Windows 98 screensavers were peak late‑90s tech vibes—part utility, part entertainment. Back when CRT monitors ruled, screensavers weren’t just for looks; they actually prevented burn‑in. Windows 98 shipped in June 1998 and carried over classics from Windows 95 like Flying Toasters (if you had After Dark), 3D Pipes, and Mystify, while new Direct3D graphics made them smoother and flashier. People would spend way too long picking their favorite, tweaking speed and color settings, or setting a password so your little brother couldn’t snoop. By the time Windows 98 Second Edition dropped in 1999, screensavers had become more of a digital mood—less about protecting your monitor, more about flexing your personality when you walked away from the desk.