networking with windows 98

I have a laptop running windows 98. I want to connect it to my network or domain. It only has a phone line connection. I purchased a pcmcia card that connects to the internet via a wire. Where do I find how to connect to a network? Can it be done?
Basically, I am trying to update a program that is on the laptop, but the update program comes on a dvd now and I only have a cd drive. I want to network it to my network so I can update it using my dvd drive from my pc.
Any suggestions would be very appreciated. I am using xp on my pc. Thanks

 

Still confused

I am using a router at home. I changed the workgroup and am able to connect to my network. I can now update the laptop. Thank you
One more question.. this is a laptop that I use at work. There I cannot find a workgrp name, all I can find is a domain. I tried using that for the workgroup name, I cannot even find the network there. I can find the network using another laptop with windows 98, but it also has a port that you can plug into the wall for internet, (bigger than the phone line port) Not exactly sure what it is called.
I am using a Linksys EtherFast Integrated 10/100 CardBus PC card in this laptop to connect. I can find my network at home, how come I cannot find the network where I work. The only difference I see between home and work is home has a workgroup name and at work it is a domain.

 

still kinda confused

I could not update the laptop from my shared dvd drive. I had to copy it onto my pc and then share out the folder and copy to the laptop. From there it would install. I tried to copty the files and save them on the laptop, but it only seemed to copy some of them. Any suggestions are appreciated. As I am still learning all this stuff, I will keep updating this way. Just thought there might be an easier way. Thanks

 

That actually is normal. The domain you are referring to is totally different from Internet domain names. Your employer having a Windows domain server is perfectly normal, but having one at home would be extremely unusual (though it could be done). Since you don't have such a beast at home, you don't use the domain. And since your employer's network is too big for a simple workgroup arrangement, you use the domain. Bottom line is you need to set your computer for what each network environment expects.

 

Network with Windows 98

It is very easy.
Your options are:

1) use a crossover cable between the network cards ( pci on desktop and pcmcia on laptop)

2) connect to the lan ( not the single wan port) on the router.
this is the easier way.
if you have two msn accounts you can connect via the two accounts and send the file to computer number 2
the router will push the file between the 2 computers ( msn accounts) and not go through the dial up account . It is rapid
another option is by usb devices

- a usb dvd drive
- the file on a usb flash drive
they are remakably cheap now.
If your laptop does not have a usb port a pcmcia > usb card is great.
Many of the flash drives will do win 98 se
you will need a small driver
Some of the times the driver is not listed on the package ( i.e usb drive will work with win xp , 2000 , me ) but makes no mention of windows 98 se which used to be the threshold
if it is a major product brand go the website .
Many have win 98 drivers for the product line. It is just that the drives have gotten larger in capacity with the decrease in price of flash memory.
pcmcia usb cards are very useful and fast.