Win 98 over the top install

[ROYP123]

I am trying to load a wireless card into a laptop that has win98, not win98SE ( as required by Netgear MA111 device).
The laptop uses a restore disk and I cannot retrieve the drivers without installing the restore disk.
I tried a clean install of win98( not used any more) so it would accept the wireless drivers .I tried WinDriver Ghost to retain the drivers , but it changed the screen to " default monitor " and made the screen look washed out.
If I did an over the top win98 SE , would it retain the settings for the laptop and still install the things I need to enable the wireless? ( I have read Gary's over the top install)

[Panama Red]

Yes that will work. I did it for a neighbor a few months back so he could run on Comcast Cable. Worked great. You'll want to run Windows Update after the 98se is installed.

[ROYP123]

Thanks, I will go do it.
Roy

[edfair]

Since you have already lost some of the drivers there isn't any way they can be saved. So an "OTT" may not gain you back what you want.
Before you bang your head on the rock wall why not look in the manufacturer's site for the possibility of drivers.
And in general, if possible , you would be better off with a clean install of SE if you can do it.

[GaryRouth]

Hi all

It's possible that there's a different driver for Win98se - laptop video is usually pretty particular. But like edfair mentions, you can probably find drivers at the laptop maker's website.

They'll be happier with 2nd Edition partly because it's still compatible with a large range of current programs and devices.
. . . Gary

[ROYP123]

Thanks Ed. I had already reloaded the restore disk to get the drivers, etc back, but then I had a dated Fujitsu laptop with old Win98 FE . So I wanted to do an OTT Win98SE install, so I could get the networking goodies that FE is missing. It worked well, Panama Red. What surprised me was when it came time to insert the SE 25 digit code, it was preloaded with the code for the FE I had on it. Made me think the SE install went somewhere else, especially since the Win 98 updates I had done just prior to deciding to OTT were still there.
Oh well, It enabled the networking goodies I was after, so I am happy. Win 98 does do funny stuff. I saw where it did funny things on your last install. Thanks Question: Is there any way to tell if I have FE or SE loaded..just for curiosity ?

[ROYP123]

Hi Gary- I tried Fujitsu site before reloading the restore disk, but could not find anything. Thanks for your tutorial on OTT. I had tried it before without a cheat sheet, but I screwed it up. This time, I printed your info, and went step by step.
Roy

[edfair]

Alternate location would be windows.000 if you didn't specify the correct location. You can look in msdos.sys (shr attributes in root directory) to see what OS location is loading.
It is possible that you have both on the system.
Mostly they go well. Kinda like "Alice in Wonderland". When they are good, they are very,very good. And the reverse.
The sustem splash screen for system will tell you the current running system. start, settings, control panel, system.
But otherwise it sounds like you came out of it well.

[GaryRouth]

If an over-the-top detects a Product key in the Registry, it will save it during Setup and let you use it [just as it does with the Upgrade editions].

You can tell you have Win98se by right-clicking "My Computer", then select "Properties" -- it should list the Windows as "Windows 98 Second Edition - version 4.10.2222"

Is the video OK now? If it seems to be displaying screens OK, but the color is off, see if you can change the color depth or screen resolution. One of the resolutions and color depths will be it's "native" mode - laptops generally display best in that mode. You might also try boosting/lowering the contrast/brightness, things like that.

Sounds like it went well, overall.
. . . Gary

[ROYP123]

Thanks for the info. Tomorrow I will check properties to see if it is FE or SE. The display adapters etc were retained, but the color is iffy. I will let the lady tweak it for brightness, etc, since I don't know how good it was before I picked it up. Question: which is the better color? 256 colors- 16 high, or 24 's ? . Over all, I survived what I thought would be an easy wireless install.
Roy

[GaryRouth]

In general, "Hi Color - 16bit" will look a little nicer. It doesn't take that great a performance penalty. "True Color - 24bit (or higher)" is best for editing photos, or on the newer machines with their P4s and Athlons and 64mb+ video.

I'm off to dreamland here in a bit . . . I'm thinking tonight I'll dream in 24bit color
. . . Gary

[ROYP123]

Hope your dreams were in 24 bit color.
My install is clearly SE and the color looks better at High Color 16 bit.
Thanks
Roy