardware.

Say about when Athlon XP was ending at it's prime and A64 came about 2 years ago. What would be the best set-up? you might think I'm stupid cause it's old but if I can make a Windows 98 machine with decent specs my step daughter can use it for games. And not have to worry about slowness when doing home work while using WMP etc.

She uses Windows 98se at school they do have XP machines but she's like me when I was her age. Prefers Win98 for easy it's easy to use layout considering XP is kinda the same.

[Gnufsh]

98se is far more prone to crashes than xp. If you must use it, someone has released an unofficial service pack for it that I highly reccomend:
http://exuberant.ms11.net/98sesp.html

from the site, features:


# 120+ updates and hotfixes (Detailed list will be prepared soon).
# Solves 512 MB of RAM problem.
# 256-color tray icons.
# Better Notepad: MetaPad 3.5 (Optional).
# Optimized swap file usage (Optional).
# Better WDM and USB support.
# Adaptec ASPI 4.60.1021 drivers (Optional).
# Windows Scripting Host 5.6.
# DCOM98 1.3.
# OLE Automation Libraries 2.40.4522.
# Dial-Up Networking 1.4.
# Microsoft Installer 2.0.
# HTML Help 5.0.
# TweakUI (Optional).
# Command Prompt Here (Optional).
# New Animated Boot and Shutdown Logo (Optional).
# Microsoft Layer for Unicode.
# Visual Basic 5.0 SP2 runtime library.
# Visual Basic 6.0 SP6 runtime library.
# Visual C++ 6.0 SP6 runtime libraries.
# Updates JET 3.5 files to JET 3.5 SP3.
# Supports 98lite 4.7.
# Windows 2000/ME desktop icons.
# Windows 2000 color scheme (Optional).
# Supports custom "Program Files" directory.
# Shows attributes column in details view on the Windows Explorer.
# Semi-slipstreaming support.
# Some tweaks (Optional).

[Bios24]

I've got 98SE running on a 1.7ghz P4 with 512mb ram. It's not as fast as you'd think, in fact it's probably overkill. XP would run faster on it than 98SE does.

Only grip I have in general about 98 is stability and refinement. I could get the programs and drivers I needed, so that wasn't a big issue.

[Shmutt]

Windows 98 is very prone to crashes. I'd recommend setting up Windows XP and use classic graphic templates to make it looks like Windows 98.

[stool]

I want to build a Windows 98 machine and I understand Microsoft have now ended support but I reckon I can still get any security fix. From there website or find them through Google anyways I want to know what limits Windows 98 has with not so modern day hardware.



She uses Windows 98se at school they do have XP machines but she's like me when I was her age. Prefers Win98 for easy it's easy to use layout considering XP is kinda the same.Though they don't support everything like they used to, you can still find monthly security updates from Windows. Best bet is to try from here (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/default.mspx)

[AngelfireUk83]

I remember the BSOD appearing an awful lot on 98 brings back memories of shouting at the screen "WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW" cause the hour glass came up for nothing. I'll try to convince her to let put XP Home on it I can then go out and defo buy another Athlon 2500+ and 512mb RAM.

Thanks for the link to the service pack gnufsh.

[Cheator]

Acording to a recent article, support for it ends in July. For a machine like that though I hardly think XP is needed. Win2k would be perfect. Thats my opinion however :)

[Zanai]

Wow you guys must have had some rotten luck with 98se , i still prefer it over xp but lack of new software support sucks, get way too many wrong os system messages now.

Never had a problem with 98se, had wayyyyy too many with xp, not to mention xp cant multitask for ****e on older pcs. Used to be able to play mp3s and run 3 copies of everquest on my old 3200 athlon with 512mb ram, upgraded to win xp could barely play mp3s and 1 copy of everquest (that was with 1024mb ram as well) just downgraded again and stuck 512mb ram out (my geforce 4600ti didnt like 1024 under 98) but stuck with xp on lappy now and got used to the slowness

[Bios24]

Wow you guys must have had some rotten luck with 98se , i still prefer it over xp but lack of new software support sucks, get way too many wrong os system messages now.

Never had a problem with 98se, had wayyyyy too many with xp, not to mention xp cant multitask for ****e on older pcs. Used to be able to play mp3s and run 3 copies of everquest on my old 3200 athlon with 512mb ram, upgraded to win xp could barely play mp3s and 1 copy of everquest (that was with 1024mb ram as well) just downgraded again and stuck 512mb ram out (my geforce 4600ti didnt like 1024 under 98) but stuck with xp on lappy now and got used to the slowness

Really?? I've always had just the opposite. 98SE seems slow on any machine compared to the XP machines I have. We've got some 1.7ghz P4's with 256mb at work that run XP and Office just fine. As long as you have 256-512mb XP should have any problems.

[Zanai]

Guess it depends on the hardware and what your used to, found XP did not like my sata raid setup either (onboard via southbridge) tried xp on 2 seperate occasions first time when i got the pc windows ran for about a week then managed to self destroy my whole array, 2nd time i tried (with the 1024mb upgrade) it lasted 2 months (i gave xp plenty of time :P) destroyed array again hard drives where fine no bad sectors or anything, rebuilt array installed 98se and never looked back till i sold it

[klingens]

The only reason to use win98 I can see is with low memory: you should have at least 256MB for XP, 512MB would be better. At 512MB, win98 already has issues using it all properly.

[funnyperson1]

I would compromise and install Windows 2000, its rock stable and doesn't have the bloat of XP and is compatible with pretty much any software/drivers you can find for XP.

[Skunk Monkey]

I didn't want to give up 98SE either but got an opprtunity to upgrade to Windows 2000. That was about five years ago and I haven't looked back. Windows 2000 is the most stable of the Windows OS's. Going from 98Se to 2000 has a very low learning curve. As a matter of fact there almost is no learning curve. MS is still puting out updates and patches so the software is still supported. A lot of businesses use 2000 so I expect that it will be around for a while.

[pik4chu]

I didn't want to give up 98SE either but got an opprtunity to upgrade to Windows 2000. That was about five years ago and I haven't looked back. Windows 2000 is the most stable of the Windows OS's. Going from 98Se to 2000 has a very low learning curve. As a matter of fact there almost is no learning curve. MS is still puting out updates and patches so the software is still supported. A lot of businesses use 2000 so I expect that it will be around for a while.
2k will be supported for a good while longer so there is no need to worry about that.

in my experiences the differences (the big ones) between 2k and XP are the system requirements (xp needs/likes more) and the backwards compatability (XP is far superior with the right configuration). The other differences are nice little nick-nbacks like moving of various properties and such that are usually only noticed by us geeks ;)

on that note. I run it all (well almost, my Windows 3.1 for workgroups comp died but it was junk anyways)

Got a Win95 tablet, windows 98SE mini-pc, Several 2k machines and several XP machines. and in the near future a 2k3 SBS machine. Each one has its purpose, Pros, Cons and share of 'hickups' I do hope to dable into *NIX eventually too just to expand my knowledge some.

[Captain Newbie]

I'm going to give you the standard line:

Windows 98 must not be used in a network environment where the network is exposed (read: most practically all home networks). The system is not designed in a fashion such that critical information is safeguarded properly and there is no concept of access controls or user priveleges. Using XP SP2 is a "best practice" for home systems, which, for the most part, do not sit behind good firewalls or employ appropriate protections. I'd rather not see another 98 box ever again because they are so very easy to whack.

I didn't want to give up 98SE either but got an opprtunity to upgrade to Windows 2000. That was about five years ago and I haven't looked back. Windows 2000 is the most stable of the Windows OS's. Going from 98Se to 2000 has a very low learning curve. As a matter of fact there almost is no learning curve. MS is still puting out updates and patches so the software is still supported. A lot of businesses use 2000 so I expect that it will be around for a while.
That's the idea -- from the user's perspective there is no learning curve. :)

Go with 2K. They'll be better off. Or XP SP2.

[Audioaficionado]

I used 98lite to speed up 98SE when I was still using it as my default desktop OS. I eventually switched to Windows 2000 and never looked back. Now I'm on XPproSP2 but I have the hardware to handle it. My old Pentium Pro 200 could run 2000 fine. It got the job done so I'd recommend W2k also.