D-Link DFE-538TX issue on Win 98 SE

Mac Daddy · Mar 7, 2009, 03:07 PM

OK guys I am setting up a system for my Aunt because her computer died this week. It's nothing fancy my mom got it from the school board for free.

I don't think I need to include all the system specs but will if requested. The problem is I can't seem to get online with this ethernet card I have even installed the drivers from D-Link for Win 98.

In device manager it shows the card operating normally and that the driver loaded is the one I dled. Won't open IE or anything else to allow me to dl Win updates and get some AV on this thing. Is there an offline setting I may have missed in IE?

I haven't used 98 SE in years so its probably something really simple

GigaWatt · Mar 7, 2009, 07:04 PM

i haven't used it for a while too... have you tried installing any other internet browser (some 2.xx version of Firefox would be good, since it's an old rig) and see if the problem is still present...?

Mac Daddy · Mar 7, 2009, 08:00 PM

No I haven't and was thinking of doing that actually. If I type for example "firefox" in the IE taskbar it shows found "www.firefox.com", "www.firefox.org", etc then comes up with can't load search window.

Good idea will give that a try thanks Bro !!

GigaWatt · Mar 7, 2009, 08:16 PM

if you don't have an older version of firefox, i could upload one for you...

Mac Daddy · Mar 7, 2009, 08:21 PM

Thanks man I think I am ok on that will let ya know. Just gonna read through the forum and reboot the other issue with this system is it only has 2 rear USB ports close together on the rear. So I can't use the USB connection from my KVM switch and my USB stick at the same time.

So swapping a 4G HD back and forth what a PITA

GigaWatt · Mar 7, 2009, 10:40 PM

yeah, know, i have the same problem with my PIII rig...

a USB cable with the same type male and female connectors at both ends should fix the USB connector problem...

Mac Daddy · Mar 8, 2009, 12:02 AM

No luck on the FF 2.0 Bro I think this ethernet card is messed up.

On the cable that would work great and I have a bunch of those cables at work left over from Pioneer head units ... dang never thought of that or would have drove by work and got one today lol

I am taking a break from that for today and watching some hockey thanks for the suggestions Bro

GigaWatt · Mar 8, 2009, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mac Daddy

No luck on the FF 2.0 Bro I think this ethernet card is messed up.

the ethernet card may not be the problem... could be some sort of setting in Win98 SE as you previously stated... trying the card on a new rig may be the answer to the dilemma...

back in those days is used a dial up external modem, so there was no ethernet card present in the PC...

maybe some sort of an update of the OS could fix the problem...

Mac Daddy · Mar 8, 2009, 12:34 PM

Hard to say I am heading to my parents place this morning as I do every Sunday morning I have a spare card I left there incase they ever needed it.

I will try that then the D-Link card in one of my systems here (They all use onboard lan).

Thanks again for the advise will know in a few hours. This system is dated by Jankins computers and was built in 2000 ... I am thinking it originally had Me on it which I don't want to touch. See coming from the school board it is policy to wipe the HD.

IvanV · Mar 8, 2009, 01:53 PM

One lame question: Did you check the router settings? I know how this sounds, but I was helping a friend set up ADSL and it was acting in a similar way, it would try to load the page for awhile before saying it was unavailable. I was trying to figure out what was wrong for a few minutes, checked everything several times, and just as I was about to give up and call tech support, I saw that I was supposed to type username@isp.net instead of just username into the corresponding field.

If you have a live Linux distribution, give that a try, if it doesn't work than it's most probably the network card.

Mac Daddy · Mar 8, 2009, 03:33 PM

That's actually a good idea Ivan thanks. What I think I might try a bit later after I get some stuff done here is bypass the router completely and hook the cable modem direct.

She doesn't have a router so if that works we are all good.

Mac Daddy · Mar 8, 2009, 11:17 PM

Well an update of sorts here guys thanks for the suggestions and help

I tried the card connected directly to the modem same deal. Tried the other card a Linksys Etherfast and 98 SE recognized it and loaded the drivers. Reboot errors with the network card driver. Re-installed 98 SE with that card in the no problems detected. First reboot same errors with network card

This is an older system and only has 256M of ram so wasn't sure if XP would install but tried it anyway. That solved the problem its online now and I didn't even have to run the network wizard after the initial install.

IvanV · Mar 9, 2009, 12:35 AM

I'm glad to hear that everything is fine.

Mac Daddy · Mar 9, 2009, 01:00 AM

Thanks man the advise is was most appreciated

GigaWatt · Mar 9, 2009, 10:53 AM

if that rig had 256MB of RAM, i wouldn't be hesitating to install XP on it...

i managed to install XP on a AMD K5 100MHz rig with 16MB of EDO RAM (with a virtual RAM tweak), and the damn thing worked...

... of course the boot up time is terrible... the first time i ran it, XP was booting up, and i went in the kitchen made some coffe, had a snack, and when i came back the welcome screen was loading... LOL

it was just a test, if i could actually install XP on a 14 year old rig

... i formated the drive afterwards and put in Win98...

Mac Daddy · Mar 9, 2009, 11:36 AM

Hee hee

Thanks on the info and good to know I had 2 older 512M sticks here but they are not the same as the RAM in her machine unfortunately. Thanks to you as well Bro for the help

Mar 7, 2009, 03:07 PM	#1
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	D-Link DFE-538TX issue on Win 98 SE OK guys I am setting up a system for my Aunt because her computer died this week. It's nothing fancy my mom got it from the school board for free. I don't think I need to include all the system specs but will if requested. The problem is I can't seem to get online with this ethernet card I have even installed the drivers from D-Link for Win 98. In device manager it shows the card operating normally and that the driver loaded is the one I dled. Won't open IE or anything else to allow me to dl Win updates and get some AV on this thing. Is there an offline setting I may have missed in IE? I haven't used 98 SE in years so its probably something really simple __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Mar 7, 2009, 07:04 PM	#2
GigaWatt Now In Color :D Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Macedonia, Skopje Posts: 2,116 Rep Power: 81 System Specs	Re: D-Link DFE-538TX issue on Win 98 SE i haven't used it for a while too... have you tried installing any other internet browser (some 2.xx version of Firefox would be good, since it's an old rig) and see if the problem is still present...? __________________ It's not schisophrenia... it's just a voice in my head...

Mar 7, 2009, 08:00 PM	Thread Starter #3
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	Re: D-Link DFE-538TX issue on Win 98 SE No I haven't and was thinking of doing that actually. If I type for example "firefox" in the IE taskbar it shows found "www.firefox.com", "www.firefox.org", etc then comes up with can't load search window. Good idea will give that a try thanks Bro !! __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Mar 7, 2009, 08:16 PM	#4
GigaWatt Now In Color :D Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Macedonia, Skopje Posts: 2,116 Rep Power: 81 System Specs	Re: D-Link DFE-538TX issue on Win 98 SE if you don't have an older version of firefox, i could upload one for you... __________________ It's not schisophrenia... it's just a voice in my head...

Mar 7, 2009, 08:21 PM	Thread Starter #5
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	Re: D-Link DFE-538TX issue on Win 98 SE Thanks man I think I am ok on that will let ya know. Just gonna read through the forum and reboot the other issue with this system is it only has 2 rear USB ports close together on the rear. So I can't use the USB connection from my KVM switch and my USB stick at the same time. So swapping a 4G HD back and forth what a PITA __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Mar 7, 2009, 10:40 PM	#6
GigaWatt Now In Color :D Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Macedonia, Skopje Posts: 2,116 Rep Power: 81 System Specs	Re: D-Link DFE-538TX issue on Win 98 SE yeah, know, i have the same problem with my PIII rig... a USB cable with the same type male and female connectors at both ends should fix the USB connector problem... __________________ It's not schisophrenia... it's just a voice in my head...

Mar 8, 2009, 12:02 AM	Thread Starter #7
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	Re: D-Link DFE-538TX issue on Win 98 SE No luck on the FF 2.0 Bro I think this ethernet card is messed up. On the cable that would work great and I have a bunch of those cables at work left over from Pioneer head units ... dang never thought of that or would have drove by work and got one today lol I am taking a break from that for today and watching some hockey thanks for the suggestions Bro __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Mar 8, 2009, 12:34 PM	Thread Starter #9
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	Re: D-Link DFE-538TX issue on Win 98 SE Hard to say I am heading to my parents place this morning as I do every Sunday morning I have a spare card I left there incase they ever needed it. I will try that then the D-Link card in one of my systems here (They all use onboard lan). Thanks again for the advise will know in a few hours. This system is dated by Jankins computers and was built in 2000 ... I am thinking it originally had Me on it which I don't want to touch. See coming from the school board it is policy to wipe the HD. __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Mar 8, 2009, 01:53 PM	#10
IvanV HH Assassin Guild Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,914 Rep Power: 333 System Specs	Re: D-Link DFE-538TX issue on Win 98 SE One lame question: Did you check the router settings? I know how this sounds, but I was helping a friend set up ADSL and it was acting in a similar way, it would try to load the page for awhile before saying it was unavailable. I was trying to figure out what was wrong for a few minutes, checked everything several times, and just as I was about to give up and call tech support, I saw that I was supposed to type username@isp.net instead of just username into the corresponding field. If you have a live Linux distribution, give that a try, if it doesn't work than it's most probably the network card. __________________ If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Mar 8, 2009, 03:33 PM	Thread Starter #11
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	Re: D-Link DFE-538TX issue on Win 98 SE That's actually a good idea Ivan thanks. What I think I might try a bit later after I get some stuff done here is bypass the router completely and hook the cable modem direct. She doesn't have a router so if that works we are all good. __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Mar 8, 2009, 11:17 PM	Thread Starter #12
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	Re: D-Link DFE-538TX issue on Win 98 SE Well an update of sorts here guys thanks for the suggestions and help I tried the card connected directly to the modem same deal. Tried the other card a Linksys Etherfast and 98 SE recognized it and loaded the drivers. Reboot errors with the network card driver. Re-installed 98 SE with that card in the no problems detected. First reboot same errors with network card This is an older system and only has 256M of ram so wasn't sure if XP would install but tried it anyway. That solved the problem its online now and I didn't even have to run the network wizard after the initial install. __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Mar 9, 2009, 12:35 AM	#13
IvanV HH Assassin Guild Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,914 Rep Power: 333 System Specs	Re: D-Link DFE-538TX issue on Win 98 SE I'm glad to hear that everything is fine. __________________ If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Mar 9, 2009, 01:00 AM	Thread Starter #14
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	Re: D-Link DFE-538TX issue on Win 98 SE Thanks man the advise is was most appreciated __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Mar 9, 2009, 10:53 AM	#15
GigaWatt Now In Color :D Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Macedonia, Skopje Posts: 2,116 Rep Power: 81 System Specs	Re: D-Link DFE-538TX issue on Win 98 SE if that rig had 256MB of RAM, i wouldn't be hesitating to install XP on it... i managed to install XP on a AMD K5 100MHz rig with 16MB of EDO RAM (with a virtual RAM tweak), and the damn thing worked... ... of course the boot up time is terrible... the first time i ran it, XP was booting up, and i went in the kitchen made some coffe, had a snack, and when i came back the welcome screen was loading... LOL it was just a test, if i could actually install XP on a 14 year old rig ... i formated the drive afterwards and put in Win98... __________________ It's not schisophrenia... it's just a voice in my head...

Mar 9, 2009, 11:36 AM	Thread Starter #16
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	Re: D-Link DFE-538TX issue on Win 98 SE Hee hee Thanks on the info and good to know I had 2 older 512M sticks here but they are not the same as the RAM in her machine unfortunately. Thanks to you as well Bro for the help __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen