Windows 98 + Windows 98SE help/advice needed!

Steve-182

Both my computer and my parents computer each have Windows 98 (first edition) installed as its OS.

I can use my digital camera and connect it to either PC with the use of a USB cable, and directly upload the photos onto each PC. Its a Canon IXUS II.

My parents are looking to buy a new digital camera, and a lot of the newer ones say that the minimum OS supported is Windows 98SE.

Now..... a guy at Dixons, who appeared to know what he was talking about, said that the difference here between 98 and 98SE is the ability to use a USB cable. If you're able to upload photos via USB then the camera probably installed whatever drivers it needs, to be able to "comply" with 98SE. So even though the OS is 98first edition, it should now be OK to buy any camera that specifies 98SE as the minimum specs.

A girl at Jessops said you'd need a "card reader" but my instinct was that she was trying to sell extra unnecessary hardware.

Now is that a load of rubbish, or is he or she correct? If my OS was originally 98 and I'm able to use my existing camera via USB, then can i buy my parents any camera with a 98SE min spec?

I hope this makes sense !!!!! Advice greatly appreciated.

Mr_Skint_2

You can buy a Camera as long as you have the correct drivers
for the USB ports and as long as you install the camera properly
but then again I would be tempted not to get a camera and put it on a
win98 machine as the new USB 2.0 will more than likely crash the PC.

CIS

win98 can support usb but most usb devices state 98se because 98se has improved usb support, they may be written not work with without the service pack [the main difference between 98 and 98se]. There was an upgrade cd for 98 to 98se,but you may not be able to get a hold of one.

drlight_2

You can install USB drivers on any windows version, it's just that they didn't include them in win 98 first edition setup disk or cd. If you don't have them installed download them from microsoft (& they're sometimes a copy on a usb device's install disk) but if you are using any usb device then you allready have them.

At least that's the theory. Win 98 had a few bugs installing USB & not recognising devices, but if you have them working don't worry, if not consider win 98se or winodws & internet explorer updates at microsoft.

Steve-182

Thanks to you all for some speedy advice.

Cheers everyone.

Tony_H_3

To be honest "card readers" are cheap as chips these days. ALL transfers to my PC are done via a "card reader" this reduces the amount of 3rd party software installed to take care of the differing devices.

My old DC a Sony Cyber Shot used to cause havock with the PC using the picture bridge software, it was also very slow to transfer files. Using a memory card reader is just like shifting files around using Windows Explorer.

robnye

CIS wrote:

win98 can support usb but most usb devices state 98se because 98se has improved usb support, they may be written not work with without the service pack [the main difference between 98 and 98se]. There was an upgrade cd for 98 to 98se,but you may not be able to get a hold of one.

i have a copy at home somewhere, i got it from microsoft themselves..... woudl you like a copy.....

send me your address in a pm....