Windows 98 PC Configuration
This page goes over step by step instructions on the configuration of the Windows 98 high performing computer.
Verifying the integrity of system components
- The first thing you should do before going any further is making sure the system posts without any errors and all system components are recognized by the bios.
Windows 98 SE install
- If and when the system posts successfully the next thing to do is install the OS. Once you have obtained the Windows 98 SE install CD, insert it into the CD-ROM drive. Next, go into the bios and under the boot tab make sure the CD-ROM drive is labeled as a bootable device. Save your changes and exit the bios, and you should get a prompt to boot through the CD and into the Windows 98 setup and installer. The installer will ask you for an activation key so use the key provided here.
- (PRDDH-83JD9-G6PK4-684GF-6Y73B)
Installing the correct drivers
- To install the correct drivers for the motherboard head over to the manufacturers website and find the specific model of the board already installed. Once there, head over to the support tab and choose which OS you are using (Win98SE) and download the driver files respectfully.
- Note: Although the motherboard has a USB controller, the drivers for it are non-existent which is why I recommend burning the USB drivers to a CD first and doing the rest through USB once said USB drivers are installed and working properly.
- Note 2: With this particular computer, getting USB to work will not be possible even with the drivers installed and will need another driver to get working. I recommend burning both the driver for the onboard USB and the other driver file to the CD. I will provide a link down below for that file as well as a link to download the motherboard drivers directly from the manufacturer.
Link for mobo drivers: https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-K8N-Pro-rev-1x#ov
Link for other driver file: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eygpQYhY4YDfwsS1vWB0SOSc5CQpJpn-/view?usp=sharing
- Once the motherboard drivers are installed and everything is functioning the next thing to do is install the drivers for your expansion cards. This computer has an nvidia geforce 6800 xt graphics card and a 3dfx voodoo 2 video card. Download the driver files and save them to a USB. I will provide links for both these files below.
Link to nvidia 6800 xt driver: https://www.nvidia.com/Download/driverResults.aspx/11/en-us
Link to 3dfx voodoo 2 driver: http://falconfly.3dfx.pl/voodoo2.htm
Make sure to install the latest reference drivers for the voodoo 2 card. You do not need any 3rd party drivers.
Setting up the Voodoo 2 card
- The 3dfx voodoo 2 does not have a dedicated 2D engine onboard and only has a 3D engine so it is useless when it comes to displaying anything 2D like the Windows desktop environment. This is why it needs to be directly linked to the nvidia card since that card has a 2D engine onboard. You will need a male to female VGA cable before going further. Once you have obtained the male to female VGA cable, connect the female side of the cable directly into the male VGA port on the voodoo 2 card and connect the other male side of the cable directly to the female VGA port on the nvidia card. From there connect your standard VGA cable from the monitor directly to the female VGA port on the voodoo 2 card.
Windows 98 Unofficial Service Pack 3 (Optional step)
There is an unofficial service pack 3 patch for Windows 98 SE that fixes many bugs and instability issues with the OS. The link for this patch will be provided below.
Link to unofficial Win 98 SP3: http://www.techtalk.cc/viewtopic.php?t=65
Final note:
In the event where the CD-ROM drive (D:\) does not show up when you open “my computer” make sure that the Hard Drive is installed in the IDE 1 port on the motherboard and the CD-ROM drive is installed in the IDE 2 port on the motherboard.