Old computer issues

I'm working on an older computer right now, and I'm trying to get a USB flash drive to work on it. The computer is running Windows 98 and the drive is supposed to work with it. However, it keeps saying in the device manager that the device has no driver installed, even though it should be.

I contacted support and they keep e-mailing these .exe files that are apparently installing the driver, but they don't seem to work at all.

I just can't figure out what the problem is, and although I didn't really want to bring the issue here, I'm kind of at the last resort so any tips would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Sauer

You will probably have to install the usb extension drivers on windows98.
Check the motherboard name and search the net for usb drivers for it.

Yeah the USB drivers only came with 98b

Here,

Microsoft language patch

This is a patch which solves a timing problem in Win98SE which is most likely the problem. Read about it here .

Good luck!

I remember doing exactly this, several years ago.

The flash drive would work on anything later than Windows 98, even Millenium Edition, without installing a driver. It would also work on Win98SE, but not any earlier Win98, after installing the driver downloaded from the Lexar web site.

I'm trying to remember when this was. The drive was 128MB, so it must have been quite a while.

Yeah I have yet to try it... because as it is now, the only way to get that file to the computer is via 3.5 inch floppy, and my laptop doesn't have a floppy drive.

I could use a CD but it seems that my old computer doesn't like Vista Burned CD's.

So at this point I'm looking for a XP computer with a floppy drive to use to get the file across.

And there lies the reason why I'm doing this in the first place... I need to move files to and from it but there's no feasible way with the age gap anymore but USB, and even that is proving to be a struggle.

Doesn't the old computer have a network card?

Yes but I'm in an area where I can't connect to the internet using Windows 98.

Plus I wouldn't want to connect it to the internet because it has no firewall or antivirus, and with 98 it would be very vulnerable...

Still need to get to a computer with a floppy drive... hmmm...

>Yes but I'm in an area where I can't connect to the internet using Windows
>98.

I was thinking more along the lines of plugging it into a router together with a laptop. The router does not need WAN access to deliver DHCP services to a LAN.

Either that or plug your CDROM burner into the old PC.

Sauer: Use a freeware CD/DVD burner to burn a CD in ISO format (or old DOS format, if you can find an option to do so). Vista burns discs using UDF, which Win98 is too old to understand.

Networking is also possible. Hook up your laptop to a switch, switch to the PC. Set the PC's IP to 192.168.0.1 and your laptop to 192.168.0.2 (netmask 255.255.255.0 will work fine). Setting up filesharing between 98 and XP can be a realy pain, but it is possible (and once done, easy to replicate).

Failing that, if you've got an old HD, format it to FAT32 and switch it between the laptop (in an external enclosure, cheap USB2 ones exist) and the PC.

This networking option sounds feasible, but I'm completely clueless on anything networking.

And I'll do the freeware CD burner option to get files TO the computer, but that doesn't help getting files from it.

I also considered just buying a USB 3.5" floppy drive for my laptop but that seems just silly.

Thanks for all the help, I'm glad I decided to ask here.

Ok I'm having trouble finding an app that will do what you mentioned above.

Can anyone provide a link to one?

Thanks,
Sauer

Sauer: Have a look on http://www.portableapps.com/ I know you're not looking to install software on a USB drive (which is what that site is about), but they do link to a freeware CD/DVD burning application. I can't remember the name of it just now!

Try this:

http://www.wintricks.it/faq/usbpen98.html

It works with every pen-drive/flash drive/thumb drive I tested, on win98. Only problem is you cant have more than one connected at the same time.
(Site is in Italian, but installation is easy enough)

I've been using it on Windows 98 (first edition!) without a problem for more than a year.

Ok great news, I got it to work! I'm so excited, running around my dorm freaking out scaring the neighbors.

Thanks for everyone that helped. Pilip7, the program didn't work, apparently I have the first edition of Windows 98. And to VinylPusher, the app wouldn't install right on my computer for some reason.

On the verge of throwing it out the window, I downloaded the driver SLotman supplied, and it worked.

I cannot thank everyone here enough. Thank you so much for being as helpful as you all were and patient to my needs!

Again, thanks, this means so much to me.
Sauer

SLotman: You da man ;)

Glad you got it sorted, Sauer.