I have an old laptop that I want to get some files off of and onto a new cpu. Mostly pictures. The system is old and I am at a loss how to transfer the files. The old laptop is a dell running Win 98. It has one USB port that is 1.0. The DVD drive is read only and it has a 3.5 floppy drive. My USB flash drives are 2.0 and won't run on win 98. And all the new flash drives say they work with win 2000 and above. I used to run this machine connected to my modem via parallel cable. Now the new modem only has a network cable (cat5). Any ideas? Can I get a USB Flashdrive that will run on Win 98 and USB 1.0? Or is there a DVD drive that will run from a parallel cable? Thanks.
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if you go to their website, you can get 98 drivers for many of the USB thumb drives. And USB2 drives are backwards compatible with USB1, just slower.
if i were you i'd try and get a '98 driver for a 1Gig flash drive and offload it; you'd only have to do it once and so overnight is not an issue.
If your old laptop is that old the HDD wont' be that big. But, if it is, then you'd better look at getting a networking card for it... i'll be there's ethernet PCMCIA adapters on Ebay cheap.
Loring in Katy, TX USA
If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
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What kind of HDD is in your old laptop? An enclosure can be had for about 15 bucks that will let you take it out, put it in the enclosure then connect to an existing PC via USB. Unless you can find 98 drivers for your existing USB keys, this would be the next easiest way.David
The chief cause of failure in this life is giving up what you want most for what you want at the moment.Comment
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Thumbdrive with a Win 98 driver was my thought as well. But in looking through the Sandisk website I couldn't find a driver for Win98. At least not one compatible with the MicroCruzer drive that I have. I will try to find a compatible driver on Sandisk and then go buy the appropriate thumb drive. Maybe that will work.
Crockett. The original machine is a Dell Laptop from about 1999. I dont know what kind of HDD is in there. But Loring is correct. It is not very big. So 1GB thumbdrive will be enough. If I can just get one to work.Comment
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I believe that any flashdrive driver will do the trick. I'm not positive though, but I do remember doing that back when I had a computer than ran 98.AlexComment
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I would be willing to bet that any 2.5" IDE enclosure would work for you. Newegg usually has some decently priced. It would also give you the ability to hold onto the drive in case you discover a missing document that you need later on down the road."It's a dog eat dog world out there, and I'm wearing Milk-Bone underwear."- Norm (from Cheers)
Eat beef-because the west wasn't won on salad.Comment
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Windows 98SE (second edition) was required for working with USB drives. If you ever worked with one on it, you will probably already be ok (should be the same driver).
Most likely that old laptop's drive is 2.5" ide which will fit in an external case (under $15). I take it, it never had networking? (if it did, connect to your hub, or crossover cable to the other machine).
I believe you can still use a null modem cable (port to port, but slow)She couldn't tell the difference between the escape pod, and the bathroom. We had to go back for her.........................Twice.Comment
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Does this laptop have an ethernet port? Set up a peer to peer network at home with a crossover cable, set up a file share, and yank the files...
Or perhaps boot he thing to a Live CD version of Linux and then mount the flash drive to transfer the files...
What version of Windows 98 are we talking about? Has this poor decade old beast ever been upgraded?Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel. Please check out and subscribe to my Workshop Blog.Comment
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That was my first thought as well. Alternatively, you could simply remove the drive, plug it in to the connectors in the new PC (you will need a parallel IDE interface and an adapter to mate the connectors), copy the files, then put it back in the laptop.
You could also use the serial port to transfer the files, but it will be slow. Hmm, just did the calculation, it would take 117 DAYS to transfer 1 GB - so maybe not ;-)
Another option would be to use a USB CDROM drive to make a CD.
What about finding an older USB drive that has W98 drivers available?--------------------------------------------------
Electrical Engineer by day, Woodworker by nightComment
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I must admit to liking the concept of pulling the disk, and installing it in a USB external IDE 2.5" drive cage, I somewhat suspect the OP might not have the techical expertise to do this...
It might be worth your peace of mind to hire the job out to a professional. I just hope you can find truly qualified professionals where you live...Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel. Please check out and subscribe to my Workshop Blog.Comment
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An option to an external case is an IDE to USB cable
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812156101
The also offer newer models that handle both IDE and SATA.Bob
Bad decisions make good stories.Comment
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Downunder ... 1" = 25.4mmComment
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If you have Win 98SE it will handle up to a 2 gig usb flash drive. You may find a Jump Drive like this on e-bay. It will work on win 98se and drivers are available for it. Win 98se has a real problem with flash drives larger than 2G. I have an old win98se running as a print server and several 4 gig flash drives, all the same brand some work and some don't on it and I am using the manufactures drivers too. The 8 and 19G don't at all and no drivers are available.
You may have to DL the drivers on the new system and burn them to CD to load them on the laptop.
Alternatively, you may be able to borrow an Ethernet card that fits the PCMBdslkjrewu whatever that slot is called on the side of the laptop! and just connect the two together with Ethernet. You will need the Win 98 cd to load the drivers for this. If you have a router connected to the modem (cable or DSL) just plug it in there. If not a special Ethernet direct connect cable is required or you could get a hub for a few dollars. If you do this then the old laptop can be connected to the internet through the new setup.
Bill,
confusing people the old fashioned way
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