Internet / Wireless on an old laptop

daysieblue

We have just been given an old laptop, a Dell Inspiron 7100, which is running on Windows 98 with a pentium 3 processor. It has a 10gb hard drive, but I haven't been able to find the RAM figure yet!

Is it likely that we will be able to hook this up to our wireless network? It currently only has 1 USB, and I don't know if this is USB 1 or 2.0 (not even sure what the difference is!), but I would imagine is should be quite easy to add a hub?

Any tips and hints would be gratefully received.

Thanks

DB x

BenL

That should work fine or by using a PCMCIA wireless card.

I have run wireless internet on a really old Dell Laptop with a PII 233Mhz processor.

I had a netgear PCMCIA card, it came with drivers and software suitable for Win98.

Idiophreak

Yeah, I'd try a PCMCIA wireless card first, a USB stick second.

S0litaire

any USB wireless adapter should work (depends on the make and if it has Win98 Drivers).

If you go on to the Dell's support website and enter in the Service Tag code (7 letter number code on the bottom of the laptop), it will tell you what the laptop came with and what upgrade options (this may include info about compatible wireless devices).

chris667

Windows 98 is no longer supported, so is no longer considered secure for use on the internet. I'm risking sounding like a stuck record here, but try http://www.puppylinux.com. It's designed to run on older machines like your laptop, and includes lots of support for wireless networking adapters - check their forum to see which is the most suitable.
Plus, because it's open source, none of it will cost you a bean, apart from the adaptor. No need to download antivirus, antispyware or find an office suite, legally or not. It comes with everything.
This machine I'm working on now is 12 years old, and works better running puppy than it ever did when was new and had Windows 98.
So give it a go. You might like it. 8)
(and PM me if you get stuck!)

S0litaire

Linux is a good bet if the OP is comfortable with running it.

Also depends on what the OP wants to do with the laptop

I'm currently on an old Inspiron 8200 running Linux (works faster than XP ever did on this thing... )

espresso

Definitely better to use a PCMCIA card e.g. here as the USB is very likely to be USB 1.

daysieblue

S0litaire wrote: »

Linux is a good bet if the OP is comfortable with running it.

Also depends on what the OP wants to do with the laptop

I'm currently on an old Inspiron 8200 running Linux (works faster than XP ever did on this thing... )

I have never run Linux before, always used Windows. Doesn't mean I wouldn't try it though!

The laptop is primarily for my 11 year old for when he starts senior school in September. He's obviously very familiar with windows and MS programs, but he's also very bright and would be able to pick something new up quite quickly.