Registering Windows 98

For years I've had a Windows 98 PC that's never really been connected to the
internet (well, some dial uponce upon a time); I've just recently wiped it,
reinstalled Windows and bought a NIC (it didn't have etherney), and hooked
the PC up to my network. I'm trying to find some drivers for a few devices
and wanted Windows to search online for them. But before I can do that, I
need to register Windows 98. When I try to do that, I'm told that "The
microsoft registration site is busy; please try registering again." I'm done
this a couple of times with no success; is that site still around? Is there
another way to register, or a workaround? I'd appreciate any advice. TIA!

Brian
Thu Apr 03 19:57:33 PDT 2008

"Winston C." <Winston C.@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:22A1FBE8-FA93-44F6-B0F5-E3FC17B39086@microsoft.com...
> For years I've had a Windows 98 PC that's never really been connected to the
> internet (well, some dial uponce upon a time); I've just recently wiped it,
> reinstalled Windows and bought a NIC (it didn't have etherney), and hooked
> the PC up to my network. I'm trying to find some drivers for a few devices
> and wanted Windows to search online for them. But before I can do that, I
> need to register Windows 98. When I try to do that, I'm told that "The
> microsoft registration site is busy; please try registering again." I'm done
> this a couple of times with no success; is that site still around? Is there
> another way to register, or a workaround? I'd appreciate any advice. TIA!

You shouldn't need to register 98 and you definitely don't want Windows to
search for drivers on the MS update site. Get the drivers from the device
manufacturers support site or somewhere such as driverguide.com.

If you mention the device(s) exact make/model, others may be able to help out
in finding the drivers you need.

--


Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

philo
Fri Apr 04 03:57:39 PDT 2008


"Brian A." <gonefish'n@afarawaylake> wrote in message
news:uFC8h%23flIHA.1188@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> "Winston C." <Winston C.@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:22A1FBE8-FA93-44F6-B0F5-E3FC17B39086@microsoft.com...
> > For years I've had a Windows 98 PC that's never really been connected to
the
> > internet (well, some dial uponce upon a time); I've just recently wiped
it,
> > reinstalled Windows and bought a NIC (it didn't have etherney), and
hooked
> > the PC up to my network. I'm trying to find some drivers for a few
devices
> > and wanted Windows to search online for them. But before I can do that,
I
> > need to register Windows 98. When I try to do that, I'm told that "The
> > microsoft registration site is busy; please try registering again." I'm
done
> > this a couple of times with no success; is that site still around? Is
there
> > another way to register, or a workaround? I'd appreciate any advice.
TIA!
>
> You shouldn't need to register 98 and you definitely don't want Windows
to
> search for drivers on the MS update site. Get the drivers from the device
> manufacturers support site or somewhere such as driverguide.com.
>
> If you mention the device(s) exact make/model, others may be able to
help out
> in finding the drivers you need.
>



That's correct, you do *not* need to register Win98.


If you need to identify the devices that you need drivers for...though the
best way to do is
is to simply open the case and have a look...
a utility such as HWInfo32 should be able to identify most unknown devices.

98
Fri Apr 04 06:49:04 PDT 2008

Winston C. wrote:

> I'm trying to find some drivers for a few devices and wanted
> Windows to search online for them.

The "add new devices" / "search for a driver" dialog box in Win-98
does allow you to select "search online" (or something like that)
which connects to a Microsoft server. In the past (more than 3 years
ago) I've never used that feature, and in the past 2 or 3 years every
time I did try to use it, I don't think it ever came back with
anything useful (maybe others can describe their experience with that
feature and how exactly it was supposed to work - if it ever did).

In any case, that feature never required or prompted the user to
"register" win-98.

> But before I can do that, I need to register Windows 98.

Why do you say that?

Where / how are you being prompted to "register" your installation of
win-98?

> When I try to do that, I'm told that "The microsoft registration
> site is busy; please try registering again."

You must be seeing this at some part of the win-98 installation
process, or maybe it's part of the welcome screen / tutorial dialog
box that comes up each time you start a new install of win-98.
Normally, that box is simply dismissed so that it doesn't reappear
with every startup.

You are strongly advised to open Internet Explorer and visit the
windowsupdate website and perform a series of checks and downloads to
bring your system up to date. You might find some device drivers that
way as well. In general you will need to search the internet for
device drivers for win-98.