Emulate LAN with WLAN?

ryanch09 · 04-07-2010 12:28PM #1

Hi i want to dual boot windows 98 and windows xp but windows 98 does not support my Wireless USB adapter. Is there a program that can disguise a wireless adapter as a regular LAN so it can be used with older OSs?

Thanks!

JonathanAnon · 04-07-2010 12:40PM

ryanch09 wrote: »

Hi i want to dual boot windows 98 and windows xp but windows 98 does not support my Wireless USB adapter. Is there a program that can disguise a wireless adapter as a regular LAN so it can be used with older OSs?

Not unless you have a magic wand... The issue arises with the driver files (software to make the hardware work with your operating system) for the wireless USB adapter.. These are usually only released with drivers for 2000/XP and above.

There are only two options for you to get Win 98 up on the network as I would see it. :
i) Assuming that there is no win 98 driver for your current wireless card, you could try to acquire an old wireless card that will work with 98.
ii) run a LAN cable for when you need to use 98. Will be much easier to find a LAN card that will run under 98.
Neither of these solutions are easy..

I guess the main question is What do you need to run under 98, and can you somehow get this to run under XP. I have come up against a few problems like this before, and it is usually better to attack the problem with a more progressive solution....

PogMoThoin · 04-07-2010 01:32PM

Just virtualize Windows 98 in Windows Xp with vmware or virtualbox, problem solved

wolfric · 04-07-2010 03:11PM

What PogMoThoin said. If you cannot virtualise it, consider having a wifi card and a network card in another pc and bridging the two and supplying the internet to the windows 98 box.

You can also buy a very inexpensive router (for around 30 dollars) that will act like a wifi bridge for you.

Capt'n Midnight · 04-07-2010 08:54PM

look for a USB / pcmcia card that is supported by both, the problem is that only older cards may only support WEP and not the more secure WPA

NB. a lot of wifi stuff will only be supported by 98 SE ( second edition ) and not the original 98

linux can use NDIS wrapper to use windows drivers for wifi cards but there is nothing similar for windows 98

Naikon · 05-07-2010 09:05AM

No offence OP, but what need do you have for an OS that hasn't been supported at all since 2006? You could just use VirtualBox. Alot more hassle then it's worth imo.

JonathanAnon · 05-07-2010 11:31AM

Naikon wrote: »

No offence OP, but what need do you have for an OS that hasn't been supported at all since 2006? You could just use VirtualBox. Alot more hassle then it's worth imo.

I agree with Naikon, the longer you hang on to the Windows 98 box, the harder it will eventually be to move the software you need to a newer O/S.

Zapho · 05-07-2010 11:40AM

Another +1 for virtualisation - so much easier. Your windows 98 virtual machine will use a virtual ethernet adaptor which will bridge to your wlan adaptor.

Microsoft have free virtualisation software too. Personally I'd prefer virtualbox, but does Virtual PC support win98?

Naikon · 05-07-2010 11:43AM

Zapho wrote: »

Another +1 for virtualisation - so much easier. Your windows 98 virtual machine will use a virtual ethernet adaptor which will bridge to your wlan adaptor.

Microsoft have free virtualisation software too. Personally I'd prefer virtualbox, but does Virtual PC support win98?

I'd go with VirtualBox, though VirtualPC does support 98 as a guest os.

testicle · 05-07-2010 05:22PM

Is this 98 or 98SE? 98 was a bit sparse with the olde USB support.

Capt'n Midnight · 06-07-2010 12:00AM

testicle wrote: »

Is this 98 or 98SE? 98 was a bit sparse with the olde USB support.

still way better than 95 OSR2 though

Emulate LAN with WLAN?

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