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?

 

[USAFRet]

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?

No no and no.
Period specific hardware, at best.

Officially, 1GB RAM max, and 32GB max hard drive.
There are 3rd party workarounds for that, but all unsupported.

SSD? It knows nothing about the TRIM function.

Question...Why?

You'd probably have better luck cruising through your local craigslist, looking for old systems.
https://norfolk.craigslist.org/sys/d/chesapeake-computers-software-and/6907694632.html

 

[PCDesignerR]

I want to be able to use old software. Yes I'm aware of compatibility mode and yes I'm aware of virtualization and no neither of those things have worked for what I want to use.

 

[USAFRet]

What "old software"?
I can't think of anything I used back then that does not have a recent, more capable counterpart.

Except some games, of course.

 

[PCDesignerR]

Oh really? What about Goosebumps Escape from HorrorLand? Ski-Free? Chips Challenge? Phantasmagoria? Jeez-Ball? Sleuth 2.0? After-Dark 2.0? Oregon Trail? Math Blaster? Word-Muncher?

 

[drivinfast247]

https://archive.org/details/msdos_Oregon_Trail_The_1990

 

[PCDesignerR]

Is that an emulator? Is it part of the fun that every other review comments on how it doesn't work/fails to load? I have a hard disk copy of every game title I listed in my previous post ready to go.

 

[USAFRet]

As said, some games.

Jezzball

Jezzball

www.freewebarcade.com

Phantasmagoria

Phantasmagoria on Steam

Master storyteller Roberta Williams challenges you to experience the ultimate interactive nightmare.

store.steampowered.com

Might be mildly engaging for an afternoon.
Certainly not worth the brain pain in building a Win 95/98 system from scratch.

You'd almost certainly have better luck in finding a semi working system on craigslist or a garage sale.

 

[PCDesignerR]

Someone send me a working link to the first listed title, I dare you. (Goosebumps Escape from HorrorLand)

 

[PCDesignerR]

The Jezzball link has no working sound.

 

[USAFRet]

The Jezzball link has no working sound.

Oh, I'm sorry. You wanted sound?
http://www.onemorelevel.com/game/jezzball

 

[PCDesignerR]

Let's see, no ability to switch the direction of the arrows (???) Die in one hit, entirely different ball and line mechanics... Nope, that's not it.

 

[USAFRet]

Let's see, no ability to switch the direction of the arrows (???) Die in one hit, entirely different ball and line mechanics... Nope, that's not it.

Scroll wheel switches direction.

Sorry if this is not "exact".

 

[PCDesignerR]

But you're missing the point entirely. That's why I want to build the old computer. I have the original versions of all of the old games and even their old giant boxes they would come in, but nothing to run it.

 

[USAFRet]

But you're missing the point entirely. That's why I want to build the old computer. I have the original versions of all of the old games and even their old giant boxes they would come in, but nothing to run it.

And as said, you'll almost certainly have better luck finding an old system that is already running "Win95/98", than tracking down the individual parts and trying to build one from scratch.

New parts won't work with that 25 year old OS.

 

[AllanGH]

Can anyone offer me a suggestion on where I can go to get working hardware parts for a build like this?

eBay
and you can get a 30GB IDE HDD here: https://www.amazon.com/product/dp/B00MBN0ZZ4

Also, how would I go about getting an actual copy of Windows 95/98 for installation?

eBay

USAFRet already covered the latter questions.

 

[delaro]

Someone send me a working link to the first listed title, I dare you. (Goosebumps Escape from HorrorLand)

https://www.myabandonware.com/game/goosebumps-escape-from-horrorland-a2x


A Virtual Machine under Windows 7 and up

It works I have Machine interface software from Windows 3.1, 98 and NT all running this way and they work 100% as they did on the older PC's.

DOSBOX and PlayonLinux under Linux

I have a select few 80's to 90's games I still play on a whim along with classics my kids like as well. I also run a Linux media center/console emulator for the game room. Most things can be made to work on Linux but it "Will" require tinkering and patients to iron out bugs you will find.

Installing XP

Windows 95/98 games, as well as most dos based games, can be made to run natively fairly well but you need to drop the resolution down to 600x400 for most of them. I would advise keeping it offline once you have all the available updates. This is the best way to go over 95/98 simply because of driver issues. XP has a massive driver database that spans 25 years and will run on low-end hardware pretty easy.

As far as hardware goes for 80-90 games pretty much anything will work including a Rasberry Pie 3 for what??? $35
.

 

[PCDesignerR]

"

PCDesignerR said:
Someone send me a working link to the first listed title, I dare you. (Goosebumps Escape from HorrorLand)

https://www.myabandonware.com/game/goosebumps-escape-from-horrorland-a2x "

This isn't a working link to the game. It's the same web page I used to try to get it to work. It speaks of using compatibility mode to make the game run but that doesn't work for the SETUP.EXE the game needs to be installed, not on Windows 10.

 

[AllanGH]

As far as hardware goes for 80-90 games pretty much anything will work including a Rasberry Pie 3 for what??? $35

Well, yeah, for the board (3B+)...then you have heatsinks, wall wart, case, MicroSD card, 10" touchscreen monitor....still less than you'd pay to build an ancient door stop.

 

[AllanGH]

This isn't a working link to the game. It's the same web page I used to try to get it to work. It speaks of using compatibility mode to make the game run but that doesn't work for the SETUP.EXE the game needs to be installed, not on Windows 10.

Good Lord!

May I get you a mimosa while you wait?

 

[PCDesignerR]

Hmm, I'm gonna look into what it would take to get XP running.

 

[PCDesignerR]

PCDesignerR said:
This isn't a working link to the game. It's the same web page I used to try to get it to work. It speaks of using compatibility mode to make the game run but that doesn't work for the SETUP.EXE the game needs to be installed, not on Windows 10.

Good Lord!

May I get you a mimosa while you wait?

I guess I don't understand the reference. I asked someone to post for me a working link to GB:EFH, they did(tried), wasn't a working link. There isn't anything more to this is there?

 

[USAFRet]

I'm lucky.
My favorite throwback games are all available on Steam, natively playable in Win 10:

 

[PCDesignerR]

I was actually thinking about that yesterday. I really wish Goosebumps Escape from Horrorland ere available on Steam

 

[delaro]

"

https://www.myabandonware.com/game/goosebumps-escape-from-horrorland-a2x "

This isn't a working link to the game. It's the same web page I used to try to get it to work. It speaks of using compatibility mode to make the game run but that doesn't work for the SETUP.EXE the game needs to be installed, not on Windows 10.

It's a working link but you have no idea what you are doing since your trying to install the game to W10.

How to use a VM in Windows 10
https://www.howtogeek.com/228689/how-to-make-old-programs-work-on-windows-10/

HOW TO Run Older or Incompatible Software on Windows 10 in a VM
https://www.groovypost.com/howto/se...older-or-incompatible-software-on-windows-10/

or

How to add an XP Mode Virtual Machine to Windows 10 (or 8) using Hyper-V
https://www.download3k.com/articles...achine-to-Windows-10-or-8-using-Hyper-V-00770

Lots of reading there by the end of it you should have a better clue in what you're doing.