Need help with my Old Ass Computer Build (windows 98)

Hey guys, I obtained an old HP (windows 2000 -'XP ready' era). The purpose was to install windows 98 and play all the old computer games from my childhood. Disclosure: Up to now, i haven't paid for anything for the system, everything was given to me in someway or other, and I'd like to avoid paying money if i don't have to, esp. being that im so close. Anyways, I was able to install windows 98 on the computer (also added 98 Plus!), and found the sound card drivers, and video drivers, etc. that would work. and even installed multiple games. However, only 1 or 2 of them will work. the rest wont run, and i have tried to uninstall/reinstall, but that results in one of two outcomes:

1.) setup crashes and can't finish set up
2.) setup completes normally, but program won't run

Furthermore, On startup I get two error popups. The first is this one:

* setup.ins
Cannot find the file 'setup.ins" (or one of its components). Make sure the path and filename are current and that all required libraries are available.

The second one is:

! Desktop
Could not load or run 'setup.ins' specified in the win.ini file. Make sure the file exists on your computer or remove the reference to it in the win.ini file.

On top of all of that, the computer crashes within an hour.

I really have no idea how to fix this. Im thinking that all the problems may be related.Any ideas?

 

Is there a service pack or update you need prior to running them?

 

Were service packs or updates even a thing back in 98? Im pretty sure most of them are windows 95 games, and none of them are very high in CPU Demand. I will have to check into that though. Thanks.

 

Can't remember. I do remember some updates though.

 

Check with the simthonian.

You're probably trying to run old 16 bit games. If I recall decades ago that system.ini needs to be in the same directory as win.ini or the path to it specified. I think each program had its own system.ini file. Edit inside the win.ini file and see if it specifies a path to the system.ini file. See if system.ini is where it thinks it should be. If not move it there. My long term memory is fuzzy.

 

I think service packs started with XP. With Win98, there was Win98 SE (second edition), instead of SP1. Win 98 was also from a time where not everyone had Internet for large updates.

 

Sorry I am just getting back to this....you were correct-ish. for whatever reason the win.ini file had a line that said to run setup.ini. deleted that part and it worked.


as a follow-up to the other part of my OP, I finally got it working for the most part after upgrading to 98SE. still had problems with some games, but most of the ones I had problems with, I was able to just install on my windows 7 laptop. There are two that continued to give me problems: Lego Rock Raiders and Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego.

Anyways I finally got LRR to work. After changed my Video Card from an NVIDIA Vanta to NVIDIA GeForce 4 TI-4200, I found out that the culprit was actually my DirectX Version. For whatever reason, my computer didn't agree with DirectX9c, so i had to trick the computer into allowing me to "upgrade" to version 6. after that everything worked fine....

Still don't know why WIUSACS doesn't work....I click play and it just doesn't ever load. the disc spins but never starts.

 

This is like doing CPR on a dinosaur.

 

Actually I'm pretty content with the way it is now...I can live without one game...was just adding the info on how I fixed it, so if someone years from now googles the same problem, they can find what I did

 

I recently tried to resurrect a K6-III+. 17 years later, it still works.

 

I wouldent advise plugging it into the interweb. What games are you trying to play? If they games your after are available in rom format it might be easier to install linux and run an emulator. Check out https://www.emuparadise.me/ and see if any of the games you want are on there.

 

it will definitely not be hooked to the internet. Don't need the viruses or anything.