Wifi on Windows 98 1st Edition?

By spunker88
in Microsoft (Windows)

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spunker88

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I have an old windows 98 first edition 333mhz 160mb ram, 3gb hd. I also have wifi set up in my home. Is there any way to get this dinosaur back on the net again. Everything i see wants windows 98se.

I need to find something that works on windows 98, and don't just say "update the os". :no: If i put too much $ in this, im going to just want to get a cheap pc or used locally. :no:

Can anybody here help me get this dinosaur back online?

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https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/488090-wifi-on-windows-98-1st-edition/
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Grand Master

riahc3

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Nope. You ain't gonna see Windows 98 FE with WiFi. You MIGHT get some support on a very very very old WiFi PCI card but its possibly not gonna be compatible with your current router.

The only way is updating to Windows 98 Second Edition.

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spunker88

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What about a Wireless Ethernet Bridge? I could then use the computer's ethernet port which is already there, and used to be used. This beast used to run broadband internet back in its day. Now it just has some old games on it.

I am still using the same cable modem on my new pc that was on this one. Just added the router.

Isnt all the converting done in the bridge, and then this old pc would think its just wired. That should work.

by the way,

love this site! What a fast reply!

Grand Master

JK1150

Posted
Posted

Would you be able to upgrade the OS? That computer could run Windows 2000 easily, or even Windows XP if you disable all the effects. Otherwise, tell us what wifi card you have, and we may be able to direct you to compatible software. If you don't have a wifi card yet, just look on the box and see if it is Windows 98 compatible.

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spunker88

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Would you be able to upgrade the OS? That computer could run Windows 2000 easily, or even Windows XP if you disable all the effects. Otherwise, tell us what wifi card you have, and we may be able to direct you to compatible software. If you don't have a wifi card yet, just look on the box and see if it is Windows 98 compatible.

I wish i had 2000, b/c it would run fine. I do have xp, but everyone tells me its too much for it. I dont need the bells and whistles of xp, ill disable everything i need to. It would be nicer havin xp, i may upgrade it and see.

Grand Master

Quillz

Posted
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The system requirements of WinXP are only slightly higher than those of Win2000, and by running the Windows Classic theme and disabling all the eye candy for best performance (which is easy to do,) you should be able to run WinXP quite well.

Collaborator

MaX Velocity

Posted
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I acctually have an old machine (p2 350mhz 447ram win98FE) with wifi running on it smoothly, I only use it to keep my backups on it. it's using a datel WiFimax dongle (DS/PSP dongle alternative).

not sure if this is of any use to you, I bought it for around ?18.

Rookie

spunker88

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I acctually have an old machine (p2 350mhz 447ram win98FE) with wifi running on it smoothly, I only use it to keep my backups on it. it's using a datel WiFimax dongle (DS/PSP dongle alternative).

not sure if this is of any use to you, I bought it for around ?18.

Thats the thing. I dont want to put too much $ in to this pc. I can put up to 256mb of ram in it. But another 128 stick is $, especially this older kind.

Also, i may want to upgrade the hd.

I'm thinking about buying fixed up used pc locally. You can get a ghz proc good 256-512 ram, xp pro, office, around $100 from a small local pc shop in my area.

Community Regular

MajorSham

Posted
Posted (edited)

WHAT ABOUT THIS!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16833109008

IT HAS WIN98 FE COMPATIBILITY! I'm so happy they exsist!

Is your PC a laptop? If not, you'll have no way to connect that card to your PC short of finding a PCI to PCMCIA/Cardbus adapter, and that is extra $.

Your best bet is the ethernet to wireless bridge you mentioned before. With that, you can connect whatever you want to it. Hack your old Commodore 64 to add ethernet? Connect a wireless ethernet bridge and BAM! Wireless Commodore. Connect wireless bridge to PC, set NIC to DHCP, and connect to ethernet/wireless bridge's web based config page (ie http://192.168.1.245/) to choose network, SSID, encryption, etc.

Edited by Divide Overflow
  • 2 weeks later...
Mentor

aclarke_31

Posted
Posted

Ignore this lot :p

Buy yourself a network adapter for your Windows 98 FE PC, if you don't have one on board already :p, then buy yourself a Wireless Access Point and connect the wireless access point to the wireless network :p

No need for drivers, just make sure you set the new wireless access point up in client mode instead of service mode and you should be fine :)

Or if you prefer hardwire it ;)

lol

  • 2 weeks later...
Grand Master

Elliot B.

Posted
Posted

After looking for a while, I got a Windows 98SE cd, so this will help a lot.

I also found Windows 2000, only if needed.

Why not install Windows 2000? More modern and more stable than 98/98SE, and of course, has more drivers written for it etc.

Grand Master

Elliot B.

Posted
Posted

98se takes less space, uses less resources, and it works with wifi!!!!!!!!!

Most systems that can run 98/98SE can run 2000 SP4 and 2000 will support Wi-Fi more so than 98/98SE.

If you insist on using 98SE, install the 'Unofficial Windows 98 SE Service Pack' (2.1a at time of posting) from here.

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