No ethernet connection on back of my PC for DSL service

freshsteeds · 29th June 2009

Hello all,

I want to connect my Pentium 133 PC to DSL (has Win 98se) and it says on this site that others have connected win 98se to DSL and it works despite ATT saying I need a newer OS. Anyway, I don't have an ethernet adapter/connection (large looking phone jack) on the back of my PC as I have looked, just the smaller phone jack for dial up. I understand I can get a USB to ethernet adapter to plug into my USB port to work around not having a network card in my unit? I don't want to open up the PC as it is old and heavy to lug to a work table to open up. Is it true I can easily get a USB adapter to connect to my modem from ATT once I get DSL?

Thanks,

Mike
Email address removed to protect you from spammers - responses only on the BBS

**wildfire** · 29th June 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by freshsteeds

Is it true I can easily get a USB adapter to connect to my modem from ATT once I get DSL?

Yes you can, but given the age of your system and it's specifications I'd strongly advise opening it up and installing an internal network card.

Although Win98 SE can handle USB devices better than earlier OS's you may have problems with drivers. Also on the hardware side your PC isn't exactly a cheatah

and USB devices require CPU cycles to work.

In short, yes you can but I'd advise against it.

freshsteeds · 30th June 2009

Thanks man! I think I might try the USB adapter first, then I could always open it up to put a card inside. It's just a pain and really heavy to pickup and disconnect everything to go inside it and I worry I mght mess something up and then it won't run at all and I have a lot of stuff stored on it. I know I run other USB devices on it and they work fine for me. If I do put a network card inside, will I still be able to buy one for such an old PC? Mine uses memory sticks in it if that helps to tell you how old it is. I got it free and so I don't complain about it being a dinosaur.

**wildfire** · 30th June 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by freshsteeds

will I still be able to buy one for such an old PC?

From your earlier specs you may be looking for an ISA card which aren't so common nowadays. With luck however you'll have a PCI slot free and these are easily obtainable.

I'll edit this post in a few moments with a link showing the difference between ISA and PCI.

EDIT:

A reasonable picture can be found here.

As in that picture ISA Slots are normally black with PCI being white.

Hope this helps.

**TonyT** · 30th June 2009

response to a private message:

Rt click My Comp icon on Desktop > select Properties > Hardware tab > Device Manager button > look under Network adapters. If none listed then you don't have one.

DarthOdor · 30th June 2009

You can use a USB port. You will need to have two items to make a USB port work with a modem having a RJ-45 connector. First, you need to have a USB to RJ-45 jack cable. The USB end will connect to your PC (tower) and the RJ-45 jack will plug into the modem. (BTW, you may want to ask your DSL provider if they can provide a modem having a USB connector on it). Then you will need the software that configures the PC (tower's) USB connection for use as an ethernet interface. Your PC does not come with software instructions that automatically set up the USB connection for connecting a modem. Usually, the vendor or the ISP provides this software, as it configures the USB port and it adds any other necessary settings (including software) provided by the ISP. However, I've used a stand-alone USB to Ethernet adapter cable that included the USB software driver (on a CD). It worked just fine. Good Luck.

freshsteeds · 30th June 2009

Getting back to Tony's post above, when I clicked on network adapters on My Computer/Device Manager then two listings pop up under it:

Dail Up adapter &
Microsoft PPP over ATM Adapter <-- Could this be the one for DSL connection?

I don't think it is because there's no large type phone jack on the back of my PC that I can find. But if Microsoft PPP over ATM Adapter is the right one then someone let me know. If not then what is this one for? (ATM makes me think of an automated teller machine).

**TonyT** · 30th June 2009

private message again:

PPPoE = point to point protocol over ethernet = used by most all DSL and other broadband Internet.

PPPoA = ppp over ATM protocol = asynchronous transfer mode protocol = used by some DSL modems, the modem MUST support this protocol, most don't.

It uses the phone port, not an ethernet port. This adapter on your computer is probably built into the modem and uses the same port.

**Arie** · 30th June 2009

I had a quick look at the manual of freshsteeds motherboard, it has these expansion slots:

3 dedicated PCI slots
3 dedicated 16-bit ISA slots
1 shared PCI/ISA slot

It does have

Universal Serial Bus*
Two connectors onboard

* Supported in future revision.

This is the Rev. B+ board

Newer Rev boards have 2 USB ports.