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Technology

Retro Computing: Windows 98 SE/Further setup & config

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Continuing from my last post, we look at the further setup and configuration of Windows 98 SE.

Emulator : UTM

After experimenting with UTM SE on iPad, then Synology VMM on the NAS, now I am using UTM on the Mac Mini.

Unlike the iPad, UTM on mac has full support for JIT, so performance is much better.

I use UTM Remote to access the VMs on my iPad, even though they are running on the Mac.

Windows 98 SE: Further Setup

The first screen after Windows 98 SE boots for the first time is this welcome screen. Time to disable it and prevent it from ever showing up again.

Welcome to Windows 98
Welcome to Windows 98

I heard the accompanying (rock) music for the first time ever, because I always had cheap AC’97 chipsets and you needed to install the drivers later, manually. Virtually, I can afford the Creative Sound Blaster 16; for which, Windows has drivers pre-installed.

The next step is to disable the Task Scheduler forever which I also, always did back in the day.

Stop using Task Scheduler
Stop using Task Scheduler

Windows 98 SE: Chipset driver setup

For the next few steps, it is advisable to keep the CD (Or the iso) popped in as windows will install a lot of drivers.

As you can see below, Windows 98 SE has failed to detect the PCI bus (and consequently, everything else connected to it). It needs a bit of manual push to be recognised properly.

Device Manager - Plug and Play BIOS
Device Manager – Plug and Play BIOS
Display a list of all the drivers
Display a list of all the drivers
Standard system devices - PCI Bus
Standard system devices – PCI Bus
To finish setting up your new hardware, you must restart your computer
To finish setting up your new hardware, you must restart your computer

We are at the 6th restart since starting the installation, so why not?

After the restart, Windows 98 SE detects a whole bunch of new devices, freshly exposed from behind the PCI bus. Surely some of the names are made up, right?

New Hardware Found : PCI Host Bridge
New Hardware Found : PCI Host Bridge
Intel 82441FX Pentium(r) Pro Processor to PCI Bridge
Intel 82441FX Pentium(r) Pro Processor to PCI Bridge
New Hardware Found : PCI ISA Bridge
New Hardware Found : PCI ISA Bridge
New Hardware Found : IO read data port for ISA Plug and Play enumerator
New Hardware Found : IO read data port for ISA Plug and Play enumerator
New Hardware Found : IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
New Hardware Found : IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
New Hardware Found : PCI IDE Controller
New Hardware Found : PCI IDE Controller
Do you want to restart your computer now?
Do you want to restart your computer now?

After the 8th reboot, yet more devices.

Intel 82371EB Power Management Controller
Intel 82371EB Power Management Controller
New Hardware Found : PCI VGA Compatible Display Adapter
New Hardware Found : PCI VGA Compatible Display Adapter
Cirrus Logic 5446 PCI
Cirrus Logic 5446 PCI

It’s not Windows if it doesn’t rash a few times along the way and Scandisk gets a chance to check the disks again.

Because Windows was not properly shut down, one or more of your drives may have errors on it
Because Windows was not properly shut down, one or more of your drives may have errors on it

Windows 98 SE: Display

With the display adapter correctly detected and the drivers installed, we can bump up the resolution and colour depth. Of course this brings us to the 10th restart.

Display Properties : High Color (16 bit) and 800 by 609 pixels
Display Properties : High Color (16 bit) and 800 by 609 pixels
Compatibility Warning : Restart the computer with the new color settings?
Compatibility Warning : Restart the computer with the new color settings?

Now its time to set a proper theme.

Windows 98 : Dangerous Creatures
Windows 98 : Dangerous Creatures

This used to be my mother’s favourite theme, even if not mine. I used to keep this on in hopes that she would like it and let me use the computer for some more time.

Time to shut down the VM and let it rest for yet another adventure for another day.

Microsoft Windows 98: Windows is shutting down
Microsoft Windows 98: Windows is shutting down