Reviving a dinosaur

[Jables]

Do I have any chance of performing a clean install of Windows 98 on an old 200 MHz Pentium I Compaq Presario? I've been attempting this for the last week, but with no luck. Keep getting missing .vxd files, and the system only starts in safe mode. Windows Installer can't even start the hardware detection wizard.

I have a feeling this is all due to some of Compaq's proprietary hardware (i.e. garbage), but I would like to revive this system and give it to a friend as strictly an email box. I know where to get all of the drivers, but I can't get a full clean installation of windows on the thing so that I can even start worrying about device drivers.

Thanks in advance,
Clay Simmons

 

[faust13]

Win 98 should work on that box (even a 166 will run Win 98). You will probably need to hit Compaq's site and get the proprietary drivers. I would recommend wiping the whole HD (formatting) and doing a vanilla install, then get the proprietary drivers from Compaq's site.

Before you hit Compaq's site, make sure you have the make and model of the box. ----------------------------------------
Is George Lucas Kidding...

 

[wigz]

...Hey, Faust, w98 will (sometimes run fine on my 133.

Ive been battling with it for some time now, and I too have been getting VXD errors....hardware faliure was mentioned from time to time, and so were Memory issues, and Component seating (nice snug connections, dust & dirt free etc...)
You might want to try some of these things too.

Another reason could be a dodgy copy of W98...for I have 2 full release CDs, and one always installs with errors (missing files) whilst the other installs clean every time.
Anyway, I hope this is of some help.
Tell me how you get on.

...and Faust, whats a Vanilla install?

 

[Jables]

Thanks for the responses.

I did do a "vanilla" install of Win98 on this machine. That is, I used a boot disk and typed the command:

format C:

Also tried it using

format c: /s

No luck either time. The same problem. I agree with wigz that it might just be a shady copy of Win98, although it isn't a bootlegged copy or anything. I ran into problems installing it on my newer AMD Athlon box.

It's just so hard to tell if it's the Windows CD or some other issue. I'll try to find another copy of Win98.

 

[Kjonnnn]

yea W98 should have no problem on that machine. I even have it running on a 133 with 16mg. Did you FDISK?