Windows 98SE can't restart in MS-DOS mode

Discussion in 'Operating Systems' started by SlCKB0Y_BE, Sep 18, 2021.

  1. SlCKB0Y_BE

    SlCKB0Y_BE Active Member

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    hi everyone,

    currently building a W98SE retro-pc, got everything running pretty smoothly exept one main issue.

    i can't for the sake of me make the computer reboot in MS-DOS mode from the start menu,
    always end up freezing the computer for some reasons.

    seem to be a pretty common issue, but i'd like to know if anyone know what would more likely be the cause or better yet, a way to fix it.

    thanks a lot in advance :)
     
  2. mbk1969

    mbk1969 Ancient Guru

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    I knew exactly what to ... 15-20 years ago...

    Why do you need to boot in MS-DOS mode? As I recall MS-DOS prompt in Win9x was good enough to run games.

    PS
    Have you checked the content of autoxec.bat and config.sys files?
     
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2021
  3. Trixster

    Trixster Member Guru

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    You could restart and hit F8 till you get to the boot menu, iirc Win98 had an option to do step-by-step loading so you could try that and see where it is failing.

    Other than that, been many a year since I used it but I think I always needed in config;-

    DOS=High, UMB
    Himem.sys and emm386 loaded too
     
  4. Astyanax

    Astyanax Ancient Guru

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    I have vague memories this on certain 486+ machines and memory totals above 256MB.
     
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  5. mbk1969

    mbk1969 Ancient Guru

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    I remember using QEMM instead of emm386 - it was considered as cool memory manager.
     
  6. SlCKB0Y_BE

    SlCKB0Y_BE Active Member

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    ah, that might indeed be the issue, as my total memory is 2gb ^^ still have the 256mb ram stick i used to install windows 98 before patching tho, i shall look into it.
    thx ^^
     
  7. Trixster

    Trixster Member Guru

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    Likely, pretty sure Win98se was just 1gb max - struggles to get that working too (

    Edit: Found this, though I would guess any patch files etc are long lost - https://groups.google.com/g/comp.os.msdos.misc/c/qNFKl_iJDP0
     
  8. SlCKB0Y_BE

    SlCKB0Y_BE Active Member

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