Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
While Windows 98 itself may to blame, there are a couple reasons why Windows 98 won't recognize new hardware installed on a machine.
I am trying to install a wireless network on four computers. These computers all have the same motherboard, but vary from Celeron 300 Mhz to 700 Mhz with min. of 64MB Ram, and using Win 98 Se operating systems. I bought 4 D-Link DWL-G510 PCI Cards which on the box says should work. Windows does not find any of the network cards. I have changed positions of the PCI Slots with no help. I go to Device manager and there is no new hardware to find. I went ahead and exchanged one of the D-Links with a Linksys and still have the same problem. After spending some time with their help desk, they were unable to give me any usefully information. I can take the same devices and the wireless router and install them on other computers that are 300Mhz, 64 M Ram using Windows SE with no problems. The only thing I can think of is with the motherboards. Any ideas?
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Personally, I like to blame Windows 98 when there are new hardware detection problems. It's too bad you don't have more RAM and WinXP.
But I do have an idea or two.
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The first is your motherboard's BIOS. Plug-and-Play requires a little help from the BIOS. Especially in older machines PnP support might not be there at all or might not be enabled if it is. So check for BIOS upgrades for those motherboards, and double check that PnP, if listed, is enabled.
Another approach is just to install the drivers anyway. If those cards come with driver software, I'd install it even if Windows didn't recognize the cards. Back in the days before plug and play, this was in fact the way it had to be done: drivers had to be installed before the hardware would be recognized.
And yes, as you suspect, the motherboards themselves may be an issue as well.
But I still like to blame Windows 98. That's one more reason why my home is a Win98-free zone.
Article C2184 - September 11, 2004 « »
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
June 23, 2005 7:20 AM
I'm installing an HP 3420 Deskjet Printer on a machine running Windows 98 the machine install the software but still won't detect the printer. I even use the add printer and add hardware wizard and it still wont work. I'm not sure if it is the USB port that causing it, it one of those USB cards that goes into the PCI slot. someone please help me.
March 19, 2006 7:25 AM
Hello. I have a problem...My computer doesn't want to detect my device. I run on Windows 98 and my device is a Philips JackRabbit JR32RWDV. When I connect it to my computer, it works(the lights of my device will work),but my computer will not detect it.Where to go?? I only want to burn a cd!
Please help me..
Thank you
April 9, 2006 8:52 PM
I have 2 PCs running Win98SE. One is a Gateway with an AMD K7, purchased in 2000. New pci wireless nic works just fine. Two is a PII 400mhz w/PC-Chips mb built 1998. Has pci 2.1 slots and the new wireless nic won't work. Windows recognizes the card but hangs up during installation of the driver. I've ordered a wireless nic which shows to be compatible w/2.1 - we shall see!
July 21, 2006 9:39 AM
I can not figure out why my sound will not work. I have it built in on the mother board and I can't get it to work. The funny thing is though I got it working before but now I can not figure out how to work it again. I recently had my computer formatted, and re-instaled Win98, so I'm wondering if that has anything to do with it, also I've noticed my games are running really slow, and I have enough RAM, HD space, and a 850 Mhz Prcser. So I can't figure that out either. Well thank you for your time, and I hope you can help me out. Thanks, Scott.
April 5, 2007 1:46 AM
hi, i need help i dont no anything about computers but i have windows 98 i use to have windows xp but it crashed so i had to go to windows 98 i dunno if tha matters or not but when i try to install aol it says that it cant detect my modem n the modem they are givin me is lik (tcp summin) with broadband and i have no idea how to get it to work can u help me???