I equipped my computer with a USB card recently, because I want to link my Palm to the PC, but it doesn’t seem to work.
The system (Windows 98) did detect the card has a new hardware device, and it’s listed in the hardware list. But if I check the device status, it tells me that there is a problem (“Code 10”), recommending me to update the driver. There was, however, no driver software in the card package; it said Windows would detect the device automatically without saying anything about drivers.
According to the hardware list, it’s an “OPTi 82C861 PCI/USB Open Host Controller.” The system is Windows 98 with a 350 MHz AMD processor, if that’s of help. Any idea on how to make the thing work would be appreciated.
You didn’t say if you were running Win98 second edition, but this should fix you up:
Windows 98 Second Edition: Updated Uhcd.sys Fixes Problem with Some USB Devices Not Running
This card is apparently a bit problematic in some systems. Make sure the files listed below are in place. The \Win98 directory on the Win98SE CD should have the files you need.
The link above was from www.driverguide.com
use “drivers” and “all” for the logon and password.
Actually I’m running Win 98, not SE, and the patch told me it wasn’t for my version of Windows. The zip file downloadable from driverguide.com included ntkern.vxd, and I did add this to the folder, but there were no other files in the zip archive. However, I think that’s the right track. I’ve googled around and it seems as if other people have had that same problem. I think I’ll search for the other files and install them where they belong.
The OPTi homepage, I’ve found out in the meantime, tells me to install the card into a different PCI slot. Great advice; didn’t work witht that either. I think I’ll have to try it all at once.
Anyway, thanks to both of you, guys!
I did remember something else. I had a similar situation occur a few years ago when someone installed a USB card, but used a 98SE CD when the system requested the drivers and their OS was Win 98 not Win 98SE. There is just enough difference between the two driver sets that using 98se drivers in a 98 install will mung up the USB driver install.
If you’re running 98, not SE, your machine is probably pretty old, and it’s likely your motherboard’s BIOS cannot handle USB. Better check with the manufacturer of the motherboard. Perhaps you can flash-update it, and there is a site that sells updated BIOS chips for about $60 even for mb’s whose manufac is no longer in business. If you need the site URL, I can look it up.
FYI: Touchstone Software sells BIOS upgrade chips. They even have a little program you can run on your machine to identify the BIOS you already have.