Inspiron 600m and Windows 98: Drivers available / downloadable?

I'm not going to sleep tonight...

I'm having mixed results w/ a wireless driver I found on Gateway's site.  They use the Broadcom chip (same as 1300).

I get a good signal, recognize the Wireless Network Name, and can adjust the settings, but cannot get through the internet.  I think it's a Win98 bug (seems likely).  I'll get it.

I won't post the link until  I know it works, but it's not that hard to find.  Look in the downloads for 600 series laptops (it's listed as XP/2000 only, but it installed).  There are 98 drivers included, go figure.  I may play w/ Dell's install to see if they include the drivers in the folder.

I'm in "XP mode", right now;  Going back to "98 mode" to play...

To install windows-98 Radeon Mobility drivers on your Dell (well, specifically the 600m but maybe many other Dell's with ATI chips) do this:

Download this file (rad_w9x_omega_2633.exe)

http://downloads.driverheaven.net/omega/rad_w9x_omega_2633.exe

(Which is from this page if you're interested: http://www.driverheaven.net/downloads/index4.htm)

Run that program (it will unpack itself somewhere - I forget where).  Run the install.  The install failed for me.  Doesn't matter.  If it fails for you too, do this:  Go to the Display Adapter in your device manager and re-install the driver manually.  Use the "have disk" method.  It will be looking for an INF file.  Point it to the directory where the Omega drivers were unpacked.  There will be 2 INF files in one of the directories.  The files have the same names except one has an "8" and the other has a "9" in it.  I used the first one (8).  I don't know what the difference is between them.

There will be a long list of adapter names (they should end in Omega).  For the Inspiron 600m, I chose the plain Radeon 9000 Omega.  After it installed I was able to change the display to 1400 x 1050.  Through the docking port I was able to get the dual display going (expanded desktop across 2 monitors).

Apparently there is a program called a "DH Mod tool".  This program modifies certain files from the catalyst set so you can install the latest catalyst set on your laptop.

Here is some info:

http://www.driverheaven.net/patje/

Patje's Mobility Modding
This page will tell you all about the DH Mod tool V1.7.

Other links that might be of interest:

http://www.techspot.com/drivers/index/file/download/2048
http://www.omegacorner.com/index_ati.html
http://xxlpack.ovh.net/~stationd/page/atidriv.htm

Still trying to get the modem working (the modem driver is installed and reports that everything is OK but it doesn't create a COM-2 port to link to the modem).  This is the only modem driver that actually installed successfully:  Msi_MS-6946_win9xme.zip - got it from one of those driver web-sites - the one where you use "user-name:  drivers  /  password: all".

Have stopped looking for USB driver for floppy.  If you find one please post.

If you find out how to have the computer turn itself off when you shut down, please post.

Make sure your wireless/bluetooth is turned off.  If that works and your computer shuts down, that may be the culprit.  Mine would hang at the part that says Windows is Shutting Down.

I was able to successfully install the bluetooth drivers using Dell's download (go figure - it's supposed to be for XP).  Can't verify whether they work, but it solved the Shut Down issue.

Let me know if that works.

Still no luck on the Wireless - actually took a step backwords by, I think, forcing something else to use a generic driver.  I could use some suggestions on how to undo that.

Someone just told me about a couple of programs that will allow you to run other OS's from within XP.  VMWARE and Virtual PC (Microsoft).  Apparently, they trick the system into running from inside a folder, instead of on a partition.  Anyone ever try these?  Probably open up a new can of worms...

Yes, I was also able to install the blue tooth drivers, but I removed them because I didn't get the blue-tooth option when I ordered this laptop.

Mine doesn't hang at the "Windows is shutting down" screen.  It gets past that and I get the screen "It is safe to turn your computer off".  I'd like it to actually turn off by itself at that point.  Anyone know what prevents this?

Sorry can't help you with your wireless drivers.  Did you get the more expensive wireless hardware (the one that does the "g" as in 801.g (or what-ever) protocal?  I didn't get that (just got the a/b).  Seems the g is still experimental and chances are you're not going to come across it (or won't benefit much from it vs the b protocal).

Did you try the same place I got my wireless drivers from?  (see the other posts in this thread).

Since I totally formatted the drive in this laptop and installed Win-98 there is no trace of XP on it anymore so I can't (and really don't want to) mess with emulators or other junk like that.

One thing I've noticed is that there are 3 physical USB ports which is sorta strange since they usually come in pairs.  AND, there is an unknown USB device in my device manager that might be connected to a 4'th USB port inside the laptop (just a theory).  Anyone running XP on this laptop should be able to identify any such hardware (please post if this is the case).

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@sm5w2 wrote:

Yes, I was also able to install the blue tooth drivers, but I removed them because I didn't get the blue-tooth option when I ordered this laptop.

That shouldn't be an issue w/ your shut down problems then.  Win98 has always been funny about that.  What's causing it is the Power Management in the registry.  Sometimes you can delete this through System/Hardware, sometimes you can't.  If you can find something in power management to enable APM or something similer, that could solve it.  Many times, w/ 98, if it doesn't recognize it off the bat, you have to jump through hoops to get it to work.  I can't offer any other info.  Try turning off your wireless card (Fn+F2, toggle) and see if that helps.

Mine doesn't hang at the "Windows is shutting down" screen.  It gets past that and I get the screen "It is safe to turn your computer off".  I'd like it to actually turn off by itself at that point.  Anyone know what prevents this?

Sorry can't help you with your wireless drivers.  Did you get the more expensive wireless hardware (the one that does the "g" as in 801.g (or what-ever) protocal?  I didn't get that (just got the a/b).  Seems the g is still experimental and chances are you're not going to come across it (or won't benefit much from it vs the b protocal).

802.11g has been finalized, and it's a huge improvement.  The max. speed is 54mbps -vs- 11mbps and you usually only get a percentage of your wireless speed (based on distance, etc.), anyway, so if you get 50% of 54 (27) -vs- 11 (5.5) you can see where it really helps.  802.11a is useless, unless you have a Mac, I believe, since nobody really supports it.  Bad move on your part (see if you can exchange the wireless card to the 1300).  Just my opinion.

Did you try the same place I got my wireless drivers from?  (see the other posts in this thread).

Since I totally formatted the drive in this laptop and installed Win-98 there is no trace of XP on it anymore so I can't (and really don't want to) mess with emulators or other junk like that.

One thing I've noticed is that there are 3 physical USB ports which is sorta strange since they usually come in pairs.  AND, there is an unknown USB device in my device manager that might be connected to a 4'th USB port inside the laptop (just a theory).  Anyone running XP on this laptop should be able to identify any such hardware (please post if this is the case).

I believe that the bluetooth module plugs into a usb connection (internally).  I could be wrong about that, but something does.

 

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Message Edited by incognito_user on 02-04-2004 01:09 PM

"Aquired" a copy of Virtul PC 5.1 and installed.  This thing is sweet!

It allows you to install as many OS's as you want within folders on your hard drive.  This means you can install and run 95,98,98se,ME,2000,Linux, and I believe maybe MAC (don't hold me to that, I'm probably wrong) during your XP session.  If you corrupt an OS, you simply delete the folder and re-install.

I'll keep you posted.

Only bummer is that if it works, I will probably have to delete the 98 partition, which could affect the boot.ini file and I'd lose XP as well, causing me to have to re-install everything.  It would be worth it, though!

My guess is that MS Virtual PC 2004 is the same program, perhaps updated;  I'd bet that MS bought out Connectix (Author of my version, 5.1).

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/virtualpc/previous/default.asp

Message Edited by incognito_user on 02-04-2004 04:56 PM

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