Win98 FE Toshiba Tecra8000, safe mode only after generic driver updates

Been a while since I burned an iso apparently- actually I'm not sure I ever have on my current bank of computers. Had to dig in win11's files to find the default iso burner, but doing that now and then will update! Fingers crossed!

Huge thanks, by the way, John! You've already been so helpful, I don't think I'd have any hope without you!

Welp, I was doing pretty good but hit a new road block:

 

After setting up the new partition, which seemed to go just fine, I reset and am now getting a "Missing operating system" message. I was basically at the 7:20 mark in the tutorial video you linked me, I'd done it step by step with the video, and then this happened.

 

I've gone into the bios, it's still set to boot from CD. I'm not getting the option to do so, I'm not getting any options actually, the ONLY thing I seem to be able to do is to get in to the bios settings.

 

Frustratingly, all of the information I can find on google seems to be focused on it being an error, rather than it popping up mid format and failing to boot from the cd, so it's not much use thus far.

Edited by Yancakes, 23 October 2023 - 12:59 AM.

Got it!

I unplugged the damned thing. Turned it off, took out the power cable, let it sit for a couple minutes to, I don't know, think about what it had done? Nah I just remembered a friend in tech 20 years ago telling me "we make customers unplug their machines and wait thirty seconds before they turn them on again to make sure all the circuts fully die and any lingering problems are reset".

Is that accurate? No clue, but it's what I did and it worked.

It's all set up now! Well sort of. I need to figure out all of the other drivers, but there's a clean Windows 98 SE install on it AND I can use flash drives!

Thank you so much!!!

You're Welcome,

 

I wake up and find out you have it sorted out. Nice job.

 

FYI, you can find any drivers you need in the below link but only install ones that you need. I would avoid and BIOS updates if the computer is running fine.

 

https://support.dynabook.com/support/modelHome?freeText=1073769805&osId=3333623

Edited by JohnC_21, 23 October 2023 - 07:19 AM.

Just to chime in re the splash screen.

I have an old Tecra (not that old though, mine is a M9) and on the Toshiba splash screen it shows a row of icons with associated F keys.

It isn't up for long though so you have to be quick to press a key if you want to.
(Handy when XP went funny and I needed to boot from a USB).

Even though yours isn't showing that line of icons I'd try pressing an F key next time the Toshiba screen flashes up, if it does.

Edited by Nukecad, 23 October 2023 - 10:58 AM.

Finally at it again!

Got audio drivers working. Installed era appropriate winamp (complete with the classic skin I used to use back then- pipboy2000... never actually stopped using either winamp or the skin, even on my new computers!)

 

Installed era appropriate versions of winrar, adobe acrobat.

I should be able to figure out the video drivers. Would like to have this full screen, it's a little cramped lol. Running unknown devices to figure out the couple of, well, unknown devices!

Just to chime in re the splash screen.

I have an old Tecra (not that old though, mine is a M9) and on the Toshiba splash screen it shows a row of icons with associated F keys.

It isn't up for long though so you have to be quick to press a key if you want to.
(Handy when XP went funny and I needed to boot from a USB).

Even though yours isn't showing that line of icons I'd try pressing an F key next time the Toshiba screen flashes up, if it does.

My tecra has zero information on the splash screen. F key presses still affect things like getting into start menu or bios, but the ONLY thing on screen is "THINKING ABOUT TOMORROW - TOSHIBA".

The problem was the boot CD I burned- everything in the computer was working as it should. User error! lol

Actually, I could use help already!

 

One of the drivers is a zip full of .dll, .gid and one inf file.

 

The readme says to go to start>settings>control panel>display>settings tab>advance, and then in advanced I click the adapter tab and click the "change" button.

 

But the change button is greyed out.,

 

EDIT: Got this sorted, too! Sort of, so far! I haven't gotten as far as installing the driver, but the change button is no longer greyed out!

 

You're Welcome,

 

I wake up and find out you have it sorted out. Nice job.

 

FYI, you can find any drivers you need in the below link but only install ones that you need. I would avoid and BIOS updates if the computer is running fine.

 

https://support.dynabook.com/support/modelHome?freeText=1073769805&osId=3333623

The downloads at that link are all broken

Edited by Yancakes, 23 October 2023 - 09:35 PM.

Another issue- when I go through add new hardware, I am able to select a folder on my desktop with a driver in it (in this case for the infrared thing on the laptop)- it recognizes the driver, but when it goes to install it says "Please insert the disk labeled 'Windows 98 Second Edition CD-ROM', and then click OK." The only such disc I have is the one I used to install win98 from, and that doesn't work.

 

EDIT: Got this one sorted, it should help me with a couple other things, too. Realized it was looking for "net9.cab" so I searched the disc for that, found it in the win98 folder on the CD and selecting that installed the driver (I know, I don't technically need that infrared thing, but it kept popping up asking for a driver lol)

Edited by Yancakes, 23 October 2023 - 09:26 PM.

OK, question. When I go to the add hardware setting, it says there's a couple of "unknown hardware"- Unknown Devices has the hardware id for them. One is a modem driver, and I'm not planning on connecting this thing to the internet, the other one's hardware ID returns "Toshiba ACPI-Compliant Value Added Logical Device" on google. Should I be bothered with that?

Audio works, video works (full screen and full colours now).

Am I done? Do I need to worry about any other drivers?
 

This person had issues installing it on Windows 10. If the computer is running fine I wouldn't worry about it.

 

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/toshiba-driver-update-for-toshiba-x86-acpi/01ac2e78-009d-4e18-bc57-3d54cf370ef8t

Thanks!

One last question- websites say the tecra 8000 can go up to 1024x768, but the max I can select it 800x600. Is there a way to see if that's actually possible?

 

The only reason I actually ask is because a friend just gave me their old copy of Civ III (not my fav civ game lol) and that resolution seems to be the only thing that would stop me from playing it.

What is the refresh rate the adapter is set to?

 

https://viewzusa.com/broadcast/faq/how-do-i-change-the-display-resolution-in-windows-98-me-2000-or-xp-to-the-native-resolution-of-the-lcd/

 

In Device Manager what is listed as the display adapter?

NeoMagic MagicMedia 256AV. Refresh rate of my adapter is just set to "optimal"; I can also pick "adapter default" and "60hz".