Windows 98 desktop and DSL

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Somebody I know gave me a machine to look at. It is a Proteva with a AMD k-6 cpu and 256mb of ram and a 10gb hard drive running Windows 98. Would having a always on internet connection or any type of connection be a problem? I have heard that is not a good idea because of security.

He just wants to use it for internet and that is about it.

As it is right now, it is pretty fast for what it is. Although there are some programs that can be deleted.

He also gave me another motherboard, an Asus Socket A 462 A7VBX along with a cpu and 1.5 gigs of memory installed. Would Windows 98 work with that? What about installing XP, would that fit on the 10gb hard drive.
 
There is nothing wrong with having an always on internet connection on windows 98.

You could put XP on the other machine since it has a decent processor and plenty of ram, however, he will run out of room using a 10gb hdd.
 
I was told that you could easily get infected with Windows 98.

Just to be clear, I am talking about 1 machine. He gave me an extra motherboard. Would I be able to use Windows 98 with the Asus motherboard? I am assuming I would have to reinstall Windows 98, right?
 
I meant on the other motherboard not machine. The only issue I see with windows 98 is that there aren't many antivirus programs still compatible with it. i would definately use the other motherboard and put XP on it.
 
What antivirus programs would work with Windows 98? How safe would it be without anitvirus? He does plan on using it for ebay so he might be using paypal.

I would like to use the other motherboard and put XP on it but I am concerned about having enough space. I don't think he plans on storing much on it, he just wants it for internet.

What about the PSU? It only has a 100 watt PSU. Would that be enough for the Asus motherboard?
 
I wouldn't trust an old 100 watt PSU even if it was for an old system.

Well, I just checked and the one that I knew still supported windows 98, doesn't support it anymore. So it looks like you are stuck with using the other motherboard and install XP. Go to the local computer repair shop and see if they have any old 40 or 60 gb hard drives for sale.
 
Yeah I wouldn't trust it either.

But part of the problem is he does not want to spend hardly any money at all on this. I told him how much XP would cost and he said I don't know about that. He said he might try to find someone that he knows that has a copy of Windows.

I need to talk to him and find out what he can spend on this.
 
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I think Windows 98 is a bad idea if he wants to use this system for the Internet because of the lack of security. Why not look at the free Linux Ubuntu 32-bit operating system? I would get either Ubuntu version 9.10 or version 10.04. The Ubuntu operating system works great for the Internet, is a very secure operating system and is also good for word processing.


You can download it here and burn yourself an Ubuntu installation disk.
http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download
 
I don't get the "always on". My old Win95 machine was only on when I dialed up. Surely you only have to be connected when you want even with a router. There's the firewall too, to block all traffic. If the machine is switched off, it's off. You wouldn't use it for your online banking though.
 
Ubuntu is way too heavy for the first machine. As for the second one - well, 98 doesn't really work with more than 512MB RAM AFAIK, so that's a no go as well; however, XP -or Ubuntu- should be fine on it.

Having an always-on internet connection won't be the problem, but the browser might. I don't know of any modern browser that works on 98, and outdated browsers are always a security risk.
 
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