Win98 on CF-29 (mk5)

Comrades,

I need to install Win98 on a CF-29 but having spent hours trawling through the archives here and elsewhere, I can't find any helpful information.

I'm currently running XP-Pro and installed a copy of Win98 in a VM. It works but not very well.

In a perfect world I would have Win98 on a separate disk/caddy (which I have waiting) etc etc

Any help would be most welcome!

Cheers
Alex

 

It would help to first have your full model number.

Also what is the reason for needing to install 98

 

On digging around it looks like I may have a Mk4... anyway, the model number is: CF-29LTQCHBE

The reason for running Win98 it to enable the control of numerous Ground Penetrating Radar systems which run in DOS on Win95 or Win98. I prefer to use Win98 as it has more reliable (ahem) networking capabilities.

I did use a CF-28 for this job but I was unable to run analysis tools in XP (it didn't have enough grunt) - The CF-29 runs the analysis tools but seems to fall over with Win98.

 

I don't know specifically about win98 on a CF 29, but in the past I have seen machines that ran too fast for older operating systems. They needed to be run at slower speed (underclocked).
What about Win2000?

 

I've never tried Win2000.

WinXP and WinME don't work. WinNT sometimes works but depends on the service pack installed.

If I can't get the CF-29 to run 98, I may have to bite the bullet and get a CF-28 and run them side by side. Not ideal.

 

What are the specific problems you have with W98 on the CF29?
Is it driver issues? Do you mean WinXP and WinMe won't work with your software package? What ports etc.. does your software package need to run?
Have you tried right clicking on the exe file and then click properties then run your software in compatibility mode in XP?

 

The program the GPR kit uses runs in DOS and communicates via parallel port (ECP) It seems to be very temperamental as to how it does this which is why I guess XP and ME simply wont do it (they emulate DOS don't they?) - even if you run the program in compatibility mode, it falls over.

I have started to do a clean install of Win98 on the CF-29 but it fell over because I've got more than 512MB of RAM installed - a quick fix in the system.ini file sorts this out.
The setup then falls over once more - with a blue screen of death - when it tries to find plug-in and play devices.

With the Win98 install in the VM there are numerous error messages on start up. Mostly vxd errors.

 

OK, from what I can find, win 98 won't work because there seems to be no drivers for 98 for your toughbook.
If your software needs DOS then why not create a new partition and make a dual boot to XP or to DOS.
Try this link and see if it might work for you:

http://www.k1ea.com/hints/fdinst095.pdf

Bob
ps, I have not tried this myself...(ymmv)

 

Thanks Bob. That looks interesting. I'll give it a go tomorrow and see what happens.

Alex

 

See how the DOS Gamers handle this issue:

"Get DOS games working in XP!"

 

What if you ran DOS in a VM?

 

I'd never thought of that! I'll have a go at that too. Thanks!

 

I've tried it but never with any success. It would probably help if I truly knew what I was doing. It's the blind watchmaker analogy. Keep trying and I'll get there in the end