usb 2 and window 98 compatibility question

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

Hi,

I just got this in an email from a friend:

"My Windows 98se computer doesn't support a USB 2 port. I bought a USB 1
and had it installed for $40. Now I can use the printer/scanner/copier
that's been sitting here since February."

Is that true? I didn't think USB 2 was operating system specific. I
thought all you had to have was an open pci slot and drivers.

Thanks,

Alby

 

[Dee]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

-Alby Hewlet wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I just got this in an email from a friend:
>
> "My Windows 98se computer doesn't support a USB 2 port. I bought a USB 1
> and had it installed for $40. Now I can use the printer/scanner/copier
> that's been sitting here since February."
>
> Is that true? I didn't think USB 2 was operating system specific. I
> thought all you had to have was an open pci slot and drivers.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Alby
>
>
>
>
>

Your friend is correct in that Win98SE doesn't have native support for
USB 2.0, just USB 1.1. However, USB 2.0 PCI cards do have drivers for
Windows 98SE and when the drivers are installed it should function
correctly.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

"-Alby Hewlet" <bogus@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:n7SdnYzshNRjDBbcRVn-1A@comcast.com...
> Hi,
>
> I just got this in an email from a friend:
>
> "My Windows 98se computer doesn't support a USB 2 port. I bought a USB 1
> and had it installed for $40. Now I can use the printer/scanner/copier
> that's been sitting here since February."
>
> Is that true? I didn't think USB 2 was operating system specific. I
> thought all you had to have was an open pci slot and drivers.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Alby
>
>
>
>
>
USB 2.0 Supported Operating Systems
a.. Microsoft* Windows* XP (all editions)
b.. Microsoft* Windows* 2000 (be sure to have latest Service Pack
installed)
c.. Microsoft Windows 98SE
d.. Microsoft Windows Me

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

> USB 2.0 Supported Operating Systems
> a.. Microsoft* Windows* XP (all editions)
> b.. Microsoft* Windows* 2000 (be sure to have latest Service Pack
> installed)
> c.. Microsoft Windows 98SE
> d.. Microsoft Windows Me


If the above is true, why didn't the computer store install the usb 2 card
and drivers for him, instead of going to usb 1?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

In article <qaKdnZtUUepHAxbcRVn-uQ@comcast.com>, -Alby Hewlet says...
> > USB 2.0 Supported Operating Systems
> > a.. Microsoft* Windows* XP (all editions)
> > b.. Microsoft* Windows* 2000 (be sure to have latest Service Pack
> > installed)
> > c.. Microsoft Windows 98SE
> > d.. Microsoft Windows Me
>
>
> If the above is true, why didn't the computer store install the usb 2 card
> and drivers for him, instead of going to usb 1?
>
Because in keeping with most computer stores, the staff are on the
whole completely clueless.

--
Conor

Opinions personal, facts suspect.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

"-Alby Hewlet" <bogus@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:qaKdnZtUUepHAxbcRVn-uQ@comcast.com...
> > USB 2.0 Supported Operating Systems
> > a.. Microsoft* Windows* XP (all editions)
> > b.. Microsoft* Windows* 2000 (be sure to have latest Service Pack
> > installed)
> > c.. Microsoft Windows 98SE
> > d.. Microsoft Windows Me
>
>
> If the above is true, why didn't the computer store install the usb 2 card
> and drivers for him, instead of going to usb 1?
>
>
For that much money it probably should have been USB2. What he was using it
for wouldn't benefit from it but USB2 will still use 1.1. and it would
still be there for future use, even if the O/S in that computer didn't
support it.
Possibly clueless tech but they may just be getting rid of old inventory.
$40 for a card you might end up throwing away!

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

If i remember correctly, our company's old 1999 Dell Dimension using
Windows 98SE handles USB 2.0 .
However, it did not, until i install an update USB patch utility.. (i
think).

Anyway, i solved the problem a-while-back thru the USB Man's tips &
information site (below).
i believe, you will find the USB 2.0 problem & the USB 2.0 Fix on his
site, somewhere.

Try these:

http://www.usbman.com/USB%202%20News.htm
http://www.usbman.com/USB_Guides.htm
http://www.usbman.com/win98seusbguide.htm

S_H

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

"-Alby Hewlet" <bogus@nowhere.net> wrote in message news:<n7SdnYzshNRjDBbcRVn-1A@comcast.com>...

> I just got this in an email from a friend:
>
> "My Windows 98se computer doesn't support a USB 2 port. I
> bought a USB 1 and had it installed for $40. Now I can use
> the printer/scanner/copier that's been sitting here since February."
>
> Is that true? I didn't think USB 2 was operating system specific

I've used USB 2.0 cards based on VIA, NEC, and ALi chipsets, and all
of them worked in USB 2.0 mode with Win98SE, and with Win98 only the
ALi driver software didn't support USB 2.0 but still worked in USB 1.1
mode. According to www.usbman.com or www.everythingusb.com, the NEC
chipset is by far the best choice, while the ALi is the worst.

Could your friend's problem simply be incompatibility? I was unable
to get a camera and a scanner to work with the VIA-based USB 1.1 ports
of my mobo, but they worked fine with a Intel-based USB ports and also
NEC-based USB 2.0 ports.

$40 to have a USB card installed??? Gawd!!! It took me about ten
minutes to install each of my NEC-based USB cards, including rebooting
the computer twice. I've installed about six of these cards and have
never had problems with them. OTOH I know people who've paid to have
cards installed and wound up with computer trouble.

Some brands of USB 2.0 cards that use NEC chipsets include Adaptec and
Belkin, but some dealers listed at www.pricewatch.com have them for
just $10, although you have to be extra-careful to prevent them from
shipping the wrong product (AIB advertised NEC, showed NEC in the
pictures, I wrote "ship only NEC" on the online order form, but they
shipped me a VIA card -- in a box with a picture of the NEC card).
The NEC chipset is about 1" square and has 160 pins around it. The
ALi chipset is about half as large with 64 pins, and the VIA chipsets
are oblong with 128 pins. The picture on the box may not match the
actual product. If you can't get an NEC-based card, the next best
choice is probably the VIA VT6212 (not the VT6202).