# USB 10/100 ethernet adapter..please help **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 29, 2007, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-10-100-ethernet-adapter-please-help/402043 "2007-04-29T14:39:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-10-100-ethernet-adapter-please-help/402043/1 "2007-04-29T14:39:19Z")
I found this device in my closet. It was used many years ago to connect a desktop computer that didn’t have an ethernet port to my home network. The ISP (@Home which was pre-att which was pre comcast) provided it. The device has an ethernet input and a USB cable output. I thought I’d try to use it instead of a network card to connect a latop since my “dongle” won’t work anymore (I think that’s what the thing is called anyway). When I connected it I got a new hardware device driver search pop-up. I’m wondering if I should try to locate the driver on my old desktop computer, or online or just bag it??? ---
**Author:** ![Queuing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90ced4/32.png) [@Queuing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queuing)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-10-100-ethernet-adapter-please-help/402043/2 "2007-04-29T15:03:37Z")
Search online, you should be able to find it. I see no reason to do the 3rd option until you know whether it works or not, and google will probably be faster then looking for it on your desktop. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2007, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-10-100-ethernet-adapter-please-help/402043/3 "2007-04-30T13:14:26Z")
[QUOTE=Queuing] Search online, you should be able to find it. I see no reason to do the 3rd option until you know whether it works or not, and google will probably be faster then looking for it on your desktop. [/QUOTE] Thanks. I don’t have much experience with drivers. Will it be unique to the original ISP (@Home or [ATT.com](http://ATT.com)), to the manufacturer (not sure who that is) … or will most any ethernet to USB adapter driver work as long as it works on my OS (Windows 98)?? ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2007, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-10-100-ethernet-adapter-please-help/402043/4 "2007-04-30T14:00:44Z")
[QUOTE=What the … !!!] Thanks. I don’t have much experience with drivers. Will it be unique to the original ISP (@Home or [ATT.com](http://ATT.com)), to the manufacturer (not sure who that is) … or will most any ethernet to USB adapter driver work as long as it works on my OS (Windows 98)?? [/QUOTE] Well, those are good questions. I’m thinking since the device doesn’t have any ‘brains’ that it should be able to use any generic USB to Ethernet driver. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-10-100-ethernet-adapter-please-help/402043/5 "2007-04-30T14:34:29Z")
[QUOTE=What the … !!!] Thanks. I don’t have much experience with drivers. Will it be unique to the original ISP (@Home or [ATT.com](http://ATT.com)), to the manufacturer (not sure who that is) … or will most any ethernet to USB adapter driver work as long as it works on my OS (Windows 98)?? [/QUOTE] The manufacturer. There should be some kind of label on it somewhere. The model number would be helpful as well. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2007, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-10-100-ethernet-adapter-please-help/402043/6 "2007-04-30T15:15:17Z")
Control panel System Hardware Device Manager Will sometimes recognize the device and name it for you.