I have been away from flight sims and PC games in general for several years. Recently, I picked up an old W98 machine in order to run some of my old W98 games in their original environment. Needless to say, EAW installed without a hitch on W98SE. However, I have a few questions for those of you who may be running EAW with W98.

1.) Does EAW always display as stretched on a widescreen monitor? I expected it to be pillar-boxed like an old movie on a modern TV. Is there a setting for this?

2.) Do USB joysticks not work in W98? I tried to install a Logitech Extreme Pro 3D, but was missing some HID files. It's been so long since I ran W98 that I no longer remember if I used USB controllers before upgrading to XP. I can connect and read thumb drives via USB, just not flight controllers.

Hi Savage,

I don't think Win98 supports USB, the OS is too old. EAW runs fine on WinXP but the videocard in use is essential for unproblematic install. Videocards which generate issues will benefit from wrappers like the D3D Windower or nGlide or the old glidewrapper by Hackensack.

You best run an EXE which have an OS bypass switch build in, like 1.26, 1.28, 1.60 or the FXEXE, all contain full patches and upgrades for English language 1.1 version. If you're happy to stick with Win98 I think you'll need the old fashioned audio card connector joystick.

If you like to learn more you best contact me via e-mail:

rabartel AT xs4all DOT nl (all smallprint and no spaces)

It's awkward for me to switch computers and operating systems to get entrance into HQ.

Good Luck,

VonBeerhofen

Win98se supports USB. I still use my Win98SE box for some things. I also use KernelEX on the Win98 box. KernelEX allows me to run XP programs and drivers on the Win98 box. http://kernelex.sourceforge.net/about/

Not sure if usb 2.0 was supported on Win98. Maybe just 1.0. You may need Win98SE. I remember a special download you needed to allow usb to work. Been years so im not sure.

There"s some win98 drivers here https://driverscollection.com/?H=Extreme%203D%20Pro&By=Logitech&SS=Windows%2098
Is the stick working in the control panel for windows??

I think that the d3dWindower runs in Win98. If you set the both height and width to zero in the windower settings it will run EAW in a windows which are the default sizes.
That means the selection screens will be in 640x480, but once you are in the air then the window will be the size of your width and height settings in your "eaw.ini" file, with a border.

I have tried the Logitech 4.6 download, but I keep coming up short as it asks for some HID (Human Interface Device) files. It asks me to insert my W98SE disc, but the files do not seem to be on that disc. It's not a deal breaker. I have a Soundblaster card with a gameport. I can use a gameport stick, but I would have liked to have had an option for USB.

I will look into the KernalEX and the D3D Windower as well.

I have resolved the widescreen "stretch" issue. My Samsung monitor was set to "wide" instead of "auto". I am using the same monitor for the old W98SE machine as well as my regular W7 rig. Apparently "Auto" means "native resolution". It has not been an issue up to now as everything I run in W7 is meant to be wide. Now when I boot up the W98SE machine, I get a more-or-less square image for Windows and EAW with my monitor set to "auto".

So basically, EAW installs and runs perfectly on the W98SE machine. I just have to use old gameport joysticks because of the USB issue, but otherwise, no problems so far.

I read somewhere while I did some quick research on your problem. it appears the HID drivers are in some .CAB file on the Win98SE CD.

I also read that a USB Mouse has HID Drivers for it that can be used for the joystick, or something along those lines, or there in the same location.

I know this info is vague, but I didn't put too much effort in researching it as i cant test things out here on a modern windows.