2 problems I see here (aside from aging)
1st problem: Video card drivers. You aren't using the correct one for your card, and it's such an antiquated model that correct support isn't available.
1st solution: Get model of video card, locate last update for it that runs on win95/98. Install.
2nd problem: CD.
This isn't so easy. The last time I encountered this was due to the fact that the CD was using DOS realmode drivers, not Windows miniport drivers. With the age of your machine this is likely.
However, there's about a 2-year span in there where CD drives were made and some of those would run natively in Windows 98 just fine. Others wouldn't.
Here's how to check yours.
In explorer, locate C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\EBD
The file you need is OAKCDROM.SYS - you need to copy this to your ROOT directory C:
Next step - back your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files to floppy before going ANY further in case this does NOT work for you so you can restore.
Now go into notepad and open C:\Config.sys
You'll be looking for a line that looks like
Device=c:\cdrom\driver.sys /D:MMCD001 (or something similar - the /D is usually the key)
Another possibility is that DEVICE will actually read DEVICEHIGH
Make this line read the same up to the C:\ part
so you have DEVICE=C:
now add to that
OAKCDROM.SYS /D:MYCD
Finished product looks like
DEVICE=C:\OAKCDROM.SYS /D:MYCD
(or devicehigh, as the case may be)
Save this file. Now edit the autoexec.bat file
You're looking for a line that has MSCDEX.EXE in it.
This should be surrounded by remarks about being commented out by the windows installer, and the front of this line should read REM.
This is CORRECT.
If the MSCDEX.EXE does NOT have REM in front of it, PUT REM in front.
REM stands for REMark and makes the OS skip it and move on.
Ok, save the file. Shutdown and reboot.
Now see if first you can read a data CD. Make sure you have a drive letter for the CD. And finally see if you get audio.
If not, there is one other thing to check - make sure you have proper audio cabling (shouldn't have changed in your case), and check the volume controls, ensuring that CD volume is neither all the way down nor muted. about 90% is a good place to leave that slider.
If your volume knobs are ok, you're getting OTHER sound, plug headphones into the front of the CD (most have a jack) and make sure it's reading audio.
If not, despair not - a replacement CD will cost you a stunning $35 and takes about as long to replace as it took you to read this
Procedure is easy (with some experience) too.
1) Remove power
2) Remove plug from wall
3) Really remove plug from wall
4) Do not insert screwdriver into wall
5) Open case
6) TOUCH CASE RAIL WITH HANDS (both of them)
7) Remove all cabling to CD - follow where it goes so you know.
8) Remove screws from CD
9) You made sure no CD was in it before all of this right? If you didn't there's a little hole in the face - stick a paper clip in the hole and push gently, the tray will pop out.
10) Insert new drive after reading directions and setting jumpers appropriately.
11) Screw it down snugly (Watch it there, Conan)
12) Plug in new cables (if possible - older audio cables might need replacing to work)
13) Plug machine into wall and test prior to closing it all back up.
14) Call spouse something suitable, explain that the fact that the computer is older than the one in the car is why it's having problems, not anything you did.
15) Snort derisively.
16) After dusting self off following fierce attack by spouse, computer should be done booting.
Now please note - older CD's plugged into interface cards or into sound cards. New ones do NOT - they plug into the same kind of cable as your hard drive (in most cases). If you aren't comfortable with this please don't attempt it - get a professional, or get yourself a copy of either "Hardware for Dummies" or "A+ Certification Made Easy" - books along these lines will give you diagrams on how to do this stuff.
17) Make spouse go buy you a shiny new computer, and stick him with the old one.
Good luck to you
