tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152701002007-08-16T11:46:12.451+10:00Tim Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976952761539596932noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15270100.post-1123626900192776982005-08-10T08:16:00.000+10:002005-08-10T20:04:10.320+10:00Whilst setting up a wireless network for a client last week I had the misfortune to run into an older machine that didn't believe in the concept of wireless networking - well almost! The machine was a Pentium 3 model with nothing out of the ordinary in terms of components on an ASUS P3V133 Motherboard.<br /><br />Despite installing the Netgear WG111 wireless card as I have done numerous times before this Windows 98 machine just would not boot afterwards. I tried removing the all networking components and re-adding them. Searched wide and far on Netgear's site and the Net. Nada. So I tried a USB Wifi NIC. It would at least boot, but nothing I did would get it to actually see <span style="font-weight: bold;">and</span> connect to the Wifi Network. By this time I was getting a little cranky...<br /><br />So I went and borrowed a different brand of card from my friends at the <a href="http://gcom.net.au/">local computer shop.</a> After installing that card we still had the same problem as the USB WiFi NIC. The system said it was operational... but it wasn't!<br /><br />Okaaayy... After fiddling and tweaking some more I discussed it with the client and they gave the all clear to re-install Win98SE to try and deal with these odd Wireless networking problems. That done, I hoped at least one of the 3 WiFi devices I had on hand would work, right?<br /><br />Uh-uh, no go. Still the same result. I was just a little red faced at this point so retired to the safety of the office to ponder on this some more. More searching and researching landed me back at <a href="http://zippyhosting.com/">Leo's</a> as he just didn't believe this was happening. He reached for yet another brand of WiFi card and did the install himself only to see the same result - no connection. What to do next?<br /><br />All up we spent a couple of hours trying different wireless cards and USB NICs. Out of the 7 we tried only two would actually work correctly. Remember, this was on a completely clean Windows 98 install. The end result was that a noname clone USB NIC from Cabac worked without problems as did a Wireless NIC from CNet - Wireless-G PCI adaptor model CWP-854. I ended up going with CNet one as it had an external arial and that was important for this network.<br /><br />Both of the NETGEAR WG111 and WG111T PCI Wireless cards and USB NICs all had similar problems - obviously a driver issue. Unfortunately I can't recall the other brands/models of Wireless card/USB we tried. My recommendation is that if you are having trouble getting one particular NIC to work to try a generic noname/clone device instead, it might just work - it did for me on this job. Needless to say I now carry a couple of different brands (including that clone Cabac USB NIC) with me in my toolbox, although I still always go for the Netgear devices first as I like how they (usually) install and operate. YMMV.Tim Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05976952761539596932noreply@blogger.com