Last laptops which can run win98Se and WinXP in dual boot mode

Hello,

I would like to know which are the lastest notebooks/laptops which still can run Windows98Se and Windows XP (32 or 64 bit) in dual boot mode using an ide hard drive, to fix compatilility with win9x.

I have some older softwares that can run only under windows 9x and need support by hardware, emulation softwares do not work properly, because the vga and sound drivers must be installed.

If someone know some notebooks/laptops, as powerfull as possible, which can run windows 98 Se and Windows XP in dual boot, with the device drivers installed, please, post the brand/model this mobile computer.

Sony Vaio
I think that the last model compatible with 9x support is the PCGFX290, because it's comes with Windows Millenium.

Toshiba Satellite.
Model 5105-S607.
Maybe works with win9x because there are some drivers to win98se avaliable on toshiba web site.

Someone already realeased test with windows 98 Se using this notebook or other with similar specifications?

Thank you very much.

 

You will need to use a Virtual Machine to run Windows 98. No laptop has all the drivers needed to use Windows 98 effectively.

 

Thanks for your reply.
I dont can run my older softwares using virtual machines softwares because it's work only in compatility mode, and only 16 colours are avaliable in this mode using the windows 98 Se; my softwares need at least 256 colours and need the sound card driver has been installed.

 

You will either need to get a genuine old machine, or as greg said, Virtual Machine. I understand that some software does not work properly in VM, but what he is talking about is NOT compatibility mode in XP. He is talking about specialized software which creates a whole computer inside your computer, and you would install Windows 9x on that.

 

If you want a brand new in the box old notebook, you can try corporations. I picked up many this way at auctions and by just asking if they had any. Toshiba Tecra 530CDT as an example, I picked up for 100 dollars.
Some may run XP but will choke on it too, my Tecra for instance installed XP but failed to boot after the install.

My ThinkPad 600X will run 98 and XP dual boot, it has some issues with sound in XP but runs just fine otherwise.

 

Have you tried compatibility mode in xp? That has cleared up ALOT of software issues with old software. Another thing you could do is use fat32, I know is alot slower and less secure when compared to NTFS but alot of older software cant run on NTFS. I remember buying my acer 5672 in January 2006 with XP and it came formatted with fat32 since acer used software that couldn't run on NTFS allocation/file system. I would try those before using 98SE.

 

Thanks for your reply, Hep!

Ok, I understand the reply from Greg.
Once a time, I installed the VMWare (version workstation 6, I think) in the my windows xp pro, in my desktop, an Asus A8N-E, Athlon64 3200+, nforce4ultra chipset, with an all in wonder ve installed, (radeon 7500 chipset compatible with win9x), VMWare works but not properly, because but I dont get success to update the video driver with the VMWare (compatility mode drivers from windows 98 Se support only 16 colours to vga) and the sound do not worked.

Windows XP compatibility mode can only to execute a file .exe but a software developed to win9x can not be installed in the winxp.

I prefer to skip new try utilizing VM softwares to installation on newer machines.

Please, if possible, someone help me to understand why news machines are uncompatible with win9x? It's can help me to find anything next of last laptop compatible with win9x.

larger size memory?
it's possible to fix modifing the system.ini

hard drive?
it's possible to fix utilizing an ide hard drive

video card?
If the original video card from new notebook dont have drivers to windows 9x, I dont know if it's possible to fix, but video cards like geforce go 6800 / 6800 ultra (I think that it's the fastest to support win9x) can be changed in some MXM compatible notebooks.

motherboard chipset.
I think that it's dont have solution. Maybe to be it's the main compatibility problem with window9x.
Someone know which is the last (most powerfull) notebook chipset compatible with windows 9x?

Sound card.
If the new notebook dont have drivers to win9x, It's can be fix utilizing an usb sound card with win9x drivers.

Are there any others details forgetful?

Thank you very much!








New machines dont have vga driver to win9x, but the sound driver can be fixed utilizing an usb sound card (with win9x drivers)

But how I can fix the vga without the driver installed?

 

What you need to do is make sure you install VMware tools once you have that virtual machine installed, that is how you get video and sound drivers

 

You can install games made for DOS/95 on XP machines. I installed warcraft 1 on my old XP box last year just to see it run and it was flawless. Just because it was developed for 98 does not mean XP or vista cant install it, unless it has a limitation like file system issues and thats a quick command away from not being an issue.

 

That is not true at all, many older programs were not written in good practice and simply cannot be installed/run in an NT environment, it is too different. Also I don't think I would be telling people to convert from NTFS to FAT32, that's a huge step back as far as file systems go and would only advise it to someone who needs a partition to be readable and writable in both Windows and Unix/Linux/OSX. Not to mention that the chance of running into software that requires FAT32 to be the filesystem is slim.

 

Thank for all the replies,

I think that it's more easy to find some as powerfull as possible older notebooks that support win98se/winxp that try install win98se in new laptops using the VM softwares.

Considering older laptops, the toshiba satellite 5105-S607 looks great and maybe win9x compatible. Feature with intel 845 chipset.

Someone already try install the windows 98 se with this laptop or other with similar configuration?

I would like to have certainty that new laptops really cannot run win98se properly using Virtual Machine softwares or not.

I unable to test other time the vmware in my desktop because It´s run on a NTFS partition. I have only two partitions, one primary ntfs and other extended ntfs to backup storage. My other desktop I give to my brother.

I build a new desktop machine based on intel lga 775 it's with technical problems (restarting in different times). I leaved it at technical assistance.

Someone already installed the windows 98 Se using vmware workstation or other os emulation software with any new laptop. The VGA (with 256 colours or more)/sound works fine?

Thanks,

 

I have successfully install Windows 98 SE into a virtual machine (VMWare 6, Windows XP Professional Host OS) before.

 

I'm sorry, thank you for your reply. Its sure, some 9x softwares can be installed in windows xp, I forgot, my older game Need for Speed 5 run under winxp, but need to delete one file. I have a multimedia software that dont installed under winxp, an english/spanish course, Learn to Speak English, I dont know the version this software.

I see in the link below that intel 925 mobile chipset is win98se compatible, someone already try install win98se with an intel centrino?

http://www.msfn.org/board/Compatible-Hardware-with-Windows-9x-t107001.html

 

Hep!; Do you install the win98se using vmware under winxp with your powerfull XPSM1330?
The vga driver has 256 colours or more?
The sound works fine and the microphone too?

Thanks.

 

Use Virtual PC or VMware.... those are the best alternatives that should not affect your work or performance.

 

I do install on my XPS M1330. I recently reformatted so I don't currently have it installed but I may do it tomorrow at work, I'll post some screenshots for you.

 

Ibm Thinkpad T42P (intel centrino 2.1 / ati firegl T2 128mb / 15" 1600x1200) can be the lastest laptop with win98se support by hardware with intel processor.
Someone know something about lastest notebook with win98se support by hardware using AMD processor (turion/turion x2, for example)?

Thanks.