Broadband on Windows 98

need2know_3

My PC OS is Windows 98. I want to go on Broadband, but the ISPs I have looked at need min OS of 98SE. do any ISPs offer Broadband for Windows 98 and why is Windows 98 not acceptable ?

Garetha

Probably 'cos you can't have USB ports in Win 98 - you need 98SE
Most adsl (broadband) modems are USB

Virgin seems to allow Win98 or 98SE
https://client.virgin.net/productpicker/register?buspart=online&submit.x=1&accessTypeText=ADSL&planType=THREE&connectionSpeed=512&networkType=DATA_STREAM&price=14.99

BUT - mention a spare USB port

wonderfullife_2

Hi
If you have a usb port you should be fine for Virgin, if not just buy a usb pci card, which goes into a spare pci slot in your pc, dead easy to install, and then you should be fine.

Hope this helps

ManAtHome

Quite a few ISPs also have network (ethernet) modems. Generally a good idea to start with an ISP-suppled modem (avoid the 'blame game'), but not normally a problem to swap this out - plenty of reasonably-priced network modems around.

Note - Win98 can be a bit dodgy with USB (Microsoft released drivers which worked with some chipsets - all a bit hit&miss though) but I've never had a problem with networking. You'll need to buy a network card instead of a USB one obviously...

need2know_3

I have spare USB ports and have no problems with USB drivers.One ISP scanned my PC and rejected me because of Win 98, they must have seen I had USB.
My platform is very stable and rarely crashes, so why am I being rejected for Broadband ?

tigermatt

It is because, as mentioned previously, Windows 98 isn't "meant" to have support for USB, but if yuo have ports and they work fine, then you should be able to do it OK. Some ISPs mention that other OS's outside their supported ones may work but you have to set it up yourself and they can't provide support etc. etc.

intel

Its probably due to the fact that your setup of Win98 isnt supporting
USB 2.0.. or USB as a whole as Win98 doesnt support USB easily I would see if you can install a PCI ethernet card as ethernet is more stable and you will get faster speeds, just check with your provider first.

Try http://www.usbman.com/ for a possible solution

An Eternet PCI Card

Rex_Mundi

My neighbour is using W98, and has got broadband running fine through her USB modem.

JohalaReewi

Broadband will work with virtually ANY operating system. For Win98 you have a number of solutions. 1) A PCI ADSL modem card. These have been around for years and you can easily find one that has drivers for Win98 (even Win95). Have a look on ebay (I still have one somewhere). 2) USB ADSL modems are a bit different. They are newer and tend not to have Win98 drivers although a search on the manufacturer's website or Ebay might turn up something. 3) An ADSL modem/router is a box that connects to your broadband line and gives it to you on a home network. Just get an ethernet network card for your PC (ISA, PCI, USB, whatever). You can get network cards for almost any computer & operating system (even MS-DOS) then connect your PC to the router with a network cable. The router will have additional network ports so you can easily share your broadband with other PCs. As for ISPs rejecting you because you have Win98. Can't see why they would do this. The operating system doesn't make any difference to them (apart from support!!). Any ISP which says broadband only works with 'OS xyz' is one to avoid. I would imagine (as other posters have said) that the ISP is refering to thier own broadband modem which they can supply (and not the broadband service itself) when they say it doesn't work with Win98. I say, don't use their modem, just get your own (it will probably be cheaper too) and sign up for the broadband only with no hardware.

DonnyDave

I use Windows 98 with a BT Voyager 100 USB ADSL Modem. Works fine for me.

Will Windows 98 support wireless networking or does it depend on the card used?

JohalaReewi

For Win98 to use wireless networking, you just need a wireless network card with Win98 drivers. Some cards will only support Win98SE and above but you see them advertised on the web as Win98 (not Win98SE)