Alliance Help needed

[The Seeker]

What chipset do you have on your motherboard, BTW? Have you got an AGP slot, and if so, have you got the latest BIOS updates or patches for it? I know the VIA chipsets have caused problems in the past to do with AGP slots, etc. Also, what version of Windows 98 are you running? I've found Win98SE is more stable than plain old Windows 98 with it's patches

 

I had a feeling you would ask that. I don't know. I have looked through all of my literature that came with my system, and have never found anything about my mobo. Is there anything I could look for in the case to find out manually. And no, it has no AGP slots so, I have the PCI version of that vid card. I think I have just plain old Win98, but I have never downloaded any patches for it. That may sound strange, but as is obvious, I am relatively new to computer stuff. My parents bought this system two years ago mainly for word processing and internet access. It wasn't until later that I discovered the beauty of PC gaming. But, I started with JK and other older games, which my slow system handled beautifully, and I never knew the difference. It wasn't until I started coming to these forums that I learned new stuff about computers. (seriously, I learned more here than I did in my High School PC specialist elective) So, I have never needed any patches, and truth be told, am sketchy on how to download them and what to do with them.

 

Then, I got to Alliance, and noticed for the first time that one of my games played sort of jumpy and wierd (which I fixed with a little in game tweaking). Then, I heard about outcast and realized that I would need to upgrade. So, I got some more RAM and finally a new Vid card.

 

So, in short, I know very little about all this, and have no idea what kind of mobo I have or what chip it uses. Basically, I know how to maintain my system and upgrade things for my PCI slots and get extra RAM. I can identify the stuff in my case, but beyond those things, I'm relatively lost, when it comes to upgrades and downloads.

 

So, are there any patches that I should get for Win98? Where would I find them? And what do I look for on my mobo to get any helpfull info?

 

Thanks again StormHammer. I can usually count on you for help. Which reminds me, you can cancel those avatars that you were hosting for me on your webspace. As it turns out, Waccy Baccy designed this one from scratch for me since my old ones looked terrible and all. So, thanks for the help.

[Wacky_Baccy]

Originally posted by JediKnight_114

Basically, I know how to maintain my system and upgrade things for my PCI slots and get extra RAM. I can identify the stuff in my case, but beyond those things, I'm relatively lost, when it comes to upgrades and downloads.

 

The board should have the manufacturer, model, and revision clearly visible on it in large print... but you may have to hunt for it amongst the various connectors and capacitors etc. ...

 

If you can find the motherboard make/model/revision we should be able to find out what chipset you have without any heatsink removal (there may not even be any to remove, but it's best not to do so if you don't know how to put it back on )

 

So, are there any patches that I should get for Win98? Where would I find them?

 

Yes - definitely.

 

Clicking Start > Windows Update will get you to the place you need to be (Unless 98 is different there from 98SE...)

 

Or go here - http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

 

When the page has loaded, click "Product Updates" and it will automatically check what upgrades you need. (Try not to have too many other things running at this point - it sometimes won't work for me if I have another IE or several open at the same time, and don't run any pop-up stoppers at the time, either)

 

Just follow the on-screen steps (It installs any selected updates automatically)

 

You're probably in for several hours of downloads if you've got plain old 98 and have never updated it

[StormHammer]

Okay, JediKnight_114...

 

To check your version of Windows, try this...

 

If you have the original CD...check it, it should say Second Edition on it somewhere.

 

Failing that...

 

Click on..

 

Start

Settings

Control Panel

 

That should bring up a new Window.

 

Look for and double-click on System

 

This brings up a new dialog.

 

Click the General tab...and voila, it should tell you the version of Windows on your system. If it is Second Edition, then this should be plainly visible. If you don't see Second Edition...then you are probably running standard Windows 98...and based on past experience it has some issues, requiring patches to support AGP and USB... Of course, if you haven't got an AGP slot, there shouldn't be as much of an issue...it's just that Win98 standard edition had some issues with AGP slots, etc.

 

It is a good idea, as Waccy_Baccy said, to try clicking Start > Windows Update (make sure you are connected to the net first, to alleviate any problems ). Then, when the new Explorer window opens (I assume you are using IE), you click on the link for Product Updates...and it should ask to download a system checker. Okay that...and then, it will analyse your PC, and see if any updates are needed. (There usually are - the Critical Updates are the most important. )

 

As he also stated, just looking carefully at your motherboard, you should be able to find a Model/Make/Serial number, and armed with that information you can go to the manufacturer's site for a complete run-down on your board (if it's not too old - some manufacturers just don't bother keeping that kind of information in their archives. ). If you don't get any satisfaction with the manufacturer's site, you can always try a search in Google - you'd be surprised how many sites are out there with info on older tech.

 

A question I forgot to ask is which version of Direct X do you have installed?

 

You should be able to check that by clicking Start > Run...and typing in DXDiag, then hitting return. If the dialogue box comes up, it should show the Direct X version down the bottom. Sometimes updating to the most recent version of DirectX can help...but sometimes it can create even greater issues with older games.

 

The only other thing I can think of is that you might have to try different versions of the Nvidia drivers for your card - and not necessarily the most current drivers. I've had problems in the past myself just downloading and installing the latest driver versions...sometimes you have to take a step back, and test, and see if there are any issues, and maybe downgrade them again until you find something that is stable. Don't expect to break any speed barriers with a PCI card, anyway, because the PCI bus is a bottleneck.

 

As a last resort, you could also try swapping the card to another PCI slot...in case the one it's in now is faulty, or there's a conflict somewhere else that isn't showing up.

 

Regrettably, I'm not an Uber-Tech-head, and I've never delved too deeply into the mechanics of Windows 98, or I might be able to suggest more.

 

Anyway, you know where I am if you want to pick my brain again.

[The Seeker]

Okay, I just checked everything and here's what I came up with:

 

I have Win98 SE (shocking)

 

DirectX 8.0

 

And, on my mobo, I found three black squares with writing on them.

 

The first one (I think it's the winner) said this:

EliteMT LP61G6464BF-5

9947S H2B18HA

 

Second square:

VT8501 0001 CD

13G00 3700

 

Third Square:

VT82C686A

9952CD 12EON6C0C

 

So, which one should I be looking for?

 

I also switched ports for my vid card, but that changed nothing, so, I'll try that windows update thing.

 

Anything else I should know before I try that?

 

Thanks again.

[StormHammer]

Hmmm...

 

I have Win98 SE (shocking)

 

DirectX 8.0 (you could try installing 8.1, though I can't see there would be a major difference. )

 

And, on my mobo, I found three black squares with writing on them.

 

The first one (I think it's the winner) said this:

EliteMT LP61G6464BF-5 <----- a distinct possibility.

9947S H2B18HA

 

None of those codes really jump out and say motherboard moniker, but I'd go with that as your prime candidate. As for the manufacturer...it's anybody's guess. You're going to have to do a search.

 

Anyway...try the Windows update as well...it can't hurt.