Device drivers from windows 98

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PDropa

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We have a very old machine that still works off a windows 98 box. This machine is too expensive to replace and works perfect. We even have a second machine as a backup.
Is it possible to get the drivers off the windows 98 box and have them developed for windows 7?
I dont want to get hold of developers and look like a tit when this is not possible.

The machine is basically a fancy heat printer.
 
Jet-Fighter7700

Jet-Fighter7700

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PDropa said:
We have a very old machine that still works off a windows 98 box. This machine is too expensive to replace and works perfect. We even have a second machine as a backup.
Is it possible to get the drivers off the windows 98 box and have them developed for windows 7?
I dont want to get hold of developers and look like a tit when this is not possible.

The machine is basically a fancy heat printer.
Click to expand...

drive using driverguide/drivernavigator and see if it will pick up the updated drivers with win 7,
or try with a latest version like 10 and see if it works? dos windows update help find anything?
 
gregmcc

gregmcc

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Unless you have the source code for the drivers who are going to have a hard time recompiling them for Windows 7.

What device drivers are these?
 
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PDropa

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The software is all in German. The name of the machine is PRaZIMARK foiling machine. The gold\silver "2016" you see on your diaries is what it does.
I think this machine existed before the internet :)

We havent got any software other than whats on the windows box.
 
DanDango

DanDango

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DriverPack Solution, 10gig download of most drivers if not all drivers, I have an old laptop with a ati x300 igpu I use win xp drivers installed on win 7, look if you can at least find win xp drivers.

https://drp.su/index.htm
 
The_Librarian

The_Librarian

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First step - do a xcopy *.* to an external device in DOS mode right now, to make sure you've got a good copy of all the device drivers and files. It will not copy hidden files, but you will at least have a copy of the working device drivers.

Then investigate the possibility of running this specific PC in Virtualbox/Hyper-V etc.

Assuming that it is a parallel printer (LPT) then it'll be a bit more difficult as I'm not sure about LPT passthrough in a virtual environment...

But if you have the device driver names etc, a google should give you some clues on the programmers/company who produced this software. Chances are they will still be around, if not, somebody may have bought them out - in which case the possibility of obtaining newer device drivers will exists.

If the company went titsup, and there is no source code repository, then you're stuck up the proverbial creek....
 
DanDango

DanDango

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PDropa said:
The software is all in German. The name of the machine is PRaZIMARK foiling machine. The gold\silver "2016" you see on your diaries is what it does.
I think this machine existed before the internet :)

We havent got any software other than whats on the windows box.
Click to expand...

Clone the drive run in virtual machine on a new pc
 
P

PDropa

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Thanks. Will start download now and see how far we get.
Its a start.
 
werfie

werfie

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PDropa said:
We have a very old machine that still works off a windows 98 box. This machine is too expensive to replace and works perfect. We even have a second machine as a backup.
Is it possible to get the drivers off the windows 98 box and have them developed for windows 7?
I dont want to get hold of developers and look like a tit when this is not possible.

The machine is basically a fancy heat printer.
Click to expand...

Surely the manufacturers of this machine must have updated drivers/software without you having to replace the actual hardware or doesn't the company exist anymore?
 
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sajunky

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Machine of this age might have copy protection in software or hardware. Inspect all extension cards whether there are generic. Any non plug&play card need more attention. Check plug&play cards drivers by hardware ID's, it looks like: PCI\VEN_1180&DEV_0832&SUBSYS_30C2103C&REV_02. Printing on the PCB will also give a clue.

Secondly make full clone of hard drive and run machine from the clone (keep old drive safe, have also image file). If works on new hard drive, then you can make plans for running Win98 in virtual machine. Software protection would trigger on a new hard drive if present.

Replacing PC depends on the communnication hardware between PC and machine. It could be standard serial ports or parallel ports, but it could be also proprietary cards. Figure it out, if present, you must move it to the new PC (with the same h/w interface and compatible drivers). Frequently such drivers are proprietrary. It will be the most critial part for your plans, as virtual machine will not emulate such hardware.

Finally, employ for this job a skilled professional with 30 years of experience and good record.
 
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