6 replies to this topic

[canadianken]

Just put 98SE on an old computer with a Packard Bell monitor...ancient, I know...most games I try to install say they won't run unless "256 colors"...monitor settings only have 2 and 16 colors and slide bar adjuster is greyed out so can't adjust the settings, just 2 or 16...is this a monitor issue or some setting that I'm not aware of???

[Berton]

It usually means you need to install the drivers for the video/display adapter to get 256 or more colors and higher resolutions than 640x480.

[canadianken]

I went through a whole list of drivers on the 98 disk and still only get 2 or 16 colors...is it the monitor that was made in 1995????????

[Smokey]

Hi Ken, As Berton mentioned this is in fact a graphics driver problem. Since you don't have the proper manufacturers driver installed programs like Belarc Adviser and Everest won't be accurate in their findings for the type of video card or integrated video that you have. These types of programs read the drivers info to determine what your hardware configuration is. The Microsoft native 98 drivers are only good enough to get you started. You can try to use those programs to access the motherboard info if your video is integrated and cross reference the findings to find what graphics card was integrated. Then you can search for the proper chipset drivers (motherboard drivers) and graphic drivers.

The old monitor that you're using will be fine.

[Berton]

Or you could open the computer and look at either an add-in video/display adapter for make and model or if onboard video look for a black IC/Integrated Circuit 'chip' with a brand and number. The may be several but use a flashlight to read them and write down the data and post back here. Some will be easy to identify and others not so easy.

Click on the image on this page to get an idea of what to look for:
http://www.fic.com.tw/product/motherboard/...px?model_id=120
The 'chip' will be about 1" square black, may be a bit larger. If it is under a heatsink, look for a model number of the motherboard.

[Smokey]

One thing we both forgot to post.

Is this computer custom built or manufactured by a company like Packard Bell, Dell, HP, Compaq etc? You posted the make of the monitor but not the computer. If it is manufactured, what brand and model is it? You might find a ID tag on the computer case.

[canadianken]

Sorry for the late response but after trying more things with this system, I just gave up. It's a packard bell system and I've been all over trying to track down that elusive driver...did open it up {thanks for that suggestion} and only got a number from the "card"..after a few weeks of this thing taking over my free time I suddenly figured it out...why am I bothereing to "fix" this thing when it"ll, at best, be able to play a few simple games and maybe slog around on the internet?? I gave up and recycled the thing....I only agreed to try and clean this old clunker up because I thought it would be fun and a learning experience....well, it ain't fun no more and I learned not to take on another project like this again!!!!!I do thank you for your help and your suggestions helped me explore alot more avenues that I could come up with on my own....the driver is just out of date...........the things too old........thanks again.................