Where do I find drivers for windows 98?

If you are afraid that your son may corrupt your HD, you are right. What I did is purchase another hard drive, an 80 wire, 40 pin connector cable and in my case I have three HDs thus I needed three sockets. If your HD is connected to a card hopefully it has room for one more HD. Then get the following program will allow on boot up to choose which HD you want to use.

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_download/0,fid,22524,fileidx,1,00.asp

Next downloads the following two software programs which hopefully should identify your hardware. If they work then you can go to the website and hopefully download the drivers.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=1385

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4181

gonzal13(joe)

dxf224

What's the model number? If its a 920i ...http://compreviews.about.com/cs/desktops/gr/aaprMPCMill920i.htm
shows.....# Integrated AC '97 Audio
# GeForceFX 5200 Ultra 128MB
....sound/appearance.
With integrated sound, you should be able to enable it through the bios

GeForceFx most likely uses a nvidia driver. Just go to NVIDIA.com and download the general driver.

gonzal13(joe)

dxf224:

I accidently repeated your URL on this page.
sorry

JOe

TPlayer.

One thing to bear in mind here is also the fact that a lot of "independent" motherboard producers base their boards on Intel designs, and use "chipsets" common to Intel boards. Some of them may choose to use different sound or graphics chips from the real Intel ones, but in many cases they are the same. Remember that there aren't nearly as many board manufacturers as computer builders, and board manufacturers obviously brand the same boards for many different builders.

This helps you narrow things down a bit, and also might allow you to use drivers downloaded from the Intel support site if the board manufacturer no longer offers support or has ceased trading.

Take dxf224's link to a review of the "MPC Millenia 920i" as an example. You will often see the "i" suffix used to indicate that it is based around an Intel board. In this case, the board is one with an "i875P" chipset, so the model number of the computer doesn't always match that of the Intel chipset.

If your computer IS made by MPC (Millenia PC), then here's their page for the "Millenia" range:
http://www.buympc.com/home/store/desktops/overview_millennia.html

and here's their support site:
http://support.mpccorp.com/

Driver files here:
http://support.mpccorp.com/downloads/driver.html

One look at a list of the motherboards made by MPC will make you aware of the reason why we would really need an exact model number of the computer AND/or the motherboard model and chipset:
http://support.mpccorp.com/apps/compdriv.asp?ID=34

I must say that, if yours is made by MPC, then the driver files are available from up to date models, right back to 120 MHz models, so you would most certainly find what you were looking for.

Please let us know what either Belarc Advisor or Everest utilities report about your computer and we will point you to the correct downloads.

imnajam

Hi Tplayer,

once you have ran everest and known the names of drivers you need goto http://www.driverguide.com and search for and use the search wizard to locate the driver you need.

Cheers!

ASKER

Hello,
I have looked all over for some kind of model number on this computer but couldn't find any. It's pretty old looking and simply says Millennia on the front of the tower.
I know it has 128MB of ram.
There are several little white lables on the mother board but I'm not sure which one if any is the make or model number.

Based on the picture I saw of the 920i I don't think its the one.
Any other suggestions?

ASKER

I ran belarc and found out it is a Millenia EX. There seem to be several drivers available. I'll try the most common.

Run Everest Home and it usually supplies web addresses of support sites for the manufacturer if they have ever shared their digital ID's with the software writers. perhaps a url might help.

This guy has one:
http://www.techsupportforum.com/computer/topic/45908-1.html
Micron Millenia Ex Pentium III 733 MHz Processor.

and i see that "Micron" produced other models in their "Millenia" range
http://www.epinions.com/cmd-review-1251-184FFE79-39692E22-prod5

The MPC site url's quoted earlier indicate that MPC used to be known as MicronPC.
Go here:
http://support.buympc.com/
and you will be redirected utomatically to:
http://support.mpccorp.com/

There is an input box to enter your computer's "serial number", but the instructions simply say that it will be "on the FCC label, located on the back of your desktop CPU or on the bottom of your notebook".

If it turns out to be one of theirs, then I suggest you grab a boot disk download to make a Win98 boot floppy. It's always better to have machine-specific DOS CD-Rom drivers in case the ones on the standard Win98 boot floppy don't support the one in the machine.

http://support.mpccorp.com/downloads/boot.html

So, let's explore the "Drivers" page and see what gives:
http://support.mpccorp.com/downloads/driver.html

The "Base Units" listed here (http://support.mpccorp.com/apps/compdriv.asp?ID=16) seem to use the prefixes DS = "Desktop System", NB = "Notebook", SVR = "Server", and P = ?. Maybe that's just for "Pentium Class", but I don't know.

I reckon the best bet would be to look at the pattern of numbers used on the "Motherboard" page (http://support.mpccorp.com/apps/compdriv.asp?ID=34) and see if any match those on your computer's motherboard. They seem to be listed by oldest first, newest last. As I mentioned earlier (I think), the expression "Millenium" should coincide with the changeover from Pentium II to Pentium III computers, and I believe yours will probably be amongst those starting about half-way down that page.

Do an Edit > Find on this page > Millennia EX
and it should jump right down to:
"MBD001136-00 Cascade III GVC 810E DR742E with Integrated Comp (Millennia EX and ClientPro CT - Cascade III )"

There's only 3 of these, and they all seem to have the same drivers listed.

That being the case, then you should find the drivers for integrated video and audio chips for Windows 98 once you have picked out your model, BUT you would then possibly have to consult Belarc or Everest to see exactly what chips they find. These boards seem to be Pentium III's based on the Intel 810e (as with eComputers) BUT may have either "SoundMax" or other chip fitted as standard to these boards.

You will most likely find, IF this turns out to be yours, that when installing Windows 98 or 98se on that machine, you won't need extra chipset drivers, because the Windows CD can supply them.

Taking those Micron Millenia EX details over to the Intel site (http://support.intel.com/support/), click on "Chipsets" in the grey panel, and you will be able to navigate to the Intel 810 chipset family page:
http://support.intel.com/support/chipsets/sb/CS-009231.htm

Download the Intel Chipset ID Utility and it will assist in verifying details about your motherboard:

ftp://aiedownload.intel.com/df-support/8264/eng/ChipUtil.exe

That direct link cuts through all the licence agreement pages, and you will see a list of chipsets that are identified by this version (2.91) if you read:
ftp://aiedownload.intel.com/df-support/8264/ENG/readme.txt

Hope this helps while you obtain further details.

ASKER

I'm still going through all this information. I do have another question about installing drivers. Its seems some of them need to be installed in dos mode. I'm not sure I understand this process. I may need some help when I get that point.
Thanks,
Tplayer.

The drivers are not installed in the dos mode. If you find the drivers they will be in the form *.exe or a zip file in which will be a *.exe.

gonzal13(joe)

ASKER

I downloaded the graphics driver and that gave me a much better apparence but I still don't have sound nor can I connect to the inernet. This is the best what I have been able to find out. Perhaps someone can send me a link to the audio driver and network card driver.

Chip Set: Intel (R) 810 E
Memory Controller: 82810 E
I/0 Controller 8281 AA (ICH)
Intel Graphics: 82810 graphics controller

If I can just get audio and connect to the internet I"ll be in great shape.

Thanks,
Tplayer

What is the problem with the internet?
Did you go to Control panel,system device manager? Is there a yellow symbol next to the Network Adapter?

gonzal13(joe)

ASKER

Yes Under Netwwork Adapters there are yellow question marks next the fallowing items.

Other Divices
PCI Card
PCI Ethernet Controller
PCI Multimedia Audio Device

If I try to seach for the drivers it can't find them, even if I load the operating system disk.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

ASKER

Thanks for all your help. Finally got it.

I am glad everything worked out for you.

Joe

Tplayer:

It always gives me a warm fuzzy felling when I can help someone. I guess that is the reason why I spend about three hours a day on this site.

Joe

As a matter of interest, Tplayer, where did you eventually download the correct drivers from?

You said earlier, in reference to Ethernet Controller and Multimedia Audio Device, "If I try to seach for the drivers it can't find them, even if I load the operating system disk".

Did you look through the driver downloads at the mpccorp.com and intel sites I provided earlier?

good observation Bill

Joe

ASKER

I searhed my sons room and found a utility disk that apparently came with the PC. Once I had a the disk I fallowed t Joes install procedure and everyting worked. But for the record, prior to finding the disk I found some drivers on driverguide.com.

However, when I tried to install the multimedia driver with Audio it crashed the computer and I had to reformat. I went through it 2 times and it did the same think. Luckly for me there was nothing on it but the OS so I didn't really loose anything but time. The video driver worked very good and so did the ethernet driver. I thought I was home free until I insalled the 810E driver for the mother board.
It seem to work at first. I went into control panel/ sounds to test a couple of sound options, once I pressed the little arrow to hear the samples it crashed.

Blue screen popped up saying fatal error. I couldn't even start it in safe mode after that.

Being so close to finding the three drivers I needed made it even more frustraing. I basically gave up my entilre Saturday working on it.

Never use a driver for the chipset or integrated audio/video/modem, etc from a 3rd-party site like driverguide.com when you have the manufacturer's support site offering downloads.

The drivers on the CD that came with the computer will work fine, but there may be instances where you need a more up-to-date video and audio driver. An example is the graphics chip integrated into the 810e motherboard. The Driver CD probably only offers a driver that supports something like DirectX 6, but you need one that supports DirectX 8 or 8.1. These updates may be found on the manufacturar's support site, but you take a risk downloading and installing a file from driversguide.com because you are forced to believe the description of the file as posted by the person uploading the file. Often the description is wrong.

Chipset drivers should be the FIRST thing to install. When I say "chipset", I mean the drivers for the CONTROLLER chips common to ALL 810e motherboards. Take a look back up the page a bit to where you quoted the results of a Belarc? diagnostic:

Chip Set: Intel 810 E
Memory Controller: 82810 E
I/0 Controller 8281 AA (ICH)
Intel Graphics: 82810 graphics controller

810 Chipset Family Product Description and links (in the grey panels) to driver downloads, etc:
http://support.intel.com/design/chipsets/810/810e.htm
http://cache-www.intel.com/cd/00/00/02/99/29919_810epb.pdf

http://support.intel.com/design/software/drivers/platform/810.htm?iid=ipp_810echpst+body_drivers&

Chipset Drivers for 810e motherboard:
http://support.intel.com/support/chipsets/sb/cs-009231.htm

INF Update Utility (This utility installs INF files that inform the operating system how to properly configure the chipset for specific functionality such as USB and AGP):

For Windows 9x, ME, 2000, and XP dated 6th May 2002 version 3.20.1008:

ftp://aiedownload.intel.com/df-support/4241/a08/infinst_enu.exe

ftp://aiedownload.intel.com/df-support/4241/ENG/readme.txt
ftp://aiedownload.intel.com/df-support/4241/ENG/Release_320.pdf

Graphics Driver for Intel® 810 and 815 Chipset Family Version 6.7 (23rd Aug 2002) for Windows 9x and ME (English):

Do I need the Intel® 810/810E/810E2 chipset graphics drivers?
http://support.intel.com/support/graphics/intel810/sb/CS-009128.htm

http://support.intel.com/support/graphics/intel810/

ftp://aiedownload.intel.com/df-support/4666/eng/win9xe67.exe
ftp://aiedownload.intel.com/df-support/4666/ENG/readme_9x.txt
ftp://aiedownload.intel.com/df-support/4666/ENG/ReleaseNotesPV6_7.html

etc, etc.

Go to the page I linked to earlier:

http://support.mpccorp.com/apps/compdriv.asp?ID=34

Search for Cascade II and Cascade III and look at the downloads available for them which relate to Windows 98 only. The Cascade II and III are listed as being the Millenia EX model.

Find a Serial Number on the back and look it up:

Millenia PC Serial Number Lookup Tool:

http://support.mpccorp.com/serial/index.html

ASKER

Billdl,
I wish to thank you very much for the fallow up information. As a test I reinstalled windows 98 and installed the drivers from the links you provided for me. Everything worked very well except I still have two question marks in the device manager.
They read,
Other device
PCI card.

What is this? I already intalled the ethernet card so I'm not quite sure how to resolve this last question.

No problem, Tplayer.

Do you remember any additional cards being present in Device Manager before you formatted the drive or are you missing any functionality anywhere?

So far, you have identified and installed the drivers for:

1. On-board 82810 graphics chip (which is actually an AGP device, but not in an AGP slot)
2. On-board AC'97 sound chip (which is actually a PCI device, but obviously not in a PCI slot)
3. LAN socket (network socket - Local Area Network Ethernet Controller Card)
4. 82801 Input Output Controller chip
5. 82810E Memory Controller chip

How are you connecting to the Internet? Is there a PCI Modem Card fitted or are you plugged into the Network socket?

Could it be that the onboard sound chip was previously disabled, and an add-on PCI sound card fitted by the distributor (or prevous owner if it wasn't you)? I would have expected a conflict along the road when the default Windows sounds kicked in after a fresh install, but perhaps that is waiting to happen if you installed the drivers for such an audio card. Audio cards are easy to spot due to the small colour-coded sockets labelled Line Input, Microphone, etc. and you would have 2 such sets of sockets showing at the rear if that was the case.

The "other device" MAY be something that is identified as "Wave Device for Voice Modem". When Windows detects a new modem, it will usually prompt for a driver CD or you can point it to the C:\Windows\INF folder or other location to find the relevant driver. After it installs, there usually follows a 2nd hardware detection and this most often prompts for the Win98 CD and the "Wave Device for Voice Modem" installs itself.

This often appears under the "Sound, Video, and Games" section in Device Manager rather than under the Modem section.

The best thing to try is this:

1. Right-click on the "Other Device" entry, and choose "Properties"
2. Open the "Driver" tab, and then click on the "Update Driver" button
3. Click Next when it gives you the Intro dialog
4. When it asks if you want Windows to search for a better driver, click Next
5. Specify a location, and browse to the C:\Windows\INF folder to see if it picks up an existing configuration file.
6. If it doesn't, then repeat the process but now browse to the Win98 folder of the Windows 98 CD
7. If that fails, then try pointing it to the driver CD that you found in your son's room

What I would normally do is open the case and look at the cards that are fitted in the PCI slots to see what they are. If you do this, you may notice a card that you cannot identify as any of the above, and details written on it could be compared with the results of the Everest or Belarc diagnostics.

Older DVD Drives needed a hardware interface card, whereas newer ones use software to interface. Perhaps the "PCI Card" is such a DVD Card. Could it be that?

Incidentally, I found a better index of the Micron PC computer range here:

http://support.mpccorp.com/platforms/index.html?ID=1

You'll see the Millenia EX models listed clearly near the top of the right-hand column as Cascade II and Cascade III. The links reveal a lot of resources on a single page.

The "Install Guides" link takes you to a page that includes instructions for installing the drivers for 3-Com or Aztech PCI Modems.

http://support.mpccorp.com/apps/instguidehub.asp?ID=42

It appears from the notes against each, that the 3-Com cards will be identified (in their unknown configuration) as "PCI Serial Controller", whereas the Aztech Modems will show as "PCI Card".

What we aren't yet sure of is whether you have a Cascade II or Cascade III model.

Here are the respective User Guides and documents from which you will be able to identify the motherboard with a greater degree of certainty:

Cascade II
--------------

http://support.mpccorp.com/apps/syshub.asp?ID=42

Manual:
http://support.mpccorp.com/apps/manualhub.asp?ID=42&Categ=191

Cascade III
---------------

http://support.mpccorp.com/apps/syshub.asp?ID=43

Manuals:
http://support.mpccorp.com/apps/manualhub.asp?ID=43&Categ=191

Some of the downloads come as .pdf files that can be downloaded by Right-Clicking the link and choosing "Save TARGET As", rather than having them open inside Internet Explorer. Others come as .exe files which are self-extracting zip files for those without WinZip installed. If you do have Winzip installed, just right-click on the .exe files and select "Extract to folder C:\whatever" which will create a new folder and unpack the contents to it.

I mentioned a DVD Hardware Interface Card earlier as a possibility. Take a look at this page that relates to installing drivers for hardware on a Cascade III. The last link refers to installing drivers for the "Pinnacle Studio DV 1394 Digital Editing Card". I assume from the description that this is a Video Capture Card allowing you to plug in a digital video or still camera that interfaces with the graphics chip/card. Do you see an IEEE 1394 socket attached to a PCI card on your system?
http://img.alibaba.com/photo/50169233/IEEE_1394_Socket.jpg

IEEE 1394 is known as "FireWire", and it is a newer and faster technology than USB, so maybe your computer didn't come with such a card.

I believe that you are going to have to have a peek inside the box and look for some writing on the chips and cards to be certain. The manuals and the links to "Technical Specification" in each of the link pages for the cascade II and III models contain motherboard layout images and chip numbers respectively.

Remember that there can be slight regional variances with any model, and makers sometimes change chips or cards for other brands half way through production runs.

I wish I had your PC right in front of me, and I would be able to ID the components quite quickly. That's the drawback of this type of interchange.

Oh, yes, just one more thing. The motherboard doc's mention a few different types of modem, but the expressions "SoftModem" and "WinModem" refer to basic modems that are not fully self-supportive like "hardware modems" which contain all the resources to interface with Windows and the other hardware. A SoftModem is made cheaper because it misses out some of the hardware chips, and uses operating system resources to fill in the gaps.

This uses up memory resources on your system, and I would advise you to buy a standard "hardware" PCI Modem to replace it if you have a "WinModem". A 56K V92 Internal PCI Modem can be bought new for silly prices these days as everyone seems to be heading across to broadband external usb modems.

Your on-board graphics are also set to share a portion of your system's memory. I have a feeling that it will use somewhere in the region of 4 MB as standard, and it MAY be possible to increase this IF you have enough system memory fitted to make this feasible without losing too much RAM. 4 MB is very meagre in today's rich multimedia internet content and gaming, etc. The minimum I would use these days and expect reasonable performance in Win98 is 32 MB, but you may get by with 8 or 16 MB if activities are restricted to less intensive multimedia content.

The settings to change this will be indicated probably about 75% of the way through the manuals when it gives details about the CMOS Setup (BIOS) settings. It SHOULD also be possible to totally disable on-board graphics and audio is favour of alternative add-on cards, but you would be restricted to a PCI graphics card and these are less frequently available as new.

If you need any more info re this, just ask.

Bill

ASKER

Well I think you may have hit the nail on the head Billdl. I use Cox high speed internet service and have not even thought about the modem. It does have one but I have not yet intstalled the drivers for it . I would think unless I have a need for it I could just leave it as is.
Nevertheless, just to say I completed the job, I'm going to look at the card to see the make and model.
I"ll let you know how it goes.
Regards,
Tplayer

I would suggest just removing the internal modem as there is no need for it. Windows should detect the absence of it when it looks at the hardware and updates its table and that should remove the entry from device manager. Once removed, store it in an anti-static bag.