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Question

Is a flash drive available for a 386machine using MS98se?

by Feb 28, 2014 9:45AM PST

I have a printer connected to this PC plus a monitor and keyboard and can see a couple of unused ports I'm assuming are USB ports. (Also, this machne is not connecred to the internet.)

Discussion is locked

8 Posts
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Answer
The older flash drives had Windows 98 drivers, but...
by Feb 28, 2014 10:23AM PST

...since Windows 98SE has been unsupported for so long, I doubt if you could find any new ones with drivers on them. You might look on Amazon or ebay, but I'd look for drives very low capacities relative to the ones that're out there today. I believe XP was the first version of Windows that would automatically search for and find drivers for these.

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Answer
In a word, yes.
by Forum moderator Feb 28, 2014 10:47AM PST

But you may have to find what would be considered small drives. Try 32MB drives to start with.
Bob

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Answer
I just checked mine. I have an 06 vintage Memorex
by Feb 28, 2014 10:58AM PST

that has a Windows 98 driver on it. It's a 1 GB one, and I'd suspect that's about as big as you'll find. You could check with the likes of Sandisk, Memorex, Kingston, Verbatim, PNY, Corsair, Lexar, and the like to see what they might have. Some of these probably have Windows 98 drivers on their support page.
`
Good luck.

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98se - Flash Drive - Relying to All Responders
by Tosca Feb 28, 2014 11:13AM PST

Super responses - Thank you. I don't need any huge capacity - 32MB would be fine, Bob. But, as I noted, this PC is not connected to the Internet - if I need downloadable drivers, aren't I out of luck?

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Download the driver on a current PC, then
by wpgwpg Feb 28, 2014 11:57AM PST

put it on the flash drive and on a CD. Put the CD in the Windows 98 PC, then plug in the flash drive.

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Answer
Checkout...
by Mar 3, 2014 9:51PM PST

You're going to be stuck using smaller flash drives that were released during that time. The OS itself won't allow beyond 512mb at the most if I remember correctly. On top of that most win9x setups needed drivers. the good news if you check and in most cases the vendor(maker) support website and check under legacy or older listed flash drives what *was* available and try to find them. If you get lucky and can use larger flash drives, it still may not be capable to not exceed 1gb and that's saying alot for win9x systems. You may want to check out a ext. USB(AC powered) hub or USB multi-memory reader and use SD flash card adapter. These readily swap out SD type memory and maybe more friendly, though that's not a given and cost remains similar overall. I hope the below link provides more info:

http://forum.technical-assistance.co.uk/how-to-get-windows98-se-to-work-with-flash-drives-gt-1gb-vt1214.html

tada -----Willy Happy

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Flash Drives
by Tosca Mar 4, 2014 9:28AM PST

Thanks Willy, but I really have no need for eve 512mb, but I will keep your suggestions in mind.

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Parting advise
by Willy Mar 4, 2014 11:30PM PST

The OS win98se provided the ability to use USB ports on a system. But, you're wanting to match that to a 386 based PC which wasn't part of any offering when that came out. At best it may have been for 486 based PCs, but even then that was a rare duck. It came to P4 based PCs to more readily use USB. On top of all win9X based PCs still needed the flash drive that they provided in order to use the flash drive from that maker. All in all, it becomes quite difficult process to make a 386 based PC to even get use out of 386, not that it couldn't but it JUST WASN'T available back then. You may have a PC case that has USB ports but these may not be connected to anything and if they are, they're USB 1.0 or 1.1 rated. When it comes to 386 on its own, that's really drags things around and hoping for the best. The last advise I can give is hoping the install of a USB pci type card may allow such usage which in turn depending on it's make-up may have int. connections to PC case ports. I supply this advise as re-reading your original post, you gave little clue to where the USB ports are, maybe case or other area or card. of course, details would have helped here but "as is" I find this a very difficult task to complete.

tada ------Willy Happy

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