Win 98,Can't get Linksys USB wireless to work.

Guest user · 11-03-2009, 07:02 PM

Hi all,
I've found another project.Another one that I can't figure out. No big surprise.
Here's my problem.
I came across a really nice Compaq Presario 1610,that's like new,and seems to work OK. It had windows 95,so I upgraded it to windows 98.
I'm now trying to get it to go online,but,all it has is a telephone dial-up-type modem connection.(no E cable connector)
I've tried to use Linksys USB and card slot type wireless connectors.
I can't get either the USB or the card slot connections to work with this computer.
Windows can't find any drivers for these devices,and the CD's that came with the wireless connectors won't load/open/do anything.

Am I doing some thing wrong,or is it that the Windows 98 will not operate a wireless connection,having only a dial-up modem?

Please keep in mind,I know this is an old POS computer that's worth squat,Okay,less than squat,but playing around with these old junkers is just a hobby,one that keeps me out of the bars. Which I can no longer afford to frequent.
Thanks for any advice folks.

**OldGrayGary** · 11-05-2009, 01:47 AM

Hi Guest

If your version of Windows 98 is the "2nd Edition" (often abbreviated as Win98se), you might have a decent chance of finding an old PC-card type II or type III wireless adapter with Win98se drivers. Dlink had a few decent cards - I liked them a little better than the Linksys. Some driver sites like driversguide.com might have older drivers -- such old drivers can be hard to find to download from the original vendors, because the vendors don't like to worry about providing support for unsupported operating systems (since MS discontinued official Win98 support a while back). USB support is iffy-to-awful any earlier than Win98se. Wired ethernet isn't as hard to get running for Win95 and Win98 --- and since the 1610 doesn't have built-in ethernet, you'd probably need to go with a PC-card ethernet adapter.

Any security when connected with that oldie is going to be interesting. Not much will run on that system, since it's max system memory is 80mb. Windows 95 is, in fact, the better choice as far as matching the hardware. I usually recommend a lighter version of Linux for older computers, but even the minimum requirements for Xbuntu are strained with only 80mb of ram installed. It can install if coaxed with as little as 64mb, but 128mb to 256mb are recommended (rather similiar to Win98se - it runs best with 128mb or more). Win95 can run well with anywhere from 16mb to 40mb (I remember it being quick and snappy with 40mb). You could look for older open-source operating system versions & pick up one from the same era. 'Caldera' and Red Hat had reasonably easy-to-use versions.

Is your model the one with the original Pentium @ 150mhz? Looks like the original hard drives were around 1.6gb. Pretty impressive that a laptop that age is still in good operating condition. I fixed up a similiar old Toshiba Tecra of my father's five or six years ago as a toy for my then-toddler neice. The only Internet it could manage was dial-up. It was mainly for her to play Sesame Street, Pooh Bear, & other 'edutainment' CD-based games on. It did a good job for many years for that.

Have fun with your project
. . . Gary

jackyjee · 11-08-2009, 12:50 AM

You know the main problem is the hardware company is not manufacturing the drivers for windows 98.
Thats the reason what i think.

**OldGrayGary** · 11-08-2009, 02:11 AM

If you're lucky, and your Linksys PC-card is a model that's been around for a while, there still might be a user-uploaded Win98 or Win98se driver from the days when the device was just released (on sites such as driversguide.com). Many vendors pulled perfectly good Win98/Win98se drivers from their available downloads once Microsoft ended support for Windows 98. Can't hurt to have a look.

Best of luck,
. . . Gary

Guest user · 11-10-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldGrayGary

If you're lucky, and your Linksys PC-card is a model that's been around for a while, there still might be a user-uploaded Win98 or Win98se driver from the days when the device was just released (on sites such as driversguide.com). Many vendors pulled perfectly good Win98/Win98se drivers from their available downloads once Microsoft ended support for Windows 98. Can't hurt to have a look.

Best of luck,
. . . Gary

Thanks for the idea,

Problem with downloading a driver is;I have no way to connect the computer to the net.
This may not be an issue seeing as to how the system can no longer find C drive. I think maybe the hard drive is dead.
Oh well,no great loss and I can always watch for another drive.
Guess I call this one unsolved,due to hardware failure.

Thanks for all the advice on this subject,

albertjone125 · 11-12-2009, 04:54 AM

The best idea is just upgrade your operating sofware to something like Xp.
It will definitely support your hardware.

11-03-2009, 07:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
Guest user Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 13 OS: XP Pro	Win 98,Can't get Linksys USB wireless to work. Hi all, I've found another project.Another one that I can't figure out. No big surprise. Here's my problem. I came across a really nice Compaq Presario 1610,that's like new,and seems to work OK. It had windows 95,so I upgraded it to windows 98. I'm now trying to get it to go online,but,all it has is a telephone dial-up-type modem connection.(no E cable connector) I've tried to use Linksys USB and card slot type wireless connectors. I can't get either the USB or the card slot connections to work with this computer. Windows can't find any drivers for these devices,and the CD's that came with the wireless connectors won't load/open/do anything. Am I doing some thing wrong,or is it that the Windows 98 will not operate a wireless connection,having only a dial-up modem? Please keep in mind,I know this is an old POS computer that's worth squat,Okay,less than squat,but playing around with these old junkers is just a hobby,one that keeps me out of the bars. Which I can no longer afford to frequent. Thanks for any advice folks.

11-05-2009, 01:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
OldGrayGary Mentor, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 2,240 OS: Windows 98se/2000/XP/Vista	Re: Win 98,Can't get Linksys USB wireless to work. Hi Guest If your version of Windows 98 is the "2nd Edition" (often abbreviated as Win98se), you might have a decent chance of finding an old PC-card type II or type III wireless adapter with Win98se drivers. Dlink had a few decent cards - I liked them a little better than the Linksys. Some driver sites like driversguide.com might have older drivers -- such old drivers can be hard to find to download from the original vendors, because the vendors don't like to worry about providing support for unsupported operating systems (since MS discontinued official Win98 support a while back). USB support is iffy-to-awful any earlier than Win98se. Wired ethernet isn't as hard to get running for Win95 and Win98 --- and since the 1610 doesn't have built-in ethernet, you'd probably need to go with a PC-card ethernet adapter. Any security when connected with that oldie is going to be interesting. Not much will run on that system, since it's max system memory is 80mb. Windows 95 is, in fact, the better choice as far as matching the hardware. I usually recommend a lighter version of Linux for older computers, but even the minimum requirements for Xbuntu are strained with only 80mb of ram installed. It can install if coaxed with as little as 64mb, but 128mb to 256mb are recommended (rather similiar to Win98se - it runs best with 128mb or more). Win95 can run well with anywhere from 16mb to 40mb (I remember it being quick and snappy with 40mb). You could look for older open-source operating system versions & pick up one from the same era. 'Caldera' and Red Hat had reasonably easy-to-use versions. Is your model the one with the original Pentium @ 150mhz? Looks like the original hard drives were around 1.6gb. Pretty impressive that a laptop that age is still in good operating condition. I fixed up a similiar old Toshiba Tecra of my father's five or six years ago as a toy for my then-toddler neice. The only Internet it could manage was dial-up. It was mainly for her to play Sesame Street, Pooh Bear, & other 'edutainment' CD-based games on. It did a good job for many years for that. Have fun with your project . . . Gary __________________

11-08-2009, 12:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
jackyjee Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 9 OS: Windows XP	Re: Win 98,Can't get Linksys USB wireless to work. You know the main problem is the hardware company is not manufacturing the drivers for windows 98. Thats the reason what i think. __________________ "Jacky JEE"

11-08-2009, 02:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
OldGrayGary Mentor, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 2,240 OS: Windows 98se/2000/XP/Vista	Re: Win 98,Can't get Linksys USB wireless to work. If you're lucky, and your Linksys PC-card is a model that's been around for a while, there still might be a user-uploaded Win98 or Win98se driver from the days when the device was just released (on sites such as driversguide.com). Many vendors pulled perfectly good Win98/Win98se drivers from their available downloads once Microsoft ended support for Windows 98. Can't hurt to have a look. Best of luck, . . . Gary __________________

11-12-2009, 04:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
albertjone125 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Win XP	Re: Win 98,Can't get Linksys USB wireless to work. The best idea is just upgrade your operating sofware to something like Xp. It will definitely support your hardware.