How to install DSL, how to install ethernet card?

So Verizon DSL is getting cheap and it's clear IMO that my current ISP
(erols/rcn/starpower in Baltimore) is never going to have highspeed.

Verizon sent me the kit and started billing me yesterday**, but not
until I was on the last page of the Quick Start instructions and
2/3rds of the way through the CD did I learn that I can't, they say,
use the USB port, that I have to have an ethernet card.

I think I have one in the other room but haven't found it yet and I
don't think it has a software CD to go with it. Since ethernet wasn't
common iirc in 1998/9, do I need to find software somewhere else.
(The ethernet card I found on ebay had a cd to go with it.)

I know I could buy a whole card with cd for not much money, but I want
to use the card I have. Otherwise, what was the point of saving it.


Also curious why I can't just use the USB port for DSL.

The instructions in the DSL kit said I would need drivers, but the
included CD won't go down the USB path because it determined I have
win98. I know an ethernet card is just a few bucks, but it's my
curiosity and I wonder if I can get the USB drivers for Verizon DSL
off the web or straight off the kit CD, and if so, what would the file
names be, or what extension do driver files end in. (I may have known
this stuff once, but it's fading away. )

And if not, why will USB work for my memory stick and and an early
digital camera (that I just got NIB) but not for DSL, in win98 but
will work in later OSes.

If you are inclined to email me
for some reason, remove NOPSAM :-)

On Sat, 08 Sep 2007 17:05:45 -0400, mm
wrote:


The instructions in the DSL kit said I would need drivers, but the
included CD won't go down the USB path because it determined I have
win98. I know an ethernet card is just a few bucks, but it's my
curiosity and I wonder if I can get the USB drivers for Verizon DSL
off the web or straight off the kit CD, and if so, what would the file
names be, or what extension do driver files end in. (I may have known
this stuff once, but it's fading away. )

To add to one part of my question, I found the model number of the DSL
modem and on the included CD there was a file for that model, which
included 5 .sys files, one .cat file, one .dll file, and one .inf
file. I can give more details if they would help.

IIUC, it's possible to "execute" an .inf file, and that would install
whatever drivers are appropriate. I could copy in the whole thing if
soemone wants but it does have language for win98.

Should I do it. Can I cause myself any harm?

And why do they say that win98 requires ethernet?

If you are inclined to email me
for some reason, remove NOPSAM :-)

"mm" wrote in message
...
| So Verizon DSL is getting cheap and it's clear IMO that my current ISP
| (erols/rcn/starpower in Baltimore) is never going to have highspeed.
|
| Verizon sent me the kit and started billing me yesterday**, but not
| until I was on the last page of the Quick Start instructions and
| 2/3rds of the way through the CD did I learn that I can't, they say,
| use the USB port, that I have to have an ethernet card.
|
| I think I have one in the other room but haven't found it yet and I
| don't think it has a software CD to go with it. Since ethernet wasn't
| common iirc in 1998/9, do I need to find software somewhere else.
| (The ethernet card I found on ebay had a cd to go with it.)
|
| I know I could buy a whole card with cd for not much money, but I want
| to use the card I have. Otherwise, what was the point of saving it.
|
|
| Also curious why I can't just use the USB port for DSL.
|
| The instructions in the DSL kit said I would need drivers, but the
| included CD won't go down the USB path because it determined I have
| win98. I know an ethernet card is just a few bucks, but it's my
| curiosity and I wonder if I can get the USB drivers for Verizon DSL
| off the web or straight off the kit CD, and if so, what would the file
| names be, or what extension do driver files end in. (I may have known
| this stuff once, but it's fading away. )
|
| And if not, why will USB work for my memory stick and and an early
| digital camera (that I just got NIB) but not for DSL, in win98 but
| will work in later OSes.
|
| If you are inclined to email me
| for some reason, remove NOPSAM :-)

Perhaps you can, however, without you supplying the group with what card
you intend to use, we have no way to advise you of whether it might, or a
driver...

As for USB issues/drivers, you can download a universal driver, which will
negate [for the most part] the need to install other specific drivers.
Its called Maximus Decim Universal Driver, nusb31.exe [Win98SE only, and
USB 2.0 only].

However, USB 2.0 will use more processing power/time slices than using a
network card. USB also inflicts its own bottleneck to devices attached to
it.

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com
________

You probably could use USB. See, for instance:
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-F5D5050.../dp/B000062R4P

However, if you have W98 (not W98SE) then USB can be problematic. But since
you already have a network card, why bother.

You should try installing the card you have - likely W98 will find generic
drivers for it. If not, once you know the make and model number, it should
be easy to find the required drivers on the 'net.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"mm" wrote in message
...
So Verizon DSL is getting cheap and it's clear IMO that my current ISP
(erols/rcn/starpower in Baltimore) is never going to have highspeed.

Verizon sent me the kit and started billing me yesterday**, but not
until I was on the last page of the Quick Start instructions and
2/3rds of the way through the CD did I learn that I can't, they say,
use the USB port, that I have to have an ethernet card.

I think I have one in the other room but haven't found it yet and I
don't think it has a software CD to go with it. Since ethernet wasn't
common iirc in 1998/9, do I need to find software somewhere else.
(The ethernet card I found on ebay had a cd to go with it.)

I know I could buy a whole card with cd for not much money, but I want
to use the card I have. Otherwise, what was the point of saving it.


Also curious why I can't just use the USB port for DSL.

The instructions in the DSL kit said I would need drivers, but the
included CD won't go down the USB path because it determined I have
win98. I know an ethernet card is just a few bucks, but it's my
curiosity and I wonder if I can get the USB drivers for Verizon DSL
off the web or straight off the kit CD, and if so, what would the file
names be, or what extension do driver files end in. (I may have known
this stuff once, but it's fading away. )

And if not, why will USB work for my memory stick and and an early
digital camera (that I just got NIB) but not for DSL, in win98 but
will work in later OSes.

If you are inclined to email me
for some reason, remove NOPSAM :-)

mm wrote:

Verizon sent me the kit and started billing me yesterday**, but not
until I was on the last page of the Quick Start instructions and
2/3rds of the way through the CD did I learn that I can't, they say,
use the USB port, that I have to have an ethernet card.

I think I have one in the other room but haven't found it yet and I
don't think it has a software CD to go with it. Since ethernet
wasn't common iirc in 1998/9, do I need to find software somewhere
else. (The ethernet card I found on ebay had a cd to go with it.)

When I hooked up with Verizon DSL a few years ago the modem they
included would theoretically function either with USB or NIC (ethernet
card). My preferance was USB as I had no NIC.

I don't recall if the USB worked and was lousy/unreliable or if it
never worked at all but I spent $10 for a NIC. It works.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

mm wrote:
On Sat, 08 Sep 2007 17:05:45 -0400, mm
wrote:

The instructions in the DSL kit said I would need drivers, but the
included CD won't go down the USB path because it determined I have
win98. I know an ethernet card is just a few bucks, but it's my
curiosity and I wonder if I can get the USB drivers for Verizon DSL
off the web or straight off the kit CD, and if so, what would the file
names be, or what extension do driver files end in. (I may have known
this stuff once, but it's fading away. )

To add to one part of my question, I found the model number of the DSL
modem and on the included CD there was a file for that model, which
included 5 .sys files, one .cat file, one .dll file, and one .inf
file. I can give more details if they would help.

IIUC, it's possible to "execute" an .inf file, and that would install
whatever drivers are appropriate. I could copy in the whole thing if
soemone wants but it does have language for win98.

Should I do it. Can I cause myself any harm?

And why do they say that win98 requires ethernet?

If you are inclined to email me
for some reason, remove NOPSAM :-)


mm:

Open the .INF file using notepad (it is a pure ASCII text file) and
look for references to Windows 98.

The CD I got from Verizion (Westell 6100 Modem/Router) had Win98
drivers for USB on it though I never used it. If you have the make and
model of the NIC you should be able to find drivers for it as well.

HTH & GL

John

--
\\\||///
------------------o000----(o)(o)----000o----------------
----------------------------()--------------------------
'' Madness takes its toll - Please have exact change. ''

John Dulak - Gnomeway Services - http://tinyurl.com/2qs6o6

On Sun, 9 Sep 2007 09:11:36 +1000, "Jeff Richards"
wrote:

You probably could use USB. See, for instance:
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-F5D5050.../dp/B000062R4P

However, if you have W98 (not W98SE) then USB can be problematic. But since
you already have a network card, why bother.

I should have said that I have SE. Sorry. I should know better.

You should try installing the card you have - likely W98 will find generic
drivers for it. If not, once you know the make and model number, it should
be easy to find the required drivers on the 'net.

Well, I looked another place haven't found my card yet, and it's at
least 5 years old by now, maybe 10. Will that be another bottleneck?

They're selling 10/100/1000 Mbps cards now, and also at least on Ebay
10/100/ Mbps cards.

Do I need the faster one for low-speed DSL (I forget the actual
speed.)

And shouldn't I buy the faster one anyhow?

If you are inclined to email me
for some reason, remove NOPSAM :-)

On Sat, 08 Sep 2007 18:31:34 -0400, mm
wrote:


And why do they say that win98 requires ethernet?

Replying to myself, I didn't real all of this

They say a NIC is required for win98SE and strongly recommended for
all others.

If you are inclined to email me
for some reason, remove NOPSAM :-)

On Sun, 9 Sep 2007 07:32:47 -0400, "dadiOH"
wrote:

mm wrote:

Verizon sent me the kit and started billing me yesterday**, but not
until I was on the last page of the Quick Start instructions and
2/3rds of the way through the CD did I learn that I can't, they say,
use the USB port, that I have to have an ethernet card.

When I hooked up with Verizon DSL a few years ago the modem they
included would theoretically function either with USB or NIC (ethernet
card). My preferance was USB as I had no NIC.

I don't recall if the USB worked and was lousy/unreliable or if it
never worked at all but I spent $10 for a NIC. It works.

When I read the instructions more closely, it says that a NIC is
required for win98SE and strongly recommended for all others.

There are so many problems with their Quick Start instructions, it's
amazing.

On page 2 under "CD Contents" it says "This CD does not contain any
software for your computer".

At the bottom of page 5, it says "Note: If you want to connect your
computer [using USB], you must use the enclosed CD to install software
drivers"

After CD Contents, there are three steps listed:
Step 1: Install filters page 2
Step 2: Install modem page 4
Step 3: Account setup page 6

Finally at the very end, the bottom of page 7, it says, at the very
end of the FAQ: I plan to connect via USB. Should I connect the
hardware first? No, it says, insert the CD first. The CD contains
drivers that are needed for the USB option to work properly.
Connecting the hardware first may cause your computer to use a USB
driver that does not commicate correctly with the modem or router.

Why didn't it say that before someone installs the filters, modems and
connects in order to do account setup?

And it doesn't say how to undo the driver problem that the bad
instructions helped create.

Oh, yeah, and then the Spanish starts, also for 7 pages, but then
there is more English hidden after that on page 15, where it says you
can't use USB after all if you have win98. It never said that before.
And that ethernet is strongly recommended for all others.

Even though they didn't warn me when I signed up several days ago that
I needed an ethernet card. I could have had one by now.


And nowhere does it say whether to run the phone line to the DSL modem
through the surge suppressor first. When I called (for other reasons)
she didn't know anything about a surge suppressor. So I said, What if
the lightning ruins the modem? She said that the hardware was
guaranteed, and then added "for one year".


And yet the front cover says "Just 3 steps....That's all there is to
it."

If you are inclined to email me
for some reason, remove NOPSAM :-)

The older it is the more likely that Windows 98 will recognise it.

What's the manufacturer and model? If there really isn't anything
available for that particular card, then the chance is it's an exact copy of
some other card.

What speed is your internet connection? Unless you are planning on some
other networking, you don't need anything faster than what your connection
to the 'net needs.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"mm" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 9 Sep 2007 09:11:36 +1000, "Jeff Richards"
wrote:

You probably could use USB. See, for instance:
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-F5D5050.../dp/B000062R4P

However, if you have W98 (not W98SE) then USB can be problematic. But
since
you already have a network card, why bother.

I should have said that I have SE. Sorry. I should know better.

You should try installing the card you have - likely W98 will find generic
drivers for it. If not, once you know the make and model number, it
should
be easy to find the required drivers on the 'net.

Well, I looked another place haven't found my card yet, and it's at
least 5 years old by now, maybe 10. Will that be another bottleneck?

They're selling 10/100/1000 Mbps cards now, and also at least on Ebay
10/100/ Mbps cards.

Do I need the faster one for low-speed DSL (I forget the actual
speed.)

And shouldn't I buy the faster one anyhow?

If you are inclined to email me
for some reason, remove NOPSAM :-)