Although Windows 98 has been out of general circulation for well over a decade now, it might come as a surprise to some people that it’s still actively in use, especially in a business or specialized environment for running old software. There is actually a third party Service Pack for Windows 98 Second Edition which is still being updated well into 2013, even though Microsoft ended their support for Windows 98 on the 11th of July 2006! Obviously, hardware support from all major manufacturers has ended years ago so if you or your company still run Windows 98 in some capacity, it’s incredibly difficult to find compatible hardware and software for it.
Installing Drivers in Windows 98. Follow this discussion and email me when there are updates Stop following this. Or see if you can install a driver for a USB drive without needing the CD. If you are not sure which one is the exact driver for Windows 98, you can download our automatically drivers installer utility. Windows 98 Drivers Download. Microsoft has never released a service pack for Windows98 SE but this contains all Windows98 SE updates from Windows Update site and more. This project has been taken over by a new person due to illness from the original author. Visit the author link above if you need help. This download originally. Feb 24, 2013 Windows 98SE hotfixes + updates, where can I download?? - posted in Windows 95/98/ME: obviously Microsoft doesnt have them any more and Windows 98 SE isnt even internet compatible anymore.
As an example, a company I did some work for a while back purchased a Kingston Data Traveler USB flash drive for backup purposes on a computer that’s still running Windows 98. The problem is, due to some obsolete software that needs to run on Windows 98, the computer cannot be upgraded to newer versions of Windows such as 8, 7, Vista or even Windows XP. I’ve tried compatibility mode on Windows XP and it doesn’t work either, so it’s either upgrade the software or continue using Windows 98. Updating the old software is very expensive, so the decision was to stay with Windows 98 and try to source parts that can support this ageing operating system.
The immediate problem was getting the flash drive to work. Windows 98SE is actually not too bad at handling mass storage drivers for a USB storage device IF you have a driver disc that accompanied it or a download is available. 98SE doesn’t come with a generic mass storage driver that would install support for all standard USB storage devices like newer Windows versions, so not every device you insert will simply get recognised. Predictably, Kingston offers no support for their devices in Windows 98 so no driver can be installed to pick up the flash drive.
After much searching and testing, I finally managed to install the Kingston DataTraveler on Windows 98. This following method which I’m about to show you can work for most USB mass storage devices if your Windows 98 has detection problems. What I found was a generic Windows 98SE USB mass storage device driver that will work with many makes and models of the following:– USB Flash 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)
This driver isn’t guaranteed to work with all devices because it’s a generic driver, and you shouldn’t install it if you have no issues in the first place. It does though work well for the purpose it was intended for, it did for me and has for many other people.
1. Download Windows 98SE Generic USB Mass Storage Device Driver to the desktop.
2. Open Device Manager (right click My Computer -> Properties -> Device Manager) and remove ALL drivers for USB flash drives. This includes any drivers of removable devices previously installed from the “Disk drives” tree.
3. Remove all drivers for any USB controllers (under Universal Serial Bus controllers). Devices in Device Manager can be uninstalled by right clicking on an entry and selecting “Remove”. Also remove any Unknown/Other devices, those which have no installed driver.
4. Run the nusb36e.exe driver installer. After that has completed, reboot the computer.
5. During reboot, the computer will detect new devices and USB controllers and will ask for the Windows 98 install CD so make sure you have it to hand. The driver install window actually tells you to reboot after these controllers are installed but I didn’t have to. If you have any issues, then follow the advice and reboot a second time.
6. Then insert your USB storage device and it should get picked up by Windows. Don’t forget Windows 98 cannot read NTFS so the storage device needs to be formatted with FAT/FAT32 to be recognised with a drive letter. Open My Computer and your flash drive or device should be visible.
The 16GB flash drive above wasn’t a Kingston but still required the general USB mass storage driver to be installed for it to be detected. Do note that this driver is for English versions of Windows 98SE only and won’t work on the original Windows 98. You can visit the related MSFN forum thread for more support or updates to the driver in future.
Does not work with the following USB controllers:
Intel 82371AB/EB USB 1.0 Universial Host Controller
OPTi 82C861 (Firelink) PCI to USB Open Host Controller (USB 1.1)
Thank you very much. I was able to use the driver in our old Win 98 computer connected to a scientific instrument to retrieve files using the usb port. Our old CD burning program was not working so I decided to use the usb in desperation. The usb port is not working in our Win 98 computer in the first place so I searched the internet for a driver. After the download I followed the instructions and it works great. This is so helpful and I am so grateful to you sir!
ReplyThis was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for posting this information. I use an old Toshiba laptop for retro gaming. I wanted to connect my external 500 Mb HDD to the one USB port on this laptop, I was doubtful if this would work, but as soon as I installed this driver and rebooted, my external was detected as a mass storage device and works great.
ReplyThank you! With this information I was able to finally use a PCMCIA USB adaptor with my old Dell Latitude XPi CD Windows 98SE. I had been going around in circles beforehand. I need to retain an older PC in order to be able to program some of the older 2-way mobile and portable radio equipment which is still soldiering on.
ReplyThanks, I tried several times using the instructions but it didn’t seem to auto load my kingston datatraveler flash drive. However, in the device manager it showed up as ? But then when clicking and selecting update driver… Win98se found and loaded the general USB mass storage driver for it. Nice…
I can see the files as loaded under E: drive now. Very nice to have something you need work when everyone is telling you “IT WILL NOT WORK!”
It works!!! :)
It just simply works!!! :)
Isn’t that how things are supposed to be?
It didn’t work with my camera, but that’s no problem. I just pop the chip and plug it into a card reader and it works! A Digital Concepts model CD-35 card reader is not recognized, but that’s not a problem for me.
Big THUMBS UP!!!
Hi thanks for the wonderful help.
It works. However, strangely it never asked for the Windows CD. I am able to read a recently purchased 32 GB drive.
Thanks a ton. Would love to be in touch as I am a regular Win 98SE user courtesy my home recording setup that I started in 1997.
regards
Sumit
okay. I think my problem had to do with the usb I was using. it was a weird capacity mp3 player/usb flash drive. anyway. I just picked up the cheapest 4gb one i could find at a nearby store and voila! it works. woohoo! thanks for this.
Replyhi Ive followed the instructions exactly but it wont open the flash drive. Every time I try to open it a windows pops up asking me to format it. I’ll do the format, it appears to work and then when I try to open it again the same thing happens. I get the windows telling me to format again. I’ve tried to assign a label but that doesnt work. I have tried formatting in other computer to FAT or FAT32 with no success. any help?
ReplyThank you!!!
ReplyThank you for solving a problem I have been trying to solve off and on for 5+ years, I had tried numerous attempts via Kingston website/drivers with no success. I can now at last retrieve data from my old Laptop/s and Floppy Discs and transfer via usb ‘Stick’ to my current computers. Thank you again.
ReplyI have a newer computer but I had 2 older computers tht wouldn’t work so I took the Windows 98 hard drive out of one and put it in the other. It tries to boot up ok but runs into a stop that displays tht it has found the USB port and needs a driver for it. I’ve been trying to get past that because I really don’t need to use the USB port on it but it won’t get by the installation Wizard, Does anyone know how I can get it by the installation Wizard? (it wants me to isert the Windows 98 CD-ROM but I don’t have one!)
ReplyHello,
using nusb36e with W98SE solved all the problems.
Big thanks :-)
I tried several times with different versions of drivers, but this one did the job properly. Many, many thanks!!!
ReplyThank You very much! It works excellent!
ReplyThe people who give their knowledge freely are to be commended. Thank youall sooo much.
ReplyThe people who give their knowledge freely are to be commended. Thank youall sooo much. I found it all interesting & I am a volunteer who wants to set up a 98 laptop with some ukulele tutoriasl for an old (84) friend in my uke class. Problem is the USB outlet isn’t working according to my clicking on my computer – it doesn’t show any other drive when I have a USB IN THE 98 COMPUTER. My search through the settings gave me hope when I went to Add new hardware, next, Wizard asks “Is the device u want 2 install listed” “No” next, Do u want Windows search?” “No” “From a list” “Yes” Clicked on storage device – only CD ROM USB DisK & Optical – Clkd USB & next Said it finished installing Clkd finish Then read disk has to be FAT! Checked that & it is. Then selected USB controllers, next, Generic Hub, next, next, finished installing. But the USB installed still isn’t recognised. Sure wish I could do this job for the old lady. Can anyone help please. Pam Vincent
ReplyCrime and punishment by fyodor dostoevsky pdf. Thank you so much this actually worked, I have tried several times trying to get information off my old IBM600E via USB before find this.
ReplyHave installed it under Windows ME (without any prior USB-related items deletion).
After restart and after insertion of the USB flash drive it successfully installed itself.
Thank you.
Many thanks!!!
cool stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! at last i have finally found a suitable driver for my OS…. Tnx!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
ReplyI need a widows 98 format disc or instructions on how to format my laptop so I can install xp. can you help me?
Regards
richard
Thank you. This software is the treasure! Regardeless of all disclaimers and warnings, it worked out just fine.
Reply