Wireless networking on win 98?

Discussion in 'PC hardware help' started by pro`noob, Aug 28, 2006.

  1. pro`noob

    pro`noob Regular member

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    Hi I am having trouble getting my wireless network to work on windows 98.

    I have tried with 2 different wireless cards and both have roughly the same problem, the problem is that once the drivers for the card is installed I need to use the taskbar utility to search for networks and enter ssid/wep key etc.
    On 2 completely different brands of wireless card, both of which are said to work with win98 the taskbar utility won't work, an error message comes up which is slightly different for each card but both indicate that the utility can not start due to an error.

    How can i get the taskbar utility to start up or how can i manually enter ssid and wep key on windows 98?

    ... the drivers themselves seemed to install fine.
     
  2. BlinkN

    BlinkN Regular member

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    On the box or in the manual, did it mention that the system requirements is suppose to be Windows 98 or Windows 98 Second Edition (SE)? If it's Windows 98 SE and you have Windows 98 operating system on you computer, chances for it to work is slim.

    Even though you can't get the taskbar utility to work, but manage to get the drivers to work, their is no way you can enter the SSID/WEP key because Windows 98 doesn't support WIFI. That feature didn't get added until Windows 2000 SP4. Windows 98 is no longer supported by Microsoft and getting that feature added is unlikely to happend.
     
  3. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    BlinkN, watch what you say as win98se does support wifi. i have a customer with a p2-266 laptop that had win98se with wifi that he was using in different motels while on vacation.
     
  4. BlinkN

    BlinkN Regular member

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    Ok Let me rephrase what I was trying to get here. Windows 98 does support WiFi but to what extent I didn't state. Windows 98/98SE/ME does not have Wireless Network Setup Wizard comparied to Windows 2000 (SP4)/2003/XP/MCE which does. If he can get the driver to work under Windows 98 (assuming he has the first edition) but couldn't get the taskbar utility to work (due to missing library or such to hook into the OS), which is needed in order to connect to his router. How can he connect if the taskbar utility is broken? Their's no way around it. I'm trying to find out weither the WiFi card he bought for his computer works with both Windows 98/98SE or just Windows 98 SE only? If the system requirements states that he needs Windows 98 Second Edition and this person is running Windows 98 (again assuming he has the first edition). Then it's going to cause problems.

    I will admit I was wrong when I stated that Windows 98 does not support WiFi. It does but in my mind I was seeing from a technical point of view based on the information that pro'noob provided. Next time I should chose my words carefully.

    If I couldn't clearify anything of things I've mentioned above, then I shall have looked like a total a**. Oh well.

    :)
     
  5. pro`noob

    pro`noob Regular member

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    Ok, I actually meant to say windows 98 SE, sorry I was not aware they are so different it is a long time since I used anything apart from XP.

    The drivers are installed ok so is there a reason why they would include a win98 driver if there was no way to connect to the network once installed?

    And as blinkin says, it does seem like a missing dll is the problem, I clicked a few other options in the entry it added to the start menu and they all say that dnsapi.dll is missing.

    Anyway its only a spare pc for guests to use so its no big deal if I can't get it working wirelessly - its just that I don't fancy having to lay more cables down just to get it online.

     
  6. pro`noob

    pro`noob Regular member

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    Oh and if it helps, the card I am now trying to get working is an Asus WL-138G
     
  7. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    do a file search for that missing dll file to see if actually there or not as possible the program didn't load properly. check card site for updates, patches & faq.
     
  8. BlinkN

    BlinkN Regular member

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    Sorry for looling like an a** pro'noob and ddp. Was only try to help you out pro'noob. :)

    The suggestion ddp is a good start. This is the site for the card you're looking for.

    [bold]Asus WL-138G[/bold]
    http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=12&l2=42&l3=0&model=50&modelmenu=1

    Has the information you're looking for.

    [bold]DLL Library for dnsapi.dll[/bold]
    http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?dnsapi

    Probably a good place to put this dll is under "C:\Windows\System". If worst comes to worst and doesn't work, put the dll under the root folder where Asus utility is located. Only do this step as a last resort if the information provided at the site doesn't help.

    Good luck.
     
    Last edited: Aug 30, 2006
  9. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    BlinkN, you don't look like an a**!!
     
  10. BlinkN

    BlinkN Regular member

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    Not according to donkey (shrek) that's besides me. He tells me on my worst days I act like a total a**. What a hipacrit.

    Hahahahaha. Good times.
     
  11. creaky

    creaky Moderator Staff Member

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    i've just cloned my 98SE hard drive from one PC to a newer PC with the intention of making the machine a triple boot. The wireless installs on 98SE but flat-out won't work (on both 98SE PC's). (i'm using 2 different chipsets of the Linksys WMP54G - RT61 and RT2500 which work fine in Linux btw, and even after Windows did it's whole hardware redetection thing followed by me messing with drivers it don't work in 98SE). At least it does work fine on the XP & Linux part of that same machine (didn't want internet on the 98SE part anyway, was just trying it for a laugh). Just adding my five pence that 98SE may not always be worth it for getting WiFi to work..
     
    Last edited: Aug 31, 2006

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