I have several older pieces of software that I would like to use. However I need to dumb down my laptop from window XP to windows 98 Is there a cheap/free way to this?
most windows 98 software can be ran in XP using "compatibility mode", but you might have to adjust other compatibility settings to get it to work. i have never had problems running windows 98 software in xp, or even vista, even without compatibility mode, so your actual hardware may be to blame.
to access compatibility mode, right click on the program's .exe file or desktop shortcut and choose "properties" and then select the "compatibility" tab. there you will find options to run in windows 98 mode, and several video options. you may have to try several different video configurations along with windows 98 mode before you find the one that works.
if the compatibility options dont fix it, then the processor is probably too fast for the program, and you will have to download software (if available for your motherboard/model) to underclock, or slow down, your processor. to find the right software to do this will take quite a bit of research, and may be beyond your skill level.
there is also a free program called microsoft virtual pc that can run other versions of windows in a "virtual computer" inside your windows xp desktop. you can download virtual pc from the microsoft website, and i believe that it comes with, or has available for free, a windows 98 virtual os. if it does not make the windows 98 virtual software available for free, then you will, unfortunately, have to purchase a windows 98 cd on ebay.
to actually wipe xp and replace it with windows 98 may not be feasible because the windows drivers might not be available for your computer, and the proper drivers are necessary to access all of your hardware. there is no support for windows 98 anymore, so the drivers are quite hard to find, if they were even ever made.
can you please provide more information? what is your question?
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