IT help wanted please!

[PintoPotts]

Can anyone help...

I have an old laptop, running on Windows 98, I want to connect it to the Web but it doesn't have an ethernet cable socket instead it has a 56K modem socket.

My other PC connects to the web via a wired 4 port router, so I got a USB ethernet adaptor to get the laptop online by connecting it to the router, but for some reason the adaptor isn't working....Grrrr!

I have got a spare USB modem, but if I use that on the laptop it will mean unplugging the incoming internet connection cable from the router and into the modem, which I don't want to do, I just want to be able to access the web on the laptop via the router.

Can anyone think of an easy solution to get the laptop online?

 

Easiest is to install a PCMCIA ethernet card into the lappie - providing it has a spare slot.

I am not a fan of the USB-Ethernet adaptors, although it should work ok - maybe just not setup properly?

HTH
Mark

 

[Spire]

Hi

I don't think Win 98 suports USB I believe that you will need to install some drivers.

 

[PintoPotts]

OK, thanks

It has a USB port, so I thought it would have supported USB?

The easiest solution for me would be to get the adaptor working, I have the install CD for the adaptor, but it still doesn't work.

Anyone know what additional drivers I might need.

I am not confident with putting a new card in the laptop, although that does seem like a good solution!

 

[PintoPotts]

Managed to fix it!

Found a driver that did the job, thanks for your help...

 

[brownie]

Hi

I don't think Win 98 suports USB I believe that you will need to install some drivers.

Just to add USB support arrived with the release of Windows 98 SE (Second Edition) although it was very unstable, it was the original release that had no USB support.

 

[EDS]

brownie - I thought is was Windows 95b that was the first to support USB and all 98 editions supported it? Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Microsoft_Windows it shows the history of windows and what changed etc. Apparently Windows 95 OSR2.1 was the first to support usb but from what I have seen improvments were made in 98, so I guess some functionality might be limited in 95.

Michael.

 

[brownie]

brownie - I thought is was Windows 95b that was the first to support USB and all 98 editions supported it?

Micheal,

You're correct, my excuse is my age and the onset of senility.

 

[EDS]

Just thought i would mention it to help everyone else, I must admit I had to think twice when you said windows 98 SE hence the quick search to find the link posted.
I don't think anyone has windows 95 these days but thought it would be worth mentioning.

Michael.