Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with 98

Easy remote assistance involving Windows 98 computer, in late 2008?

galaksit — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:39:11 -0800

Are there still any easy-to-configure remote assistance solutions where the non-technical end user is on Windows 98? Small sums of money may be available, but free preferred. I had been a happy Fog Creek Copilot user for this purpose but they have withdrawn support for 98. It appears Crossloop was another easy solution, but the 2.x versions moved the minimum requirement up to Windows 2000. I haven't found a working link for the 1.x versions and even then don't know if it would communicate with a central server that would block it.

I'm a bit overwhelmed with the effort of finding other solutions and proving that they work with a 98 box at the non-technical end, so hoping someone has recent proven experience of the situation that they could share. Thanks.

Getting Documents Off Old PC

alcopop — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 10:57:27 -0800

I'm trying to get all the pertinent documents off of a Gateway 2000 PC running Windows 98 on to a new Dell running Vista Home Premium. The CD drive on the Gateway doesn't work, it has a floppy drive, and the CAT5 cable doesn't fit in the telephone only jacks. I tried to use my USB stick, but it can't find the drivers as it's not connected to the internet. The new computer has no floppy drive, so I can't just put the driver on a floppy. What do you recommend for the lowest cost and easiest solution? I'm staying with my aunt for one more day to try to help fix this, but I have to leave tomorrow (Monday) morning.

I'm trying to get all the pertinent documents off of a Gateway 2000 PC running Windows 98 on to a new Dell running Vista Home Premium. The CD drive on the Gateway doesn't work, it has a floppy drive, and the CAT5 cable doesn't fit in the telephone only jacks. I tried to use my USB stick, but it can't find the drivers as it's not connected to the internet. The new computer has no floppy drive, so I can't just put the driver on a floppy. What do you recommend for the lowest cost and easiest solution?

Let's do the (Microsoft) time warp

phaded — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:21:20 -0800

Where can I buy (or otherwise acquire) a legit copy of Windows 98 SE these days? My girlfriend's PC died a while back, and for one of our next present-giving holidays, I'm planning to build her a new one. What I'd like to do, ideally, is install two hard drives: one running XP or Vista, and another running 98, because she plays a lot of games that don't run (well) on anything older than 98. However, I can't find any online retailers I've ever heard of who are selling 98...understandable, given that it's been almost a decade since that operating system was released. A Google product search turns up a bunch of websites I've never heard of, and I don't think I trust eBay for something like this. I prefer to buy a full version, but I'd be fine with buying an OEM version if that's my only option. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Oh God. Kill me now. (Quicken 98 Y2K clusterfuck)

sweet mister — Wed, 30 May 2007 20:21:36 -0800

[BoringAsFuckFilter] How to retrospectively correct a Y2K problem in a Quicken 98 file? Staggeringly dull details follow. My father-in-law has been using Quicken 98 / Windows 98 to track his (considerable) finances for the last 10 years. He ignored all suggestions to upgrade saying 'it works fine as it is'. Don't ask. Just don't ask.

We finally (it took a fucking DECADE) persuaded him to switch to a Mac. However, when I tried to import his accounts from Quicken 98 into Mac Quicken 2007 as a .QIF file, I discovered to my amazement that Quicken 98 was NOT Y2K savvy.

As a result, every transaction after Jan 1 2000 is recorded as 1900 onwards.

Eg a transaction in 2002 is recorded as 1902. Because Quicken 98 just displays that as MM/DD/02 he never realised there was a problem, and his capital gains returns worked out fine as far as I can tell.

Mac Quicken spots that there is an error, but dates the transactions as the date of import.

What I need to do is take his Quicken 98 data, select every transaction from Jan 1 2000 to the present day, and change the date from 19xx to 20xx.

Is there actually a way to do this?

If not, how do you retrospectively correct this problem?

[possible solution that has occurred to me -- somehow export the data as CSV and do a regex search/replace, then reimport. But how?]

How to clean stubborn hiding media file?

zaelic — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 06:54:58 -0800

How do I clean a large, stubborn, aborted media download from my PC, and how do I interpret all this strange, buggy behavior that has plagued me since I terminated the download? A week ago I tried to download a media file using Utorrent. Two thirds of the way through the computer started to hang, so I terminated the download, and checked for viruses. Spybot found Haxdoor.H and Trend Housecall found win32.alemod. I cleaned them, and deleted the Utorrent program, and went back to not having anything to do with any of this new Torrent technology ever again. I blame it all on the Cylons (hint... hint...) anyway.

Since then, my PC continues acting very buggy. (Windows 98, 4 GB hard drive, PII processor.) Problems are mainly two:
a) My C drive properties list still shows something - from the original media file download? - taking up 275 MB of my disc space from the aborted download. I can’t seem to clear it or find it. Looked through the sytem files, temp files, registry. Asked on a Torrent oriented forum. No luck.

b) Computer still acting buggy – slow, looses passwords, gets hung with “Program not reponding” messages, cannot shut down or restart using Ctrl-Alt-Delete. Does not shutdown automatically after the “Windows is Shutting Down” screen. When I boot up, a very brief screen of DOS info comes up after the first opening “Windows 98” screen, which then shows a message mentioning C:\Windows attrib sys –s-h-r Cannot find Sertgs.dll. … A google finds that Sertgs.dll is part of the Haxdoor virus that I have already cleaned.

Getting a new PC or drive is not an option for now – no spare cash. I know the PC is old, but it has survived a lot and been declared dead by Ask me several times, but it still runs. Help me save my zombie computer, please!

Trouble Installing Jimmy Neutron Game on XP

LarryC — Thu, 09 Jun 2005 16:47:41 -0800

Help my 5 year old! Trouble installing a Jimmy Neutron game ('95, '98, ME) on a windows XP box. I just bought a copy of the game Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius from a cheapo online retailer. When I go install it, it loads 99% and freezes. I suspect this might have to do with the game listing Windows '95, '98, ME as compatible systems, and my computer being XP Home Edition. Any ideas? I have one disappointed 5 year old on my hands. Thanks.

Can't adjust the Date and Time on my pc {mi}

lobstah — Thu, 17 Mar 2005 19:44:40 -0800

When I try to adjust the date and time on my pc, I get the ol' " Not responding" message. As a simple crustacean with limited skills, I need some help. {MI}