Win 98se on Dell Latitude C640 reboots on startup

gixxerrider · 06-30-2008, 02:38 PM

I am trying to install Win 98se on a Dell Latitude C640. I plan to dual boot but my issue is just trying to get it to run with Win98se. I reformatted the hd and created 2 partitions. win98 installs fine then when it boots to the welcome screen it reboots. After it reboots it goes to the selections screen for safe mode. It won't boot in safe mode either.

I checked dells website and the BIOS version A10 that I am running is validated for Win 98SE APM only. Does this "APM" relate to the version of win98se or my hardware? The bios does have settings for APM which I disabled as a test. I have some older software that will only run on 98 that's why I am going through this headache. The system was running fine with xp before I reformatted with no issues.

It seems as though others are running windows 98se without this issue so I'm at a loss here. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I even thought abotu going back to an older BIOS version but don't know if that will help 98 then create an issue for XP later.

**OldGrayGary** · 07-01-2008, 12:04 AM

Hi gixxerrider

I'll guess you're using the Jan 2004 bios release for the C640. I'll also guess that in the Power Management section of the Latitude's Bios you'll have a choice to use either ACPI or APM. I imagine that if you try with just the APM enabled, you should be able to get Win98se installed.

What I'm not so sure about is how Windows XP will like having to live without ACPI enabled. But you can give it a try & see how it goes.

Dual-boots can be a little tricky -- though I still have a 98se/XP dual boot that my youngest daughter uses (for the older Win9x games that run best in Win9x). When they just aren't working, or aren't practical, there are other options.

Should you continue to run into problems dual-booting:
If you have the 1gb maximum memory installed on your Latitude, and the programs you want to run in Win98 don't ask for a lot of 3-D graphics, you could run Windows 98 in emulation in a virtual environment like Virtual PC or VMware. You'd install your older programs into Windows 98 running in that "virtual machine"... for some older programs, that's enough to get by reasonably well. Graphics intensive programs tend not to run quite so well.
__________________

Might as well give the APM a try first: it shouldn't hurt anything to try.

Best of luck
. . . Gary

gixxerrider · 07-01-2008, 05:22 AM

Gary,

thanks for the reply. In the bois under power management the only option is enable or disable. Once eneabled the only options are for time settings. I cannot select apm or acpi. there is a note off to the side that reads the following.

Note: Except for smart CPU, the power conservation features have no effect under windows 98 and ACPI operating systems.

I haven't gotten to the dual boot part which I'm not overly concerned about since I have other dual boot machines, just can't get this to run with win98.

I am using the A10 Bios i don't havethe exact date since it was already in the conputer. Does it make sense to flash the bios?

thanks,
Jay

gixxerrider · 07-02-2008, 02:31 PM

I solved this issue. In case others run into this. Here was my fix.

I had 2 dimm chips 1- 1gb, 1-256mb. I removed the 1gb and placed the 256 in the DIMM1 slot and the computer booted fine. although it worked with 1.2gb under XP just not Win 98SE.

**OldGrayGary** · 07-02-2008, 03:08 PM

Hi again

I should have remembered the 512mb limitation for Win9x. You can have both WinXP and Win98 happy, even though more than 512mb is installed, if you make a change to the system.ini file in Windows 98 (you have to make this change with 512mb or less physically installed, and then after you've made the change, you can physically reinstall your full set of memory modules - so that XP can use the full amount). The change to the vcache section of Windows 98's system.ini file limits the amount of system memory that it uses to 512mb.

1) Boot the system into Windows 98 with only the 256mb of RAM physically installed.
2) Add the following entry to the [vcache] section of the Win98 system.ini file:
MaxFileCache=524288
3) Shut down, power off, and unplug the power cable -- and reinstall your full set of memory modules.

Best of luck
. . . Gary

06-30-2008, 02:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
gixxerrider Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3 OS: win98se	Win 98se on Dell Latitude C640 reboots on startup I am trying to install Win 98se on a Dell Latitude C640. I plan to dual boot but my issue is just trying to get it to run with Win98se. I reformatted the hd and created 2 partitions. win98 installs fine then when it boots to the welcome screen it reboots. After it reboots it goes to the selections screen for safe mode. It won't boot in safe mode either. I checked dells website and the BIOS version A10 that I am running is validated for Win 98SE APM only. Does this "APM" relate to the version of win98se or my hardware? The bios does have settings for APM which I disabled as a test. I have some older software that will only run on 98 that's why I am going through this headache. The system was running fine with xp before I reformatted with no issues. It seems as though others are running windows 98se without this issue so I'm at a loss here. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I even thought abotu going back to an older BIOS version but don't know if that will help 98 then create an issue for XP later.

07-01-2008, 12:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
OldGrayGary Mentor, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 1,979 OS: Windows 98se/2000/XP/Vista	Re: Win 98se on Dell Latitude C640 reboots on startup Hi gixxerrider I'll guess you're using the Jan 2004 bios release for the C640. I'll also guess that in the Power Management section of the Latitude's Bios you'll have a choice to use either ACPI or APM. I imagine that if you try with just the APM enabled, you should be able to get Win98se installed. What I'm not so sure about is how Windows XP will like having to live without ACPI enabled. But you can give it a try & see how it goes. Dual-boots can be a little tricky -- though I still have a 98se/XP dual boot that my youngest daughter uses (for the older Win9x games that run best in Win9x). When they just aren't working, or aren't practical, there are other options. Should you continue to run into problems dual-booting: If you have the 1gb maximum memory installed on your Latitude, and the programs you want to run in Win98 don't ask for a lot of 3-D graphics, you could run Windows 98 in emulation in a virtual environment like Virtual PC or VMware. You'd install your older programs into Windows 98 running in that "virtual machine"... for some older programs, that's enough to get by reasonably well. Graphics intensive programs tend not to run quite so well. __________________ Might as well give the APM a try first: it shouldn't hurt anything to try. Best of luck . . . Gary __________________

07-01-2008, 05:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
gixxerrider Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3 OS: win98se	Re: Win 98se on Dell Latitude C640 reboots on startup Gary, thanks for the reply. In the bois under power management the only option is enable or disable. Once eneabled the only options are for time settings. I cannot select apm or acpi. there is a note off to the side that reads the following. Note: Except for smart CPU, the power conservation features have no effect under windows 98 and ACPI operating systems. I haven't gotten to the dual boot part which I'm not overly concerned about since I have other dual boot machines, just can't get this to run with win98. I am using the A10 Bios i don't havethe exact date since it was already in the conputer. Does it make sense to flash the bios? thanks, Jay

07-02-2008, 02:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
gixxerrider Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3 OS: win98se	Re: Win 98se on Dell Latitude C640 reboots on startup SOLVED I solved this issue. In case others run into this. Here was my fix. I had 2 dimm chips 1- 1gb, 1-256mb. I removed the 1gb and placed the 256 in the DIMM1 slot and the computer booted fine. although it worked with 1.2gb under XP just not Win 98SE.

07-02-2008, 03:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
OldGrayGary Mentor, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 1,979 OS: Windows 98se/2000/XP/Vista	Re: Win 98se on Dell Latitude C640 reboots on startup Hi again I should have remembered the 512mb limitation for Win9x. You can have both WinXP and Win98 happy, even though more than 512mb is installed, if you make a change to the system.ini file in Windows 98 (you have to make this change with 512mb or less physically installed, and then after you've made the change, you can physically reinstall your full set of memory modules - so that XP can use the full amount). The change to the vcache section of Windows 98's system.ini file limits the amount of system memory that it uses to 512mb. 1) Boot the system into Windows 98 with only the 256mb of RAM physically installed. 2) Add the following entry to the [vcache] section of the Win98 system.ini file: MaxFileCache=524288 3) Shut down, power off, and unplug the power cable -- and reinstall your full set of memory modules. Best of luck . . . Gary __________________