Starting from scratch - hardware software & OS

[ripjacker]

Hi - I'm looking for advice on a brand new install.

I'm a carer for an OAP who loves his games PC - unfortunatley it's now died completely.
I have to replace his PC and get his games going somehow - but there are problems so
I'm hoping someone here can help:

The games he likes are all quite old Win-98 ones such as Dune2000 (westwood) and
some older M$ ones age of empires - that sort of thing - he really doesn't like first person shoot ups at all.
I could buy him some new games if anyone can recommend some but there are very few modern
games that aren't shoot ups it seems.

Looking around I can only buy him a PC with Windows-7 on. This is no good at all as these games just
don't work on it hence my interest in virtualbox.

He doesn't have an internet connection in case thats relevant.

I did think of buying win-XP but I dont know much about hardware compatability or even where to get it locally.
(No - I'm never buying anything from ebay ever again !)

I think virtualbox may be the best answer but I'm open to better suggestions.

So can anyone suggest the best hardware for me to look for - are some processors/video makes
better than others for VB for instance

Should I try a linux based virtual box - would that be better for any reason

How hard is it to get win98SE to work properly on the latest VB? I'd really like this for myself too.

I dont have money to throw away but I can spend a fair bit if needs be.

Any input on hardware/software/OS's gratefully recieved.

rip
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[Vboxrocks]

Hi

Virtualbox does not support Windows98 by default as it does not have the virtual box tools as an option. Vmware Player does. However to play old Win98 games your probably better off using DosBox

http://www.dosbox.com/

As this is specifically for playing older games on newer Machines.

Also ScummVM at http://www.scummvm.org/ also playes LucasArts (and some other) games too.

Hope this helps.

Failing that, get an old computer with Windows98 on which can be picked up for very very little now adays (Say a Pentium 2 would be enough) and use a KVM switch to jump between computers

Also don't worry about ebay - as long as you pay by paypal and the seller has a good history your pretty good to go.

This is an example machine which would run win98:

Pentium 3 - $25! = http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-Optiplex-GX115 ... 3f032cae41

[ripjacker]

Thanks for the info - I've had a quick look but dont think they can do this in a way I can use them.
I find it strange that virtualbox doesn't fully support Win98.

That seems a total no brainer to me.

But infortunately I cant even get win98 to install under a win7-64 host system with the new release of virtualbox- the install crashes every time.
Something to do with the mouse I think but I'm not sure. Thats just a gut feeling.

A second hand PC has been tried but they tend to be unreliable. I can't handle having to keep things
limping along I need to provide something stable somehow.

Again thanks for the suggestions and I will look further into them.

I'm still open to info if anyone has anything to add.
Its shocking that this is so hard to do.



rip
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[fixedwheel]

I find it strange that virtualbox doesn't fully support Win98.

MICROS~1 doesn't support that either

But infortunately I cant even get win98 to install under a win7-64 host system with the new release of virtualbox-

did you have a look at the forums howto? http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?t=9918

A second hand PC has been tried but they tend to be unreliable.

get a Compaq Deskpro w/ Pentium-III and if need be fit a new IDE harddisk (e.g. Western Digital Caviar Blue 320GB WD3200AAJB), just my 0,02ct

[fixedwheel]

get a Compaq Deskpro w/ Pentium-III ...

or faster: P4 with a Compaq Evo D510 or even better HP/Compaq D530

[ripjacker]

Yes I did follow the FAQ before posting.
No a second hand machine is no use.

I have managed to get W98 to install now but none of the video drivers will work.
I think we need a petition or something to get w98 fully supported.

[BillG]

Virtual machines are not really very good at running games. The modern games depend heavily on 3D graphics, and in a vm 3D support is not good. The vm usually emulates an old 2D graphics card.

With old games the problem is usually the cpu. vms use the actual cpu in the physical machine. This is much more powerful than the cpu the game was designed for, and they may run too fact to be usable.

PS Don't ask me to sign your petition. Running games in W98 is very low on the list of what I think the devs should be working on.