Old computer help

[Andrew]

I am currently trying to update my old computer that only has the first win98 install that first came out i think. I want to do windows update but it says i need to update internet explorer, which i can not find to download at microsoft site.

And with the moniter it wont show more than 16 colors and 640 res. I am certain it has to do with the tower as the moniter works fine with my new computer, thus one other reason to update windows/internet explorer.

I havnt hooked speakers up yet, as no need to.[attachment archived by Gobalopper]

[gryphon]

You can download IE 5.5 from here

The downside is that MS doesn't support Win9X anymore. . .

I thought Win9X supports IE5.5 . . ?

[Andrew]

I downloaded IE6 sp2 or something, an dnow that is working.

I also updated directx to 9.0b

Now I am going to windows update page (which does work, think they are keeping it open for a week maybe?)

My computer crashes every couple minutes, and I still can not get more than 16 colors and 640 res.

windows update page doesnt have any driver updates which is funny. :(

The computer freezes about 2-5 minutes after startup. which results in me restarting the computer by using power switch.

any suggestions?

[Atomic Mitten]

Sounds like your Graphics drivers.Or maybe overheating of the CPU,check the fan on the CPU to see if it's wotking ? check it's cable to the mOBO etc.

[Andrew]

Wonder where I can get the graphics drivers.

It seems to freeze when on IE and netscape more than when not using those programs.

attached is the new directx file with 9.0b

My fans appear to be working fine.[attachment archived by Gobalopper]

[Andrew]

I found my graphics drivers so now I got 16-24 bit colors. and all my resolutions.

Now to update everything else. (like sound, which I don't have yet)

I will say if any big problems I can not figure out by the next weekend.

Thanks for the help.  :)

(I love win 98  8) )

[Atomic Mitten]

Is it still crashing after two minutes ?

[Andrew]

Well, that is the funny thing. It will work fine, but then it will not. It frooze when I rebooted my computer once, when windows starts up and the background pops up.

And it often freezes in internet explorer. (it also frooze in netscape once)

And whenever I go to windows update page and start to download the files it will freeze usually anytime after the first 2 mb downloaded of a total of 11 mb. (sometimes sooner, somtimes later)

I am currently defragging it [done now]. I did a thourough scandisk.

Sound is working now that I installed the drivers.

[gryphon]

just a guess .. and it might me worth a try. . have you updated Java on that computer ?

you can get it an java.sun.com.

Not shure if it's gon'na help, but never the less.

[Andrew]

The java file is 116mb, kinda large. :- (I got high speed)

And my computer seems to freeze just after clicking on a link. as I was about to download java, it frooze after I clicked on it.

Could it be that the computer doesnt recognize certain drivers for the mouse/keyboard/ any item that has not been updated?

[gryphon]

that wasn't what I was thinking of. . . allthough you never know. ..

Win9X has a known issue with freezing while shutting down. . .does that also happen with you ?

you could try to run SFC [ start - run -sfc ], it detects corrupt system files and can restore them.

[Andrew]

Doesn't freeze when shutting down, just when I doing something or nothing.

Will try sfc.

EDIT-  sfc did not report any errors etc.

[Andrew]

I am currently reinstalling windows, from the cd that came with my computer (OLD) this cd is newer than teh version of windows that was installed on my computer and would have the drivers, etc.

DO i need the serial for this?

I cannot remember if you need to put it in.

I rememeber when i resinatlled windows years ago it did not ask me..now it is asking for a diff cd, and now it can not find files..sigh , now niethor OS

[gryphon]

Depending on the kind of Windows version you have. . some need you to enter a serial code. . others don't.

[ they are called enterprise or bulk licenses and are ment for larger companies ]

[Andrew]

I finally was able to update all the win98 updates from microsoft. but now when I try to update the java, it always freezes the computer. (it still did when downloading win updates, but i did one at a time and had more success than all at once)

Any other help?

Reasons for it freezing? anything to download which could help?

EDIT - According to java.com, my java is not working properly, so I will keep tryiong to download it. maybe using download accelerators may make it possible to download.

2nd EDIT - I am burning java onto a cd and install it from cdrom on old computer, since I can not download it using multiple ways.

Java installed correctly. awaiting it to freeze. :P

Anyone know what I can do to get the modem to work?

There is none showing up in control panel, maybe I need a driver. The ethernet works fine, but there is no modem(dailup) features since I updated windows.

[gryphon]

does the modem device show up in your hardware tab ?

[Andrew]

It may

I think it has a question mark, along with something else.

One is under "other devices" and is called PCI Communications Device

and the other one that did have the question mark, but does not at the moment was Network adapters : Dailup Adapter.

But there is no modem option in the control panel.

Also some accessories are missing, mspaint, dailup networking, phone dailer, volume control (but creative sound thing is working)

[gryphon]

you can instaal those thing with add and remove software. .the windows components tab.

and if I an correct you will get the modem option addet to your controle panel ones you have installed the drivers for it.

Do you know which model your modem is ?

[Andrew]

I forget which model my modem is.

(It doesnt say in dxdiag what my keyboard or mouse is, so i doubt I can find out by looking.)

Am trying the install in windows setup (forgot about it)

Tried, but it is asking for cdrom with win98 which I can sometimes try an find on cd, but sometimes files arent there. (already tried instaling modem drivers from cdrom, but only found a couple of the files on it. even though the cd is more up to date than teh oringal loaded on computer)

I must have screwed it up when trying to install the other windows but got an error.

[Atomic Mitten]

Hi Andrew ! Try downloading this and running it,it will identify what modem etc you have installed on your comp.

http://www.aida32.hu/download

The personal system one is the one you want.Second down the list. :)

[Andrew]

My modem is a lucent LT win modem.

Thanks for that program! it should help me update a bunch of stuff.

The sad part is there are dozens of drivers to choose from, and sometimes they don't even install. (or at least I do not know how to manually install them)

http://www.modem-drivers.com/companies/609.htm

Found and installed modem, and only got one error saying it could not find modem.cpl (control panel?)

but the rest installed 1/2 decent.

[Atomic Mitten]

Andrew I would recommend you doing a complete format of the Hard drive,as it sounds like your windows installer is corrupted,MSI.EXE.

If you re-format install windows again,then install your motherboard drivers,chipsets etc.

I suggest this because it will save you alot of later problems,if you do.

If your windows installer .exe id damaged then alot of drivers and programs won't install correctly.

[Andrew]

I would do that, But I do not have a windows 98 CD that will work correctly. My old cd's for some reason asked me for a cdkey after I had formatted adn installed win98, so I was forced to install win2000 onto teh hard drive with win98 (as It did not give me the option to format when installing win2000 and win2000 was slow as crap.)

I don't really want to spend any money on the computer eithor as it is old, and I got a new one.

Didnt you say I can find the cdkey in the registry for win98? (nevermind, it is a diff win98 CD that installed windows than I have.)

Then I may try to format and reinstall win98.