Is Anyone Still Using Windows 9x?

Dyre Straits · Oct 25, 2007, 05:59 AM

If so, which specific version?

I'm just curious.

Matth · Oct 25, 2007, 02:31 PM

Got a 98SE box I keep threatening to revive if I can find space.

Actually, 98SE is kind of the breakpoint, the newest version with really good "old" compatibility (most "95" stuff should run), and still just about in the support range of newer programs, though slowly slipping away.

Thing is, Windows ME is no more forward compatible, and significantly worse in backward.

Zelig · Oct 25, 2007, 02:56 PM

Nope.

I've got a vmware image of 98se that I can boot up for compatibility purposes, but I use it very rarely anymore.

I'd never use 9x as a main OS on any PC.

CDsDontBurn · Oct 25, 2007, 03:09 PM

i haven't run win9x in such a long time, i've even forgotten the commands for it! and the only thing i use cmd for in winXP is for ipconfig settings, lol.

Tipstaff · Oct 25, 2007, 04:14 PM

Don't use it myself, but I have clients that do. None on new hardware, btw (almost impossible to run 98SE on new Intel hardware... dunno about AMD though). In fact, I just got through repairing one. Stupid client tried installing a USB device that f'd everything to hell.

I tell you... compare 98SE to anything that has come after it, and you just have to sit back and wonder where Microsoft f'd up. 98SE loads fast, runs fast, launches apps fast, and shuts down fast on minimal hardware. Vista can't even do this on a system 3 - 4 generations newer than this computer I just got through working on unless you run on a machine that's setup for RAID 0 on 10-15k drives, has 4GB of stupidly fast DDR2, and is running a quad core or better CPU.

CDsDontBurn · Oct 25, 2007, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tipstaff

Don't use it myself, but I have clients that do. None on new hardware, btw (almost impossible to run 98SE on new Intel hardware... dunno about AMD though). In fact, I just got through repairing one. Stupid client tried installing a USB device that f'd everything to hell.

I tell you... compare 98SE to anything that has come after it, and you just have to sit back and wonder where Microsoft f'd up. 98SE loads fast, runs fast, launches apps fast, and shuts down fast on minimal hardware. Vista can't even do this on a system 3 - 4 generations newer than this computer I just got through working on unless you run on a machine that's setup for RAID 0 on 10-15k drives, has 4GB of stupidly fast DDR2, and is running a quad core or better CPU.

now, imagine win98se on such a machine

Judas · Oct 25, 2007, 04:59 PM

not sure...

but on the vista machines i've been setting up..

i hit the power button (for it to auto shutdown)..... and walk away.. before i make it usually to the door, it's already off...

Zelig · Oct 25, 2007, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tipstaff

I tell you... compare 98SE to anything that has come after it, and you just have to sit back and wonder where Microsoft f'd up. 98SE loads fast, runs fast, launches apps fast, and shuts down fast on minimal hardware.

Yeah, but only on a fresh boot, and a fresh install.

Personally, any marginal hardware isn't going to be gaming anyway, so it's getting some variation of linux, I can't stand dealing with 9x.

RoyBatty · Oct 26, 2007, 06:37 AM

I do not use 9x, but two of my "clients" do. Win98SE on one machine and Win95 on the another. I did a reinstall of the 95 machine a few days ago because of a HDD problem - I have never seen so much dust before...

BlueMak · Oct 26, 2007, 09:22 AM

I would like to install windows 98se but I can't since I have Windows XP and trialware of Vistal already installed.
VirtualPC can help but not for applications that require more than 4MBs of poor graphics card.

Judas · Oct 26, 2007, 10:58 AM

actually the other day, someone brought me in a computer with windows 3.11

and nearly a year ago... i was brought in a computer with basically a beautified verison of DOS

CDsDontBurn · Oct 26, 2007, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judas

actually the other day, someone brought me in a computer with windows 3.11

and nearly a year ago... i was brought in a computer with basically a beautified verison of DOS

isn't that what windows 3.11 is? a glorified DOS

Judas · Oct 26, 2007, 02:00 PM

not sure.. but windows 98 initiall had active desktop that would litterly kill the system emediately....

BlueMak · Oct 26, 2007, 02:47 PM

Oh man, I remember after installing windows and you would get the active desktop and with the greek version you would get some greek sites but none of them would work. Great move...

darkriff · Nov 21, 2007, 12:28 AM

I use win98 but in vmware. Not anymore as a main OS

Dyre Straits · Nov 21, 2007, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judas

actually the other day, someone brought me in a computer with windows 3.11

and nearly a year ago... i was brought in a computer with basically a beautified verison of DOS

Remember the 'joy' of swapping Floppy Disks during the installation of 3.1 and 3.11?

Judas · Nov 21, 2007, 01:35 AM

YES

bloody hell i hated the floppy disks with windows 3.11 and worse yet was a floppy install of 95....

It just as horrible as an initial install of the 6 floppies for xp pro when there was no bootable cdrom available.

And worse case yet, is getting to the point of nearly completion, and one of the floppies apparently died.... my gaud that really tears you up.. specially if the floppy creator doesn't let you choose a specific floppy...

Dyre Straits · Nov 21, 2007, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judas

YES

bloody hell i hated the floppy disks with windows 3.11 and worse yet was a floppy install of 95....

It just as horrible as an initial install of the 6 floppies for xp pro when there was no bootable cdrom available.

And worse case yet, is getting to the point of nearly completion, and one of the floppies apparently died.... my gaud that really tears you up.. specially if the floppy creator doesn't let you choose a specific floppy...

Man, I can't remember how many times I had to rap a 'stuck' floppy disk on the edge of the desk to get it to work again. And, then you had to hope against hope that it WOULD work after that abuse.

I'm trying to remember the largest number of floppies I ever had to use to install a program. I think it was something like 11 disks but, that might be a low estimate. I still have a HUGE collection stored away in the closet somewhere.

It was this 'joy of the floppy disk' that prompted me to lay out $400 Smackaroos for my very first PC CD ROM drive. LOL!

Judas · Nov 21, 2007, 01:51 AM

Thing is, i install a copy of 3.11 for the first time back in 2003-2004......

I've tried abusing dead floppy disks (what do you have to lose lol)... and i've never got one to start "working" again ...ever... and i've gone through countless floppies. Used a pile of bios updating....

alas, i'm really happy i got his 8gb OCZ Rally2 Flash drive.... flipping suckers fast as hell.

Dyre Straits · Nov 21, 2007, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judas

Thing is, i install a copy of 3.11 for the first time back in 2003-2004......

I've tried abusing dead floppy disks (what do you have to lose lol)... and i've never got one to start "working" again ...ever... and i've gone through countless floppies. Used a pile of bios updating....

alas, i'm really happy i got his 8gb OCZ Rally2 Flash drive.... flipping suckers fast as hell.

Are you THAT far behind the times in Canada?

(j/k)

Judas · Nov 21, 2007, 02:19 AM

no

someone needed a computer setup with it so they could run a very old program..... which only worked under 3.11 and was in no way manageable under 95 or nt.....

PangingJr · Nov 21, 2007, 05:28 AM

Win 98 may still popular in some group of people who have less chances of getting a better computer system with a more capable hardware.

kn00tcn · Dec 5, 2007, 01:15 AM

my 2k (see sig) was a 98 untill july2006 (when the registry/os completely failed & refused to boot for no reason at all)

now that was a load of power for a 98

i got dosbox installed cuz of some old games.. & one of my fav demoscene things does not run on any NT (& runs like crap in dosbox)

i should probably look into vmware or msvpc

Tyrsonswood · May 13, 2008, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dyre Straits

Man, I can't remember how many times I had to rap a 'stuck' floppy disk on the edge of the desk to get it to work again. And, then you had to hope against hope that it WOULD work after that abuse.

I'm trying to remember the largest number of floppies I ever had to use to install a program. I think it was something like 11 disks but, that might be a low estimate. I still have a HUGE collection stored away in the closet somewhere.

It was this 'joy of the floppy disk' that prompted me to lay out $400 Smackaroos for my very first PC CD ROM drive. LOL!

Microsoft Office for 3.11 was like 26 disks or some sort.... nightmareish

Back in the day I used to have to install DOS, then 3.1, then 3.11 upgrade, configure it then install office..... I had disks everywhere.

Back to topic... I have an old Gateway PIII 700 that I have 98se on... just to have it. For what it is, she runs fine. Leftover parts deserves a leftover OS. Hey I can still record a few tracks on it in the basement.