Modder Gets Windows 98 Working on Legacy Internet Appliance

A retrocomputing experiment has successfully brought Windows 98 to an unlikely device: an old internet appliance. As reported by Windows Central, the project highlights how legacy hardware can still run classic operating systems with the right workarounds.

Running Windows 98 on the Compaq iPAQ IA-2

The project was carried out by Dave Luna, known for his “Dad’s Computer Lab” YouTube channel. He managed to get Windows 98 running on the Compaq iPAQ IA-2, a device originally designed for basic internet access.

The IA-2 shipped with Windows CE and relied on MSN dial-up services, making it far from a typical Windows 98 machine. Its hardware and firmware imposed strict limitations, preventing standard installation methods.

Overcoming Hardware and BIOS Limitations

To make the project possible, Luna had to bypass several key restrictions. The device was not designed to boot from external drives or alternative media, which required creative solutions.

He wrote MS-DOS directly to the device’s 16MB flash storage, then used a chain-boot method to load Windows 98. He also modified how the system detected storage, tricking it into recognizing an IDE drive as an ATAPI device to bypass BIOS limitations.

These steps allowed the system to boot into Windows 98 despite its original constraints.

Performance and Hardware Constraints

The Compaq iPAQ IA-2 runs on a 266 MHz Geode GX1 processor with up to 256MB of SDRAM. While modest even by late 1990s standards, the hardware proved capable of running Windows 98 in a limited capacity.

Performance remains constrained, but the system can handle lightweight applications. Notably, it can run classic software like DOOM, demonstrating the success of the experiment.

A Proof of Concept, Not a Practical Setup

This project serves as a proof of concept rather than a practical solution. It shows what is technically possible when working around firmware and hardware limitations in legacy systems.

While the setup is not suitable for everyday use, it offers valuable insight into low-level system behavior and creative problem-solving in retrocomputing.

In more recent news, Microsoft has reportedly paused the automatic rollout of Copilot for Microsoft 365 and scaled back plans to integrate Copilot into notifications and system settings.

Separately, reports suggest Microsoft could pursue legal action involving OpenAI and Amazon over a new AWS-related deal, signaling rising tensions in the AI and cloud space.