Wireless for windows 98se

Hi Everyone

This my first post so be gentle please

I have been given a very old laptop that is running windows 98SE
it is a Compaq Aramada 1700 with a 10GB HD and 32mb Ram
it came with a network PCMCIA LAN WIRELESS ADAPTER and a Wireless Dongle
but no drivers etc

My first question is does 98SE support wireless if it does can you point me in the right direction on how to set it up and is there such a thing has std drivers that you can use,I have been told it would be better to run an OS system called puppy Linux has this has wireless etc (Is This Correct) All i want is this laptop to connect to the Internet for my daughter just to surf and things like homework,I am a complete novice at computers so please be kind with me and post step by step if possible

Look forward to your reply

 

A wireless card might have an external antenna but wouldn't normally have a dongle. That might be a PCMCIA modem or 10/100 Network card.

Windows 98 is perfectly capable of using a wireless network controller. It is dependent on the controller weather or not drivers are available for 98.

If you have a make and model on the controller, we may be able to help.

 

it is an PCMCIA LAN WIRELESS ADAPTER that goes in the card slot on the side of the laptop but has no make on it i was wondering if there is std driver that you could use,The laptop sees it when you slide the card but cannot find any driver and has a yellow question mark on the device page.

The wireless dongle that also came with it and just has LM on it and when you plug that in it says the same as the above.

 

It will be tough without some kind of identification. Every chipset has it's own driver and not all manufacturers made or continue to provide drivers for Win98.

You could try running a program like Everest. It might identify it.

You might also try booting a live linux CD and see if it identifies it.

Perhaps the previous owner has the original CD for it. Or look through the folders on the HD and see if the drivers are there.

 

Thought of that when i got the laptop he told me he had to reinstall 98se so there are no files or drivers or disks to go with the laptop for the dongle etc only the 98se disk,

Can you tell me how to make a Linux disk has dont forget the laptop has only 32mb ram and a 10gb hard drive and i assume that Linux has wireless drivers built in,Would it be better to take 98se of the laptop and install Linux ?