[mmm2010]

I recently reinstalled windows 98 on our old computer, just because it has 10 years and 6 people's worth of old useless junk on it, but now I'm having some problems, mostly driver issues.

Right now sound does not work, and the color settings are limited to 2 colors and 16 colors, where I used to have 256 colors, 16 bit, and 32 bit (I think that's right.) In addition, everything on the screen is blown up, and while that may be a setting somewhere, I'm not sure if it's related to my colors and is a graphics issue.

Unfortunately, the computer is not connected to the internet so any drivers I will try to install I will have to transfer via CD or flash drive (I've already installed their drivers).

I know that it will probably be necessary to know more about the system, so ask away, but here's what I know I have:

Windows 98 SE
AMD Athlon XP 1800+ processor
352 MB RAM

[Elvandil]

Do you have a driver CD? It is pretty unlikely that you will be able to find drivers for an old machine like that. It would have been a good idea to save them all before reinstalling.

Check at the manufacturer's site.

[flavallee]

mmm2010:

Formatting the hard drive and doing a fresh install of Windows 98 to get rid of 10 years worth of junk was a good idea. Unfortunately, you didn't obtain the drivers for the display adapter and the sound device before you started. That's why the resolution is stuck on 640 X 480 and there's no sound. Depending on whether there's a 56K modem or a network adapter(or both) in that computer, they likely don't have drivers installed and aren't working either.

I've formatted the hard drive and done a fresh install of Windows 98SE or Windows Millennium on several desktops in the 6 - 8 year old range. I had to locate and burn off the drivers before I started. If I couldn't find the drivers, I had to look through my inventory of add-on cards and drivers and hope that I had what I needed so I could replace the ones already present that drivers couldn't be found for.

What is the brand name, model name, and model number of that computer?

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[mmm2010]

I ran the CPU-Z tool, and I'm attaching is the report, which hopefully has what you need in it. If not, let me know what else you need and where to find it.

And whether or not the modem or network adapter has a working driver for it isn't so much of an issue, because it is not going to have internet access anyways. It will mainly be used for my 7 year old brother's games and my school work (MS Word). But if you could help me figure out how to get the color settings and sound working that would be awesome. I'm still looking for the right stuff on my own, but I'm not finding too much.

[flavallee]

The CPU-Z report doesn't do me any good because it focuses on the processor and BIOS and RAM and provides no information on the display adapter.

I would have more success with having the brand name, model name, and model number of that computer.

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[mmm2010]

First of all, thanks a bunch for helping me. I don't know exactly where to look for that information, though. I know on my Dell Win XP computer it tells me that it's a dell if I go to Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Information, but it doesn't have anything like that on the Win 98 computer.

Unfortunately, I don't know where the manuals and stuff that came with the computer are, so that won't help me.

Thanks again for helping!

[Elvandil]

Try:

PCWizard
System Information for Windows (SIW)
Belarc Advisor
Mitec System Information

[flavallee]

If it's a Dell, the model name and model number should be embossed on the front of the case, or on a sticker on the side or rear of the case.

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[mmm2010]

A family friend of ours built the computer for us when we first got it, and did some hardware upgrading a few years ago, so it's made from all kinds of bits and pieces. What part of the computer do I need to identify? (motherboard, graphics card, etc.)

I know the reports mention American Megatrends Inc., and I believe that it said my model is L7VMM3 V3.1, but I guess that's my motherboard, cause it said that my mb is ECS L7VMM3 V3.1.

Once again, thanks for bearing with me and trying to help me figure this out.

[mmm2010]

any ideas?

[TheOutcaste]

I couldn't find a V 3.1 for the L7VMM3 motherboard, but I did find a V 3.0C

The drivers for Sound, Graphics, LAN, USB, IDE, should be pretty much the same though. While the description for the LAN driver doesn't mention Win98,it does support Win98SE, I downloaded it and checked.

Here's the link to the drivers download page:
ECS L7VMM3 V 3.0 c Downloads

HTH

Jerry