Building a computer with mixed parts

retired Prof,

What operating system are you attempting to install? Can you find a better Dell model number for the machine? "DOS2Q" doesn't correspond to any Dell model. Can you get into the BIOS to look at the machine's service tag and the amount of memory? Dell has used various keyboard keys to get access to the BIOS while the system is first booting. The common ones are F2, F12, F1, Ctrl-Alt-Enter, and Delete.

Only one of the two video boards (S3 and Trident) will be needed. What driver support will be needed depends on what operating system you're installing. Incidentally, HTML is the extension normally used for Web documents, so it's very unlikely the Trident files you mentioned are drivers. Whether the ".inf" file for the monitor will be needed also depends on the operating system as well as the specifications of the monitor.

Jim

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@jimw wrote:
"DOS2Q" doesn't correspond to any Dell model.

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Message Edited by Flooby on 06-28-2005 12:50 AM

Aha! What a difference a digit can make! Flooby, your change produced a valid service tag number, and a likely one, based on the information provided! Thanks!

Based on the "as shipped" list for D0S2Q, the STB Nitro 3D video driver is the one that's needed. Assuming Win95 is the system that's being reinstalled, here's a link to that driver, and another link to the complete list of Win95 downloads.

Jim

Thanks

     I've had house guests and been unable to get back to work.  Now, first, the hard drive has win 98; so that is the operating system I want to use.  Secondly, is it not possible to use the S3 video card, which I have downloaded the software.  I have a copy of the win 98SE, but it does not have the drives that I need, or at least that is what it says.  Is this enough information?

retired prof

retired prof,

Without knowing what the Windows 98 installation is missing, it's tough to answer your question. It sounds like the most serious problem is identifying the video card(s) you have, and finding Windows 98 drivers for them. Various card vendors used the S3 and Trident chipsets on their cards, and many drivers for video cards whose original vendors have long since left the market can be downloaded from sites on the Internet. The key to finding them is to provide as much information about the card manufacturer/model and video chipset manufacturer/model as possible, and then, using Google, search for Win98 drivers using the manufacturer/model information. The chances are good that if the card was supported under Windows 98, the drivers can be found somewhere.

Post as much information as you can, and I'll be glad to help you hunt for drivers.

Jim

Jimw,

     Thanks for the info.  I can find the card data; but what, where and how do you look for the chip set information?  That is something I don't understand.

retired prof

retired prof,

The chipset manufacturer's name will be stamped on one or more of the large integrated circuits mounted on the adapter card. In some cases, only the manufacturer's logo will be stamped on the integrated circuit as identification. Those can be more difficult to track down. I don't know of a site that posts a comprehensive list of the logos that IC manufacturers have used.

There's a possibility that there will be a heatsink mounted on the video controller chip, making it impossible to determine whose chip's underneath without removing the heatsink.

Jim

Hey Jimw

     Thanks.  I'll look over the video card and try to produce some info on Tuesday.  My host guests leave on Monday, so I'll again have some free time.

retired prof

Jimw,

retired prof,

Earlier you'd said, "Secondly, is it not possible to use the S3 video card, which I have downloaded the software.". Why was that?

It looks like the Trident number that's "interesting" is TGUI9680-1, making it (I think!) a 96xx-series Trident chipset. Here's what I've found so far. There's a problem with drivers that old - it's very difficult to be certain that the download is in fact legitimate!

But why is the S3 card not an option?

Jim

jimw,

     Probably I misspoke.  Yes, I would like to use the S3 video card.  It appears to be the newest and just based on the number of chips, appears to be the most robust card of the two.  Two questions.  Do I have to have the gateway .inf file.  That is feasible through gateway.  And second, the files I downloaded for the S3 from Driveguide are multiple in number.  Should I just try them in trial and error method or is there a way of distinguishing them.

retired prof

retired prof,

There are so many choices it's difficult to say which ones might work. I searched Google using s3 virge gx 86c385 win98, and found many hits. This one from driverguide.com was only one of many. It's described as "Win9x Driver from Paradise CD,Maui 64 4MB PCI,no FCC id ,S3 Virge GX 86C385".

Regarding the .inf file from Gateway - is that a file for the monitor? It's common for there to be an .inf file describing the parameters of the monitor. It's not really a driver, since it's used as data to determine what the valid video modes for the monitor are. The monitor may be supported as a standard monitor by windows 98, but we'd have to try to determine the specifications of the monitor. That might easily be as difficult as trying to determine the identity of those two video boards is turning out to be! I'd suggest an experimental approach to the monitor, but be careful - it was possible with older monitors to cause them to fail completely if the video signal they were receiving exceeded their specifications!

Jim

jimw,

     Thanks.  Since I emailed you, I was able to get the monitor to work with the S3 drivers that I had downloaded.  So I think that problem is resolved.  Now a couple of things I'd like you to know.  First, the Dell normalled mouse connector is not working, so I had to switch to a P2 mouse on a 9 pin connection, which works, but it says there are issues.  I have a floppy with P2 drivers on it.  I'll try that first.  Any other suggestions regarding the normalled mouse connection or the driver issue?  Secondly, I'm told that I need another 9 pin card to attach my digital camera.  Can they be found or do I have to buy an new one?  Once I'm over these two hurdles, I am in good shape.  I think.

retired prof

 

retired prof,

According to the specifications for the Dell Dimension XPS M166s/M200s/M233s systems, there are two 6-pin mini-DIN connectors, one for a PS-2 mouse, and the other one for the keyboard. Also, there's one DB-9 serial connector, one DB-25 printer connector, and two USB 1.0 connectors.

There's an illustration of the back-panel connectors in the System User's Guide, a Windows Help file that you can download from Dell Support.

What type of connector does the mouse you were trying to use have? You said it was a "P2" mouse. Did you mean a "PS-2" mouse? There are adapters available which allow PS-2 mouses to be operated from serial connectors. If there was a special driver supplied by the manufacturer of the mouse, you'll need it to gain support for any advanced features the mouse may have. Basic features will probably work with the Microsoft-supplied drivers.

Also, most digital cameras are equipped to connect via USB, but not via a serial cable, which is what the DB-9 connector is. USB drivers for cameras and other USB connected storage devices didn't become common until Windows 2000, and improved dramatically with Windows XP. But does the camera manufacturer supply any software for supporting the camera on Windows 98?

Jim