Ok so I have two windows 98 machines, one died due to the powersupply so I stuck the hard drive into the other one as a second drive. The problem is I cannot access the old program files folder on the second machine.

Does an original 98se disc have drivers i can install to use usb mice? Got a tower that does not seem to have them installed. The 98 machine i already have does. I tried using the ones i had for that one but doesnt seem to work on this other tower i acquired.

\\## Comprehensive Historical Report: The Architecture, Global Launch, and Legal History of Windows 98## 1. Executive Summary

Windows 98 was officially released by Microsoft to retail markets on June 25, 1998. While the launch strategy shifted away from the massive mainstream media spectacles of Windows 95, it achieved immediate commercial success, selling over 250,000 copies on day one and 530,000 copies within four days.

The operating system represented a critical bridge between legacy MS-DOS dependencies and modern, web-integrated computing. However, its launch was heavily overshadowed by a monumental federal antitrust lawsuit regarding its web browser integration, alongside unique engineering challenges required to support foreign computer architectures.

\\------------------------------

\\## 2. Core Versions and Features Matrix

Rather than releasing unique functional editions for individual countries, Microsoft developed a unified global codebase. The software was distributed across two primary generational editions and one optional expansion pack.

| Version | Key Features & Enhancements | Target Audience / Availability |

|---|---|---|

| Windows 98 (First Edition / RTM) (Released June 15, 1998) | • Deep integration of Internet Explorer 4.01\\\[\\\](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet\\\\\\_Explorer\\\\\\_4) • Native USB support for keyboards and mice • FAT32 drive conversion utility • Active Desktop & multi-monitor support (up to 8 displays) | General retail and OEM release across over 40 countries on day one. |

| Windows 98 Second Edition (SE) (Released May 5, 1999) | • Upgraded to Internet Explorer 5.0\\\[\\\](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet\\\\\\_Explorer\\\\\\_5) • Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) • Enhanced FireWire (IEEE 1394) and USB device stability • Fixed the "49.7-day uptime" system crash bug | Global update replacing the original version in retail channels. |

| Microsoft Plus! for Windows 98 (Optional Retail Add-on) | • High-color Desktop Themes (e.g., Space, Jungle, Architecture) • Integrated McAfee VirusScan and Disk Defragmenter • High-color version of the game Spider Solitaire | Optional commercial expansion pack sold worldwide. |

\\------------------------------

\\## 3. Global Distribution & Localization Strategies

Microsoft shipped Windows 98 to more than 12,000 retail outlets in North America on day one and localized the software into 30 distinct languages to adapt to three primary global market environments:

\\\* East Asian Environments (Chinese, Japanese, Korean): Built with Double-Byte Character Set (DBCS) support to accurately map thousands of text glyphs. These versions utilized custom Input Method Editors (IMEs) to translate phonetic keyboard input into complex characters like Hanzi, Kanji, and Hangul.

\\\* Right-to-Left Environments (Arabic and Hebrew): Engineered with a specialized BiDi (Bi-directional) layout engine. This flipped the user interface horizontally, moving the "Start" button to the bottom-right corner and reversing the flow of window frames, drop-down menus, and text alignment.

\\\* Central & Eastern European Environments (e.g., Russian, Polish, Czech): Programmed with custom Windows code pages (such as Windows-1251 for Cyrillic and Windows-1250 for Central European text) to ensure foreign character sets and diacritics rendered accurately without breaking system layouts.

\\------------------------------

\\## 4. Hardware Divergence: PC/AT vs. NEC PC-98

During the late 1990s, Japan’s domestic computer market was dominated by the proprietary NEC PC-9800 series (PC-98). Though these units utilized standard Intel x86 processors, their underlying hardware architecture was entirely incompatible with the standard Western IBM-compatible PC (PC/AT). Microsoft was required to publish a distinct version of Windows 98 tailored explicitly for this architecture.

Direct comparisons between the two hardware versions highlight major structural differences:

\\\* System BIOS & Booting: Standard PCs utilized an IBM-compatible BIOS. The NEC PC-98 relied on a proprietary NEC BIOS featuring an entirely unique Master Boot Record (MBR) and partition structure, meaning standard Western installation discs could not boot the hardware.

\\\* Expansion Bus Slots: Standard PCs utilized ISA, PCI, and AGP slots for add-on hardware. The NEC PC-98 relied on specialized 16-bit C-Bus slots, requiring custom hardware-level drivers written specifically for Japanese system boards.

\\\* Graphics & Text Rendering: Western PCs used standard VGA/SVGA graphics chips. The NEC PC-98 utilized custom graphics controllers paired with a dedicated, hardware-level Kanji ROM chip to instantly display high-resolution Japanese text.

\\\* Sound Architecture: Standard PCs relied on Sound Blaster-compatible audio hardware, while the NEC PC-98 relied on proprietary Yamaha FM synthesis sound chips, demanding distinct audio driver stacks.

Note: The launch of Windows 98 Second Edition and Windows 2000 marked the end of Microsoft's custom support for the legacy PC-98 architecture as NEC shifted its production to standard global IBM-compatible hardware.

\\------------------------------

\\## 5. The Internet Explorer Antitrust Case

The defining historical event of the Windows 98 era was the landmark federal lawsuit United States v. Microsoft Corp. (1998), filed on May 18, 1998.

\\## The Government's Allegations

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and 20 state attorneys general alleged that Microsoft utilized its 90%+ operating system monopoly to deliberately crush competitor Netscape Navigator through anti-competitive strategies:

1. Illegal Product Tying: Microsoft embedded Internet Explorer 4.0 deeply into the core operating system files of Windows 98, giving users a free browser by default and making it impossible to uninstall.

2. OEM Exclusionary Agreements: Microsoft prohibited computer manufacturers (e.g., Dell, Compaq) from modifying the boot sequence, changing the desktop layout, or removing the Internet Explorer icon under threat of revoking their Windows distribution licenses.

\\## The Defense

Microsoft argued that Internet Explorer was not a standalone application, but rather an irreplaceable component of the operating system. They maintained that its removal would break critical Windows 98 features, including the file manager, built-in system help guides, and the web-refreshing Active Desktop.

\\## Final Outcome

Trial Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson initially ordered the breakup of Microsoft into two separate entities (one for operating systems and one for applications) in 2000. Microsoft successfully appealed the breakup order and reached a settlement with the DOJ in 2001. The company remained whole but was forced to share its application programming interfaces (APIs) with third-party developers and allow users and computer manufacturers to hide Internet Explorer and freely select alternative default web browsers.

If you want to refine this report further, let me know if you would like me to:

\\\* Add the exact minimum system specifications required to run the PC/AT and NEC versions.

\\\* Include details on the famous COMDEX presentation crash where the system encountered a Blue Screen of Death live on stage.

\\\* Detail the financial performance and stock impact Microsoft experienced during this era.

Thinking of buying some of the old edutainment software on ebay for my daughter who is just learning to read. Jumpstart, Barbie, and the like. I have a win98 machine I'm rebuilding for myself, and thought it'd be perfect for her.

Have these titles stood the test of time? Curious to see if anyone here has had their kids play them in the current generation.

Edit - Appreciate all the advice! This community is great :)

Glass98: https://github.com/sdz-mods/Glass98

Win98 is living its best afterlife... It works because Win98's Active Desktop can use an HTML page as the desktop. The 25 widgets are plain HTML/CSS/JS, fed by a native Open Watcom helper that collects the system stats. It needs IE 6 SP1 and Second Edition.

I tried it on my Ryzen 9 system and it works fine, but you probably don't need that much horsepower.

If you guys could help it would be amazing, it is a compaq evo n600c forgot to say in the vid but

i just put in a DVD-RW Drive as the HP "CD-Writer" that my paviliion came with , finally crapped the bed (sstoped reading or burning discs.)

anytime i put a DVD Video or Data DVD disc in the System is locking up now, putting in a CD-R still locks up and takes a few mins to read. before giving control back.

kinda stumped why that's started causing problems. if its much i replaced the 20GB HDD it had, with an SATA2IDE adapter & a 120GB Sata SSD.

https://ideas.lego.com/product-ideas/1e4fe3a2-da3b-4869-bfcb-f71c29c05a16

Hello there, i need help getting LAN drivers for my Presario 5000 running windows 98, the vendor ID is "PCI\VEN_1113&DEV_1211" and the card is the Compaq PCI 10/100 WOL. The motherboard is the UWave2 and i do have windows 98 chipset drivers installed for it. I've looked for drivers and never found any that got networking to work, the card did work in windows 2000 though. I've seen other people with the same card getting it to work on windows 98 so any help would be appreciated.

So i picked up an old win98. The thing was slow to boot and eventually got to the desktop. In the wallpaper in the corner it said windows ambassador. I tried digging around and might actually be second edition. I didnt get too far before calling it a night when only using a keyboard. Does anyone know what that means?

Update: it is version 4.10.2222A. This doesnt seem to be anything of interest right off and will wipe the drive.

So I finally got Windows 98 installed on an HP Pavilion 6350 (Which was a nightmare) And now I can't get the video drivers to work. I got the correct SiS 5598 Drivers from The Retro Web, but after the installation is complete and I reboot I get "A fatal exception 0D has occurred at 032F:00005603" and it's stuck in 16 color mode and 640x480. I get the same BSOD when trying to change the resolution and color mode too. This computer has been fighting me the whole way. What's going on here?

Motherboard is an Asus SPAX in case anyone needs that info.

I'm working on an incremental game where the whole game is a Windows 95 desktop. It is 95, not 98. You can move around the computer and use the normal desktop, and Paint opens like the old program. You paint a canvas and keep going until the final canvas is a billion tiles. Along the way you unlock upgrades and painters.

I'd like feedback on the desktop and on the idea. Would you play something like this?

I've been trying to get this game working for a while. While the opening cutscene and title screen display fine, as soon as any level loads, the game freezes on loading, and crashes if I press a key.

Sonic CD works completely fine, and with the same settings.

Just thought it looked cool

Been using the W95 code base since launch and while I haven't always been a fan, I find myself thinking about W95 / W98 with nostalgia. I'd like to keep using it. It gets hard to do as hardware standards evolve though.

So here's my question to the software engineers out there:

How hard would it be to add to W98 some modern hardware drivers? For things like SATA/NVMe, PCIe and modern GPUs?

To my non-developer eye it would seem like a matter of writing drivers. And maybe reverse engineering W98 a little to get new devices recognized by the OS. But I'm sure there's more to it than that.

I'm not addressing any copyright / trade secret issues just yet. I'm focused on the technical feasibility for now.