Call me a Luddite, but I’m still running Windows '95. Hunting for scanner tonight, I realized that I am going to need a USB port whenever I buy my next scanner (which may be soon, see question #2.) According to Microsoft, retail versions of Win’95 are not USB compatible. Does anyone make a set of drivers that will let me use a USB card, or does anyone know of a good workaround? This is version 4.00.950B, for what that’s worth. I don’t know what release.
Question #2 (and completely MPSIMS): The only parallel port scanner at Fry’s was a return unit. I haven’t installed it yet. Anyone want to lay bets on whether it works?
There are two versions of Windows 95 – Versions A and B. The way to tell is your windows 95 cd will say “with USB support” on it if its Version B. Version B does support the USB ports via a suppliment that is on the Windows 95 CD (USBsupp.exe I believe, but the file extentsion may be off)
The next big question would be if the scanner supports windows 95. USB was fairly sketchy untill windows 98 so many USB devices are not supported by the device itself in Win95
The last version of Win95 does have USB support. I don’t know the details, but I know I have seen it offered for sale on the net, and it is specifically mentioned as including USB support. If that means any USB device support, I don’t know: I know nobody who runs it. Lots of software now says “Win98/Me/2K” though, not mentioning '95 at all.
It seems that at the moment WinXP doesn’t support anything on a parallel port except printers.
There are still cheap parallel port scanners available; the one I have works just fine- but if you’re married to Windows anyway (as opposed to Linux) USB stuff is easier to use. Particularly swiching stuff between two PC’s placed side-by-side: you just hook all yer USB stuff into a hub, then all you have to do is switch the hub’s USB cable between the PC’s. - MC
4.00.95B is compatible with USB, but you have to install an add-on driver. If you have your Win 95b CD, you can follow the instructions on this page to add the driver.
Unfortunately, not all USB hardware works with Windows 95. Keyboards, mice, and drives are usually fine, but scanners and cameras might not be, if the manufacturer hasn’t written a specific driver. If you do buy one, make sure it says on the box that it supports 95.
Win95 B and C (yes there is a c out there), support USB with the addon. They dont, however, support it well. Microsoft offered it as an addon only on the OEM versions of 95, (all b and c are oem), because they didnt want to support it. It is flakey at best. If you are gonna run a usb device, get 98 or ME.
Thanks everyone. After skimming KeithT’s link, I scanned my Device Manager, and sure enough, there was an icon for USB (gee, it’s amazing how this “looking it up” stuff works.) The link has been bookmarked.
bdgr, thanks for the warning (just read it while previewing.) For what this computer does, all Win '98/ME will do is add $70-80 to the price of a new scanner. Hopefully the scanner I bought will work.
I am running W95-OSR2 on one of my computers and it does have USB support… sort of. USB was not quite finalised at the time and I have found early USB devices will usually work with it but most later USB devices will not work. For example, my Fuji 1400 digicam will only work with my computer using W98. Same thing with the Canon S450 printer. But my old Kodak video cam does work with the W95 USB.
If you want reliable USB support I suggest you install W98.
There was a version known as W95C which touted USB support and which was distributed briefly with new systems in the spring/summer of 1998. It was in fact a beta version of W98, replete with bugs and completely unstable.
I had the wonderful experience of dealing with this orphaned OS, and can say with complete confidence that you don’t want it, or anything associated with it.