Advice/Tech Help Needed - D-Link W-122 USB Wifi Adapter - "Not Connected"
 

Problem:
I've been trying to install a D-Link W-122 wifi USB adapter on an old
Thinkpad w/ a Windows 98SE OS. It's my boss's computer so I can't
update the OS. The computer doesn't have a CD drive and I don't have an
external one to connect to it. I don't have the installation disk, but
I did download the drivers from the D-link website. I keep uninstalling
and reinstalling these drivers and the setup program, but it still
isn't connecting. The drivers appear to be installed properly and the
D-Link program will pop up, but it also pops up a message saying I am
"not connected." When I attempt to refresh and search for networks, it
doesn't recognize/show anything. This is ludicrous, because I am
sitting in the huge, public library in downtown Chicago with a free
wifi connection. Maybe it is something obvious and stupid, but it seems
like something is not communicating properly with something, as the
adapter should at least recognize/display possible networks, even if
I'm not actually connected to them. What gives?

Disclaimer:
I am sort of a newbie, so go easy on me. Also, yeah, I know I should
just buy a new laptop for a few hundred dollars, but I don't have a
few hundred dollars, so I am trying to work with what I have. If anyone
can suggest an alternate WIFI card/adapter that works better with 98SE,
I do have, like, $60.