USB 802.11 card that works with Win 98 (non-SE)?

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2005-03-01 06:16pm

I've been trying to find a USB 802.11 wireless ethernet adapter that works with Win98 for my step-dad. So far I've been unsuccessful. None of the ones I've seen have drivers for Win 98, only for Second Edition and beyond, sometimes even for Win 2000 and beyond. Does anybody know of a decent USB 802.11b (or g) adapter with drivers for Win 98 first edition?

And before anyone suggests PCMIA, etc., it has to be USB.

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2005-03-01 09:54pm

Why in hell are you enduring the tourture that is WIN98 FE? (The reason noone makes drivers for it is because no one likes it and it's hella outdated). Sorry to say, but that's one of the oses I've consistantly seen in the "Worst OS ever" lists...

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2005-03-02 12:49pm

It's not me, it's my step-dad. He's got a newer laptop, but has never found time to go through all the myriad of business files to move them to the new one, so he uses both. The old one has Win98 non-SE. To further complicate matters, the PCMIA drive is busted on the new one, so it has to be USB. My mom is emphatically against running a 100' cord from the downstairs all the way up to his study.

White Haven · Post by **White Haven** » 2005-03-02 12:59pm

You'll spend less time running back and forth with a jumpdrive to get the files dumped over than you would trying to find such a unicorn.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » 2005-03-02 01:27pm

Of course, in order to use a jumpdrive on 98FE, you'd need to get the drivers somehow (and with the newer ones, that means online).

White Haven · Post by **White Haven** » 2005-03-02 01:59pm

He's got a new laptop as well. New laptops work with wireless cards out of the box, and almost always have CD burners. You do the math.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » 2005-03-02 02:08pm

White Haven wrote:He's got a new laptop as well. New laptops work with wireless cards out of the box, and almost always have CD burners. You do the math.

Of course, it's easier to ask if that is the case, than to get combative. I was illuminating a potential problem before it happened, thus saving him added frustration when said roadblock came around.

It's entirely possible that the laptop doesn't have a CD-R. If it does, all well and good, problem solved, but it's only described as newer than the old 98FE system. That could mean a myriad of different things, only a few of which mean it's hot off the factory floor. In that case, an older method of sneakernet becomes key, spreading the drivers on floppies like jam on toast.

Another solution is to try and hook up the laptop to the desktop directly with a CAT5 cable and do a direct data transfer (fastest method of all).

InnocentBystander · Post by **InnocentBystander** » 2005-03-02 03:41pm

if data on the HD of this old machine is useful, just buy a case for the HD, pull it out of the old machine and do with it what you will. USB2/Firewire HD cases aren't too expensive and it gives you nice mobility and added, mobile, storage.

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2005-03-02 04:04pm

These are laptops we're talking about. Can't just rip out the HD. And if I know Bill, the "transfer files to the new machine" solution is no solution at all. He's been known to put things like that off literally for years.

So nobody ever made a wireless card with drivers for 98 FE?

InnocentBystander · Post by **InnocentBystander** » 2005-03-02 04:28pm

Arthur_Tuxedo wrote:These are laptops we're talking about. Can't just rip out the HD.

Acutally, yes you can. 2.5" HD enclosures are much cheaper than regular ones anyway! example

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2005-03-02 06:32pm

Didn't know that. Not a laptop person. I'll see if he goes for that solution. Thanks!

InnocentBystander · Post by **InnocentBystander** » 2005-03-02 07:15pm

It's a nice solution when you want to keep data on a HD, but are ready to retire the machine