But, why you would need to install Windows 98 that no longer has any support and have you checked that all the W-98 drivers and applications needed, are available for an OptiPlex 740?
Dell has only published the drivers, etc for Vista.
Thank you both for your replies; I've done some checking and now understand there's no problem installing/running a 32-bit OS on a 64-bit CPU machine.
I do have a reason for wanting Win98, but your comments about drivers worries me. Perhaps you can help.
I want to run FRACTINT, a DOS-based fractal image generator. It will run on DOS, Win9x and for some machines it will run in WinXP (but not my machine). I do not wish to mess with learning how to deal with DOS... therefore I need Win9x. Any Win9x will do: Win95, Win98, Win98SE, 2000, NT, etc. but...
I happen to have 2 Win98 installations. One is just the install CD with key (and I've used it in VirtualBox on my Alienware WinXP -- indeed it did whine for drivers, but nevertheless it did work, and I was able to install and run FractInt in it. I did not find VirtualBox satisfactory, however.)
The other Win98 install I have is a never before used box of CDs, floppies and documentation labeled "DELL DIMENSION WINDOWS 98", probably, hopefully including drivers. Well, I have an Optiplex but hopefully the Win98 installation CD will work the same on an OptiPlex as on a Dimension. (?)
So that is why I want to run this old OS, and the PC will not be connected to the internet so I'm not concerned with updates or security.
Use Windows 7 64 Bit as the Operating System and make a Virtual Machine in VMware Player to install Windows 98 SE. The virtual machine will be setup with virtual hardware which will suit Windows 98 SE and you can assign the floppy drive, USB ports and serial port to the VM if needed to control legacy hardware. See here where I give an example of both a Windows XP and 98SE VM in a Windows 7 host:
With a Small Drive and 512 Meg Ram Limit or modified system.ini vcache setting you can dual boot by installing the dos portion of WIN98 on a fat32 partition and then installing XP on top of that so you can dual boot.
One of the last machines to support WIN98 was the Optiplex GX260.
shesagordie
10 Elder
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46K Posts
0
March 16th, 2015 19:00
Knuten48
Yes, a 32-bit operating system can be installed.
But, why you would need to install Windows 98 that no longer has any support and have you checked that all the W-98 drivers and applications needed, are available for an OptiPlex 740?
Dell has only published the drivers, etc for Vista.
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/optiplex-740/drivers
Bev.
rdunnill
6 Professor
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8.8K Posts
0
March 16th, 2015 20:00
I doubt there are Windows 98 drivers for this machine.
Knuten48
20 Posts
0
March 16th, 2015 21:00
Thank you both for your replies; I've done some checking and now understand there's no problem installing/running a 32-bit OS on a 64-bit CPU machine.
I do have a reason for wanting Win98, but your comments about drivers worries me. Perhaps you can help.
I want to run FRACTINT, a DOS-based fractal image generator. It will run on DOS, Win9x and for some machines it will run in WinXP (but not my machine). I do not wish to mess with learning how to deal with DOS... therefore I need Win9x. Any Win9x will do: Win95, Win98, Win98SE, 2000, NT, etc. but...
I happen to have 2 Win98 installations. One is just the install CD with key (and I've used it in VirtualBox on my Alienware WinXP -- indeed it did whine for drivers, but nevertheless it did work, and I was able to install and run FractInt in it. I did not find VirtualBox satisfactory, however.)
The other Win98 install I have is a never before used box of CDs, floppies and documentation labeled "DELL DIMENSION WINDOWS 98", probably, hopefully including drivers. Well, I have an Optiplex but hopefully the Win98 installation CD will work the same on an OptiPlex as on a Dimension. (?)
So that is why I want to run this old OS, and the PC will not be connected to the internet so I'm not concerned with updates or security.
Philip_Yip
9 Legend
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16.1K Posts
0
March 17th, 2015 04:00
Use Windows 7 64 Bit as the Operating System and make a Virtual Machine in VMware Player to install Windows 98 SE. The virtual machine will be setup with virtual hardware which will suit Windows 98 SE and you can assign the floppy drive, USB ports and serial port to the VM if needed to control legacy hardware. See here where I give an example of both a Windows XP and 98SE VM in a Windows 7 host:
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/installation-of-windows-and-linux-on-a-virtual-machine-using-vmware-player/
speedstep
9 Legend
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47K Posts
0
March 17th, 2015 05:00
With a Small Drive and 512 Meg Ram Limit or modified system.ini vcache setting you can dual boot by installing the dos portion of WIN98 on a fat32 partition and then installing XP on top of that so you can dual boot.
One of the last machines to support WIN98 was the Optiplex GX260.