Question Building a Windows 95/98 Computer

[PCDesignerR]

I'm looking to build a Windows 95/98 computer from hardware to software while staying as close to legacy as possible. Can anyone offer me a suggestion on where I can go to get working hardware parts for a build like this? Also, how would I go about getting an actual copy of Windows 95/98 for installation? Thanks for the assist!

On the other side of things, Can Windows 95/98 be installed to an SSD? Or does it have to be a magnetic drive? Is it possible to run Windows 95/98 using a modern graphics card and CPU?

 

[PCDesignerR]

Actually, you're wrong, sorry. I've already looked into using Windows 10 VMs. Thank goodness Tom's Hardware isn't the only forum I'm using otherwise I'd really be lost. None of the VMs available for Windows 10 will work with the use of this game. I've already confirmed that with Windows support itself, and I'm planning to get Windows XP installed on a hard drive so I can use that.

 

[mdd1963]

Go on E-bay and find someone selling a vintage but working system....(they are out there); this might run more in shipping costs than value of the actual system....

I enjoyed Quake1 and Duke Nuke Em 3D...

Not sure I'd try to newly build a system with 20-24 year old parts to play them, however... (Battlefield 1 is much more fun!)

 

[USAFRet]

Actually, you're wrong, sorry. I've already looked into using Windows 10 VMs. Thank goodness Tom's Hardware isn't the only forum I'm using otherwise I'd really be lost. None of the VMs available for Windows 10 will work with the use of this game. I've already confirmed that with Windows support itself, and I'm planning to get Windows XP installed on a hard drive so I can use that.

Interestingly, between cooking an awesome 2" thick steak on the grill, I decided to play with this.
"Windows support itself" says it cannot be done?

hmm....

Win 10 Pro host
VirtualBox VM client
Windows XP Pro 32bit guest (2GB RAM, 20GB VHD, 128MB videomemory)
The Goosebumps install from the earlier link

Spoiler: Spoilered to preserve scrolling sensibilities

Actual testing trumps Level 1 help desk monkey

 

[PCDesignerR]

If only I could get this to work the way your screenshots suggest. Who knows, if I could, your post might even have any shred of usefulness to me. Since I can't get this working... Back to square 1...

I have Oracle VM Virtualbox installed, and the VM made. What I don't have is a working copy of Windows XP, which is as far as I can tell impossible to get by itself without dropping almost $300.

Windows XP on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wi...ds=Windows+XP&qid=1561339191&s=gateway&sr=8-4
$253.68

Dell-sold Windows XP pre-installed computer (brand new never-used hardware):
https://www.amazon.com/Fast-Dell-Op...ds=Windows+XP&qid=1561325197&s=gateway&sr=8-1
$110.02

Seems like a pretty obvious choice to me...

 

[USAFRet]

I had to dredge the XP ISO from the depths of long term storage on my NAS box.
Took me about an hour to set up, 20 minutes of that was simply locating the XP ISO file...lol


Yep, that $100 box on Amazon would almost certainly work. Far easier than trying to build a whole new box.

 

[PCDesignerR]

Solid! I really need to get a NAS I've been meaning to get one of those for quite a while, they seem pretty handy.

The original disc for GB EFH is $100 itself on Amazon lol, thank goodness it's free on webpage.

 

[delaro]

I've already looked into using Windows 10 VMs. None of the VMs available for Windows 10 will work with the use of this game. I've already confirmed that with Windows support itself,

1. You don't seem to understand what a VM is.
2. It's a Windows title which means it will work under the correct version of Windows in a VM or even under Windows 10 with a lot more effort.
3. Support will tell you it won't install under Windows 10 without a VM or setting the compatibility layering from within windows, they will not tell you It will not work at all.

If only I could get this to work the way your screenshots suggest. Who knows, if I could, your post might even have any shred of usefulness to me. Since I can't get this working... Back to square 1...

I have Oracle VM Virtualbox installed, and the VM made. What I don't have is a working copy of Windows XP, which is as far as I can tell impossible to get by itself without dropping almost $300.

Windows XP on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wi...ds=Windows+XP&qid=1561339191&s=gateway&sr=8-4
$253.68

Dell-sold Windows XP pre-installed computer (brand new never-used hardware):
https://www.amazon.com/Fast-Dell-Op...ds=Windows+XP&qid=1561325197&s=gateway&sr=8-1
$110.02

Seems like a pretty obvious choice to me...

An obvious choice for me would be to know there are options over Amazon. ....... lotsa options.
https://www.shopgoodwill.com/
https://www.liquidation.com/index
https://www.ebay.com/
to name a few

XP ISO's are easy to get and will work for 30 days legit after 30 days just reset up the VM

USARet just showed you it does work so I really can't add any more to this other than to say you need to go back and read how to set up a VM.

👋

 

[PCDesignerR]

... thanks for the info...

 

[PCDesignerR]

For anyone who is into old tech and not the millennial VM stuff that isn't fun to use for nostalgic purposes, here's a good article:

https://pcper.com/2012/07/gaming-like-its-1999-building-a-legacy-windows-gaming-pc/2/

I think I arguably get more excited about building an old computer than a new one.