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I have a Compaq desktop computer running Windows 98 SE. It's been handed down a few times, and I don't recollect it ever being online but it does have a version of Firefox from 2007 so I could be wrong about that.

I recently tried using the internal modem on the computer - a 56k Compaq modem - for the first time. The modem shows up in certain system dialogs but none of the dialers - HyperTerminal, Phone Dialer, etc. would successfully connect.

I thought perhaps the modem was broken. I had a Dell Dimension 8200 laying around that had Windows XP, so I opened it up and took out its internal modem, and the NIC, for good measure. I installed both in the Compaq computer. It didn't boot the first time but I cycled the power and it booted up fine, more or less.

The "Add New Hardware" wizard did not open by default. I ran the wizard but it didn't detect any new hardware. Nowhere in the system was either the NIC or the second modem recognized.

I thought perhaps maybe I didn't have the right drivers, so I decided to load some on. The problem is, since this computer is 20+ years old, it only works with USB 1.1. My research shows that there are third-party drivers available that allow Windows 98 SE to work with USB 2.0 devices including flash drives. I have a PS/2 keyboard and mouse so flash drives here are my main concern.

I loaded the following drivers onto a floppy disk, and brought it home:

To test it out, I plugged a flash drive into the computer and the Add New Hardware Wizard opened and prompted for drivers. I then loaded the floppy disk and manually ran the .exe file for the first driver. It installed and rebooted. But when I plugged a flash drive in again, the Add New Hardware Wizard no longer opened automatically, and the flash drive was still not recognized in my computer.

I have nothing against floppy disks, really, but being able to use USB flash drives would be far more practical. This wouldn't be as important if I could get one of the modems to work, but right now neither is working. I believe someone is getting an external US Robotics 56k modem for me on eBay at the moment, and my hunch is external modems are more reliable than internal modems so that one may work more seamlessly. I'm not so sure though, given my problems so far.

I extracted the files for the second driver but I found just a bunch of ".sys" files. I didn't do anything after that.

I am following the procedures available online for getting Windows 98 to work with USB 2.0. What else could I do to get my Windows 98 SE PC to work with USB flash drives? Do I just need drivers, or is some other change required?

My main reason for needing USB 2.0 support is so I can load drivers onto a flash drive and transfer them to the Windows 98 computer to load drivers for the modem. I have a feeling I may need to do trial and error to get the right drivers, and given the capacity of a floppy disk that route would not really be practical. At the moment, however, floppy disks are the only thing working perfectly for me.

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    USB 1.0 and 2.0 actually differ only in the availability of 3 speed settings vs. 2 in the former (USB 2.0 knows "High Speed" (480Mbps) in addition to USB 1.0 "Low" (1.5Mbps) and "Full" (12Mbps) devices. Even a USB 2.0 stick should fall back to 12Mbps on a 1.0 port. Your problem is actually driver-related, not USB standard-related. Device-class support is more or less the same between USB2.0 and 1.0
    – tofro
    Commented Oct 17, 2018 at 13:30
  • Some internal modems are WinModems and require special drivers to work. So it's very possible that you will have more luck with an external one, or at least you can rule out any driver issues.
    – snips-n-snails
    Commented Oct 17, 2018 at 18:23
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    It's more likely USB 1.1, not 1.0. 1.0 is very rare. Almost all USB 2.0 devices are backward-compatible with USB 1.1. Of course, you will still need drivers. Windows 98 was much more needful of loading drivers off floppy disks or CD-ROMs than more modern versions of Windows are.
    – Jim MacKenzie
    Commented Oct 17, 2018 at 18:31
  • 2
    @traal WinModems - one of the worst ever devices for modern computers. Even worse than (the unfortunately still existent) GDI printers. Just truly horrible.
    – manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact
    Commented Oct 17, 2018 at 18:38
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    After fiddling with drivers, I tried a different brand of flash drive (Lexar) and it worked! Windows brought up the wizard but this time detected drivers and everything worked seamlessly. Actually more seamlessly than modern versions of Windows! So perhaps some USB drives work and some do not. I only use FAT32, I didn't even know NTFS USB flash drives were a thing. The internal modem is a Compaq 56k one, the second internal modem I installed is a Dell one I believe. I think the NIC is a GVC 1156I.
    – InterLinked
    Commented Oct 17, 2018 at 23:14

6 Answers 6

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File System

Windows 98 typically uses FAT32, whereas later versions of Windows support NTFS. While it should recognize a flash drive at the low-level hardware no matter what file system is installed, it will likely not show it 100% correctly if it is using NTFS instead of FAT32.

My advice is to format the flash drive on a newer computer/OS using FAT32 (instructions for 7 & Vista), put a few files on it and try it on the Windows 98 machine.

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  • I don't have any NTFS flash drives, they are all FAT32, as is the hard disk itself on this computer ("only" 7GB). I'm marking this as answer though because trying a different flash drive did the trick. So the problem may well be the flash drive, not the USB ports or the drivers.
    – InterLinked
    Commented Oct 17, 2018 at 23:16
  • @InterLinked Thanks. Even if this didn't actually make the difference in your case, I know (from experience) that it sometimes really is the issue.
    – manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact
    Commented Oct 17, 2018 at 23:47
  • @InterLinked different flash drive means the previous one did not have correct drivers installed or was damaged but in that case it would also not work on new computer.
    – Spektre
    Commented Jan 25, 2019 at 12:06
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Windows 98 doesn't come with any drivers built-in for the USB Mass Storage class. Fortunately, there are some generic drivers available, such as from here. I found this site by searching the web for "windows 98 usb mass storage driver" - other sites are available with similar drivers.

You'll need the version for Second Edition. This particular driver is a self-installing EXE file, so it's just a case of running the downloaded file and rebooting afterwards. I used them myself some years ago and can attest to the fact that they work, although there is a warning on the website that they may not work with all available USB mass storage devices.

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One solution is to use a USB-to-Floppy interface adapter. One brand of these is Gotek. You can even mount it in a drive bay, perhaps in place of the original floppy drive. The computer will think it's reading a floppy disk when it's actually reading a floppy image file on a USB stick.

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    I have an adapter to use a floppy drive to read and write SmartMedia cards, which I bought in the days before USB (when its competitor was 115,200bps serial). Rather than plugging into a floppy cable, the adapter went in the drive itself like a diskette. Don't know if anyone ever did a USB version of the concept, though--it would require that the USB connector itself stay outside the drive.
    – supercat
    Commented Oct 17, 2018 at 21:11
  • It is significantly more complicated to transfer files that way, as you first have to create floppy images.
    – tofro
    Commented Jan 25, 2019 at 16:14
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Back in the days of Windows 9x, the USB drives needed a special driver from their manufacturers (usually on small ~200 MByte format CD). But not many manufacturers provided them, limiting usable USB drives. The USB drives usually work in USB 1.1 ports too without any problems (apart the speed). Some of the newer USB drives still work with Windows 9x (usually those no-names 1-4 GByte).

I still have my ancient Windows 9x compliant PQI Travel Disk (128 MByte USB Flash + SD card reader) working, so in case I need to transfer large amount of data to an old PC being repaired, I usually use its SD card reader as it supports cards up to 2GB and I still have some.

If nothing works, there are also different alternatives like CF/IDE adapters (really just a few connectors) like this one:

CF2IDE

You just use the CF card as a removable Hard drive. Old game consoles and some laptops use them instead of real HDDs. I still have one working in here. So you use one such adapter in your old computer and in the new one you just need a card reader, or another adapter if PATA is still an option.

You can also use a network to copy stuff (COM/LPT LAPLINK/INTERLING or file sharing with TCP/IP LAN).

In your case, I would first try the on-board USB 1.1 ports and look for a USB flash drive driver and also for compatible USB key that works. The usual stuff that I installed was:

  1. VIAUSB2V244
  2. Via_USB_AMD_fix
  3. PQI_TravelDisk drivers (these are the vendor drivers for my flash mentioned above)

You can find those in here How to patch binaries in DOS? look for MS-DOS (g)mouse and w9x USB stuff link.

Such a configuration usually made workable a lot of no-name USB drives too (not just PQI).

Sometimes it also helps if you set USB support in the BIOS (some BIOSes have multiple support settings for USB keyboards and drives I encountered once that wrong settings was messing up USB usage in Windows 9x).

Also do not forget that you can use only FAT16/FAT32 formats.

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  • Most CF to IDE adapters do not support hot-swapping the cards.
    – Mark
    Commented May 15, 2020 at 1:19
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This is certainly possible with third-party software. One option that I have seen used on real hardware is the Maximus-Decim Native USB Drivers, i.e. NUSB:

98 SE NUSB: Unofficial Windows 98 SE Native USB Drivers (NUSB) 3.3 adds native USB + USB 2.0 support for most internal + external USB devices (free):

NUSB in languages other than English.

Here's a direct link to the English version:

https://www.mdgx.com/spx/NUSB.EXE

You may need to use the Internet Archive:

https://web.archive.org/web/20210723001556/http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#NUSB

https://web.archive.org/web/20210723001556/http://www.mdgx.com/spx/NUSB.EXE

This will appear as "Unofficial Universal USB 2.0 Stack" in Add or Remove Programs.

Mirror #1:

Download

The drivers can be downloaded from the following link:

Windows 98 SE Generic USB Mass Storage Device Drivers v3.3 - nusb33e.exe

https://web.archive.org/web/20190920070243/http://www.technical-assistance.co.uk/kb/win98se-usb-mass-storage-drivers.php

Windows 98 USB Mass Storage Device Drivers

USB flash drives and other USB mass storage based devices are becoming more and more common. Unfortunately, they often do not come with drivers because Windows Me, 2000, XP and Vista all come with generic drivers already installed. This way all you need to do is plug the drive in, Windows will recognise it and you will automatically see the drive in My Computer. Windows 98, especially in it's second edition (also known as Windows 98SE), handles USB fairly well, however there are no generic/universal mass storage device drivers preinstalled in the operating system, so you will need to install some additional drivers for it. Some manufacturers do however, provide the Windows 98 drivers on CD, others have them available to download, and others simply do not have them available at all.

If you are using Windows 98, and you do not know the manufacturer of the storage device, or you can't find the drivers, what can you do? Fortunately, there are some generic Windows 98 USB mass storage device drivers available that work with most such devices. This means that these drivers will work with many makes and models of the following:

  • USB Flash Drives (also known as Pen Drives, or Thumb Drives)
  • Digital Photo and Video Cameras (that connect to the PC via USB)
  • USB Hard Drives
  • MP3 Players (including Apple iPod from v2.4)
  • Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP)

https://web.archive.org/web/20190907193658/http://www.technical-assistance.co.uk/kb/usbmsd98.php

Mirror #2:

To install the drivers

Version 3.x

  • Download the exe file to the desktop
  • Remove ALL drivers for USB flash drives in Device Manager
  • Remove ALL drivers for any USB 2.0 controllers (many have an uninstall option)
  • Remove ALL unknown devices from Device Manager
  • Run the exe file you downloaded, and follow the instructions, rebooting after installation
  • When the computer boots up again, it may detect new USB 2.0 controllers, in which case you may need to reboot again

Version 2.x

  • Download the exe file to the desktop
  • Remove ALL drivers for USB flash drives in Device Manager
  • Remove ALL unknown devices from Device Manager
  • Run the exe file you downloaded, and follow the instructions, rebooting after installation

Direct link:

http://www.synthmind.com/w98-usb-drivers/nusb33e.exe

There is extensive discussion on the MSFN board here:

Posted April 11, 2005

Maximus Decim Native USB ver.3.3

  • Native (without installation of additional drivers for each type) support USB flash drives, digital photo and videocameras and other similar devices.

  • Universal Stack USB 2.0 (without installation of additional drivers for each chipsets) with uninstall.

1.Remove ALL drivers USB flash drives. 2.Remove ALL drivers USB 2.0 controllers. 3.Remove ALL unknown devices. 4.Install NUSB 3.3 and reboot. 5.After detection new USB 2.0 controllers (if it will occur) too it is necessary to be reboot.

Remember! You install it at own risk!

https://msfn.org/board/topic/43605-maximus-decim-native-usb-drivers/

Posted June 4, 2012

Maximus Decim Native USB ver.3.6

  • Native (without installation of additional drivers for each type) support USB flash drives, digital photo and videocameras and other similar devices.

  • Universal Stack USB 2.0 (without installation of additional drivers for each chipsets) with uninstall.

1.Remove ALL drivers USB flash drives.

2.Remove ALL drivers USB 2.0 controllers.

3.Remove ALL USB 1.1 and 2.0 controllers and devices.

4.Remove ALL unknown devices.

5.Install NUSB 3.6 and reboot.

6.After detection new USB 1.1 and 2.0 controllers (if it will occur) too it is necessary to reboot.

Remember! You install it at own risk!

https://msfn.org/board/topic/43605-maximus-decim-native-usb-drivers/page/47/

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Windows 98SE doesn't natively support USB flash drives, even though it does support USB hard drives. Early BIOSes that allowed booting from USB had the same issue.

There is a program called Native USB disk driver for Windows 98 ... ver 3.3 that I have that installs drivers for USB flash drives as well as a USB2.0 drivers.

A better way is to just go on http://www.majorgeeks.com/ and search for unofficial Windows 98 service pack. It comes with a lot of enhancements including USB flash drive support & USB 2.0.

Using a computer with a BIOS that supports booting from USB may be another way to access USB storage from DOS, including anything that runs on DOS such as Windows 9x.

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