Win98 - Vista - Router questions

[Ted]

My neighbour has a desktop running win98 and has just bought a wireless laptop running vista.
The desktop has a usb modem so he's decided he needs a wireless router.
This is where i come in. I just so happen to have a sealed, dual, 2700 laying around looking for a home.

Couple of questions.
I've never used a usb modem, is it best to un-install the drivers before connecting the router?
It probably won't have a nic but i have one of those too. I can't remember the last time i saw a 98 system, will the nic need a driver?

Anything you can think of that needs to be done to get 98 and router talking nicely?
He's not bothered about networking so it will simply be, wired desktop to router and wireless laptop to router.

The laptop shouldn't be a problem, although it is vista and i've never used that either. I'm assuming its just a matter of using the wireless software to search for the ssid, connect and that's it. Yes?

Thanks

Oh yes, he thinks he's with Pipex.

[Rik]

Hi Ted

It might be worth trying the USB interface of the 2700 for him. Certainly I'd remove the modem drivers before doing anything else.

TBH, I can't remember too much about networking under 98, but if the NIC needs drivers, hopefully it will have a CD with it.

[madasahatter]

Sorry - no idea with windows 98, but as far as the vista and wireless goes - yep - you've got it - so simple even hoobs like me can do it 

[Ted]

Hi Ted

It might be worth trying the USB interface of the 2700 for him. Certainly I'd remove the modem drivers before doing anything else.

TBH, I can't remember too much about networking under 98, but if the NIC needs drivers, hopefully it will have a CD with it.

I think i'd prefer to go with a NIC if possible, i might have the cd with the drivers on, just can't remember

Thanks mad, thought it would be, just good to be sure.

[Sebby]

I suspect you will need a driver for the NIC, though if you've got a CD, you can be sure Windows 98 will be covered.

Networking in Windows 98 is much like XP, so you should have no problems there.

I think a NIC is the easier route; IIRC, Windows 98 needs an update to properly support USB, and even then it may be a bit flakey.

[Ted]

Do you ever wish you'd never started something!! Sheeesh!!
Its actually 486 and running ME
Pulled the "Time" machine, apart, plugged in the NIC, put it back together, no monitor output. check all cables and try again, nothing.
Pull the nic out, boots up with monitor but complains about having no driver , booted up fine anyway.
Tried again, still no luck, pulled it out again.
Now it sits there and counts the ram over and over again but if you press escape it proceeds ok, But it keeps complaining about not being able to boot from the ATAPI cdrom, but starts anyway
Given up for the time being, but might try a USB wireless dongle, it has 2xusb ports which work.
That aside, the 2700 works a treat and the vista laptop is happy with it

It connected at 6432 with a NM of 14 and attenuation of 28. downloading at around 3mb, not bad for Pisspex and the gruesome internal wiring (i'll be playing with that sometime, perhaps i can break that as well)

[LesD]

Its a long time since I had a 486 and I have never had ME for myself but have tinkered with it for others.

From the depth of a failing memory I wonder about a clash of interrupts, good old fashioned manual IRC allocation somewhere in the hardware management, however, it was done in that particular OS. I think ME was the last of the DOS based ones before the NT variety took over and delevoped through Win2K, XP etc. It may tell you if there is a conflict at the device driver properties where it should say this device is working properly or the like! I know not easy to see without the video but take a look at the interrupt it is using and make a note of it with the LAN card out. Then assign a free one then try the LAN card again.

The presence of the LAN card stopping the Video does suggest that they are both trying to hang their hats on the same interrupt.

Did you take a look at the BIOS to see what the Boot order is? Maybe the CDROM is before the HDD in the priorities and if there is a non-bootable CD in the drive this may be why there is the grumble about the ATAPI CDROM but then skips to the next available boot device.

Not much help I know but if anything else occurs to me I will post back.

[Sebby]

Les, it sounds like there's been some instability, probably because of internal wiring, that has caused the target SNRM to be increased. Without a doubt sync should be 8Mb. Still, hopefully the 2Wire will bring some stability, along with improvements to internal wiring, that should allow the target to drop.

[Ted]

Thanks Les, you're probably right about it be being an irq related problem, when i get time i'll check it out.
Yes the cdrom is first but there is definately no disk in the drive (first thing i checked)

There certainly does look like a bit of instability sebby, to say the least But as you say the 2wire should help that situation.
I also need to check to make sure all the phones are filtered properly and change the "flat " extentions for something more suitable.

[Rik]

Go on Ted, just rip it all out and start again, you know you want to.

[Ted]

Go on Ted, just rip it all out and start again, you know you want to.

Actually, I do 

[Rik]

It's often easier and quicker.

[Sebby]

I agree!

[LesD]

I agree!

Me too and remember electrical noise especially from the PC's own PSU dogged me till you guys got me sorted out! 

P.S. Ted, I knew there was something wrong with IRC when I typed it but I see you managed to interpret it as IRQ. I said my memory was failing when I started that post! 
 

[Ted]

P.S. Ted, I knew there was something wrong with IRC when I typed it but I see you managed to interpret it as IRQ. I said my memory was failing when I started that post! 
 

To be honest, i read it as IRQ. what does that say for my powers of observation then!

[Ted]

To be honest, i read it as IRQ. what does that say for my powers of observation then!

This could be the answer!

[Rik]

Ah, but to what question?