Windows 98

[LaRoza]

I recently obtained Windows 98 and tried to install it in VirtualBox. Being such an outdated OS, I had none of the original docs (and therefore, the key).

I was about to abandon my hopes of using it, but I found a "generic" key. I was dubious of it, as it was off a forum and there is a lot of posts like that. The poster claimed to have gotten it from Microsoft who gave it away because there was no point in hiding it (an employee of MS)

I tried it with little hope, and it worked. Strange isn't it?

Now I all have to do is plug in my scanner, and see the BSOD.

EDIT Does anyone know if the repositories for Windows 98 are still available? Wait, MS doesn't do it that way....

[Dr. C]

The first question is do you have Windows 98 or Windows 98 SE. They are quite different operating systems. The downloads can be obtained from

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/

There is also an "unofficial" service pack for Windows 98 SE

The most important upgrade to Windows 98 or 98 SE is to upgrade Internet Explore 6 to the latest Windows 98 / 98 SE compatible version.

By the way Windows 98 / 98 SE are from the days when Microsoft Software was free from DRM and the value of Microsoft stock was growing exponentially. So there are no worries with product activation, WPA, validation, invalidated keys, reduced functionality mode etc. That would explain why your key worked.

[SidewinderPro2]

Windows 98SE is definitely my favorite operating system. I had reinstalled it a few months ago just for the sake of having DOS and being able to run all of my old games like Duke Nukem 3D.

(For Second Edition anyways) Run your Windows Update and select all the critical updates. That will bring you up to spec to sometime in June 2006. Do not use the Updater's optional updates for hardware unless you can't locate drivers yourself. Too many trash generic drivers on Necrosoft's site.

For scanner drivers, it shouldn't be too hard if you can find the manufacturer's website listing of your model. Just check for drivers there, download, and install.

I'd say get Firefox first and then go about finding drivers since it will be more compatible, safer, and up to date than IE 6. I know on my old XP computer I just plugged my scanner in and it worked through the XP scanner/camera wizard. My 98SE drive was overwritten by my XP drive, so I have no way of checking for myself on how to do it, I am just going by memory.

Good luck with 98. Thats the way Windows is supposed to be.

[LaRoza]

Thanks for the advice, it is Windows 98 SE.

As for the internet, it has extreme difficulty, and it balks about not having Outlook Express (I chose not to install it).

I probably won't be surfing with it anyway.

[bufsabre666]

autopatcher 98 is availble if you do a little searching

http://www.msfn.org/board/?showtopic=80800

ive used it on an ibm pc350 i restored