So, I'm going to a conference ...

wolf · 02-14-2005, 12:23 AM

Why should this be in the technology forum, you wonder?

Because I've got a screwed up computer issue ...

The lovely hotel in which I will be staying has in room high speed connections.

Jolly good.

Except that for some reason which has never been clear, the built-in USB ports on this ancient hand-me-over laptop that I have (it's some kind of a pentium, and runs windows 98) have never worked properly.

So, in an attempt to get around said problem, I scoot over to CompUSA and acquire a PCM/CIA card with two lovely new USB ports on it.

I'm trying to follow the installation instructions, which had me install software from the CD first, then plug the beastie in ...

only thing is, every time I plug the beastie in, the bitch, ahem, laptop, decides it's time to reboot.

Okay, so I finally get things to the point where I have the card in, and the machine is nearly behaving properly, and it's time to search for the new driver in the plug and play install thingy ... and bam.

Every time it goes to seek the CD for the information (which it shouldn't be seeking anyway, if the install of the CD worked the first time, right?) the machine reboots.

Screw it. It's late, I have to go to bed. I might monkeyfuck with this tomorrow morning before work.

I leave on Tuesday.

I can't imagine what my mailboxes will be like if I go six days without reading them. It could get very, very ugly.

Yes, I know I could have immediately solved this problem by purchasing a new laptop.

Not an option at this time. I had $50 for the card, would rather not part with $1.5-$2K for a labtop at this time, especially one that I would not use a whole lot, outside of going to this conference. Which only occurs every other year.

Troubleshooter · 02-14-2005, 07:37 AM

Make sure you're running 98 second edition, 98 didn't initially (succesfully?) support USB, and are fully updated and then copy the drivers to the hard drive.

Let us know what happens. Also much of the new hardware is not supporting 98 in any way so be sure of compatibility as well.

russotto · 02-14-2005, 08:36 AM

Are you running on battery when you do this? I've got a creaky old Dell which sometimes reboots when you access the CD while on battery.

wolf · 02-14-2005, 10:09 AM

The battery was hosed years ago. It's a desktop bound laptop.

I think it's 98 second edition, but may have been an early version thereof.

There is a listing in the hardware profile for USB, just not the one I'm trying to stick into the machine. I know that one doesn't function, because I tried to hook up my cable modem to it when my desktop died last year, and all I managed to do was frustrate myself.

The 56K modem PCM/CIA card that I have works just dandy ... but that wouldn't be free ...

Troubleshooter · 02-14-2005, 10:25 AM

Do they have wireless?

wolf · 02-14-2005, 10:35 AM

Only in the lobby.

But I don't.

Troubleshooter · 02-14-2005, 10:42 AM

The other option is to get a wireless PC card.

wolf · 02-14-2005, 10:49 AM

Except that I can't use the laptop in the lobby because it needs to be connected to a power source (see hosed battery comment above).

In a perfect world, I would have been able to justify the purchase of a new laptop, and would have started thinking of stuff like this oh ... two weeks ago, instead of knowing that I'm leaving for the conference tomorrow.

Troubleshooter · 02-14-2005, 10:56 AM

Have you seen the price of a new battery yet?

wolf · 02-14-2005, 10:57 AM

I remember the last time I looked at them I got really, really scared.

BrianR · 02-14-2005, 01:45 PM

Wolf, you better stop in and say hello to me! Have a sandwich too! I'm not far away from where you will be staying. Come to my school at night and I'll give you a ride in a truck!

Brian

Troubleshooter · 02-14-2005, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianR

Wolf, you better stop in and say hello to me! Have a sandwich too! I'm not far away from where you will be staying. Come to my school at night and I'll give you a ride in a truck!

Brian

Sounds like redneck foreplay...

Edit: Except for the school part.

Bitman · 02-14-2005, 07:25 PM

What's "school" redneck for? :p

Wolf, why the USB card? Are you saying the hotel has USB in the wall? Normally that's ethernet, and you can get an ether PC card cheap. Else get wireless, there's usually some outlets behind the chairs in the lobby. Else use the modem and pay the phone fees, prolly cheaper than any PC card.

Cheaper than a new laptop would be a new OS. Fresh install of 98SE might help, and you'd love Win 2000 if it'll fit. Assuming you like Win at all. Linux would work well, but it's kinda fiddly.

Cheapest option, leave the 'puter at home. You can do without it for a few days, right? Right? Hello?

tw · 02-14-2005, 07:39 PM

I am a little confused. If they have high speed internet access in the room, then why are you purchasing a USB port? You want a network card - an ethernet that makes a Cat5 wire connection.

The software half of the USB standard was screwed up with even when Windows 98 came out. IOW for Windows 98 to work properly, there are some software updates that must be installed. I believe a completely working USB must have Windows 98SE minimum. I believe Windows 98 version of USB still had flaws. This is why Windows NT did not include the USB option that was suppose to be working in the Windows 95 days.

Again, why not use the ethernet interface and avoid the so much slower and complex USB port?

Troubleshooter · 02-14-2005, 07:52 PM

I think that the dilemma is that she has a usb nic and was hoping to get around buying a new nic by getting a new usb hub/port.

I could be wrong.

02-14-2005, 12:23 AM	#1
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	So, I'm going to a conference ... Why should this be in the technology forum, you wonder? Because I've got a screwed up computer issue ... The lovely hotel in which I will be staying has in room high speed connections. Jolly good. Except that for some reason which has never been clear, the built-in USB ports on this ancient hand-me-over laptop that I have (it's some kind of a pentium, and runs windows 98) have never worked properly. So, in an attempt to get around said problem, I scoot over to CompUSA and acquire a PCM/CIA card with two lovely new USB ports on it. I'm trying to follow the installation instructions, which had me install software from the CD first, then plug the beastie in ... only thing is, every time I plug the beastie in, the bitch, ahem, laptop, decides it's time to reboot. Okay, so I finally get things to the point where I have the card in, and the machine is nearly behaving properly, and it's time to search for the new driver in the plug and play install thingy ... and bam. Every time it goes to seek the CD for the information (which it shouldn't be seeking anyway, if the install of the CD worked the first time, right?) the machine reboots. Screw it. It's late, I have to go to bed. I might monkeyfuck with this tomorrow morning before work. I leave on Tuesday. I can't imagine what my mailboxes will be like if I go six days without reading them. It could get very, very ugly. Yes, I know I could have immediately solved this problem by purchasing a new laptop. Not an option at this time. I had $50 for the card, would rather not part with $1.5-$2K for a labtop at this time, especially one that I would not use a whole lot, outside of going to this conference. Which only occurs every other year. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

02-14-2005, 07:37 AM	#2
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	Make sure you're running 98 second edition, 98 didn't initially (succesfully?) support USB, and are fully updated and then copy the drivers to the hard drive. Let us know what happens. Also much of the new hardware is not supporting 98 in any way so be sure of compatibility as well. __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

02-14-2005, 10:09 AM	#4
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	The battery was hosed years ago. It's a desktop bound laptop. I think it's 98 second edition, but may have been an early version thereof. There is a listing in the hardware profile for USB, just not the one I'm trying to stick into the machine. I know that one doesn't function, because I tried to hook up my cable modem to it when my desktop died last year, and all I managed to do was frustrate myself. The 56K modem PCM/CIA card that I have works just dandy ... but that wouldn't be free ... __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

02-14-2005, 10:25 AM	#5
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	Do they have wireless? __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

02-14-2005, 10:35 AM	#6
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Only in the lobby. But I don't. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

02-14-2005, 08:36 AM	#3
russotto Professor Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,788	Are you running on battery when you do this? I've got a creaky old Dell which sometimes reboots when you access the CD while on battery.

02-14-2005, 10:42 AM	#7
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	The other option is to get a wireless PC card. __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

02-14-2005, 10:49 AM	#8
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Except that I can't use the laptop in the lobby because it needs to be connected to a power source (see hosed battery comment above). In a perfect world, I would have been able to justify the purchase of a new laptop, and would have started thinking of stuff like this oh ... two weeks ago, instead of knowing that I'm leaving for the conference tomorrow. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

02-14-2005, 10:56 AM	#9
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	Have you seen the price of a new battery yet? __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

02-14-2005, 10:57 AM	#10
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I remember the last time I looked at them I got really, really scared. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

02-14-2005, 01:45 PM	#11
BrianR Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,338	Wolf, you better stop in and say hello to me! Have a sandwich too! I'm not far away from where you will be staying. Come to my school at night and I'll give you a ride in a truck! Brian __________________ Never be afraid to tell the world who you are. -- Anonymous

02-14-2005, 07:25 PM	#13
Bitman cellar smellar Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: californy, baby! Posts: 403	What's "school" redneck for? :p Wolf, why the USB card? Are you saying the hotel has USB in the wall? Normally that's ethernet, and you can get an ether PC card cheap. Else get wireless, there's usually some outlets behind the chairs in the lobby. Else use the modem and pay the phone fees, prolly cheaper than any PC card. Cheaper than a new laptop would be a new OS. Fresh install of 98SE might help, and you'd love Win 2000 if it'll fit. Assuming you like Win at all. Linux would work well, but it's kinda fiddly. Cheapest option, leave the 'puter at home. You can do without it for a few days, right? Right? Hello?

02-14-2005, 07:39 PM	#14
tw Read? I only know how to write. Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 11,933	I am a little confused. If they have high speed internet access in the room, then why are you purchasing a USB port? You want a network card - an ethernet that makes a Cat5 wire connection. The software half of the USB standard was screwed up with even when Windows 98 came out. IOW for Windows 98 to work properly, there are some software updates that must be installed. I believe a completely working USB must have Windows 98SE minimum. I believe Windows 98 version of USB still had flaws. This is why Windows NT did not include the USB option that was suppose to be working in the Windows 95 days. Again, why not use the ethernet interface and avoid the so much slower and complex USB port?

02-14-2005, 07:52 PM	#15
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	I think that the dilemma is that she has a usb nic and was hoping to get around buying a new nic by getting a new usb hub/port. I could be wrong. __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

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