Upgrade to Win98SE (fr Win98)

Yesterday I realized that I had, once again, let my alligator mouth overload my hummingbird (you know what!).

I had promised a customer to install a wireless network adapter in an older Toshiba laptop after checking to make sure the laptop supported 32 bit cardbus. What I did NOT check on was this: the laptop had Win98 but I didn't pay attention to the fact that it was first edition rather than SE.

As a result, the card (a Netgear WG511) wouldn't initialize even though Windows recognized it and installed a driver for it, the driver didn't work.

I came here and read several threads on the subject, finally printing #29331 which seemed to offer a reasonable hope for me. (renaming win.com and using a full Win98SE CD to install). But, the CD was an OEM and not Toshiba and long and short of it, didn't work.

Then I remembered something that made me want to come back here to report!

Years ago, I ordered from Microsoft a CD called Second Edition Updates (pn X04-12712). I dug around until I found it, and this morning I used it and am happy to report that my little transmitter icon is merrily glowing in the SysTray of the updated Toshiba laptop.

This product requires a valid installation of Win98 first edition and certain amounts of RAM and HD space and, of course, a CD or DVD drive. It has a product key # which must be entered during the update process.

I ordered it when I saw it advertised at windowsupdate.microsoft.com and paid $10 for s/h as I recall. Some time later, I was helping my daughter with her computer and told her she should order one also just so she'd have it. She ordered something, but it was not this CD; it was evidently no longer offered.

Off Topic: Those of you with XPSP1 might want to take advantage of the current offer of a SP2 CD free (not even a s/h charge). All you need to do is visit windowsupdate and scroll down until you see the discussion about other ways to get SP2. One day, you'll wish you had that CD and they won't be offering it by then.

Meanwhile, back to Win98SE. This was very smooth; don't know how anyone could find one. But, surely I'm not the only person in the world that got one. It was shipped in a crytal case with Windows logo (clouds and flag) and the title was

For users of Windows98
Microsoft Windows98 Second Edition Updates

"Includes system updates, Internet Explorer 5, Internet Connection Sharing, and more. "
X04-73160 Instruction sheet/case insert/label
X04-12707 CD
X04-73161 Rear case insert/label and UPC
X04-12712 on a sticker that reads CD SET X04-12712

The CD itself etched around the spindle hole reads:
02131B X04-12711 and has the holographic image "VALID Microsoft" etc.

Look around and see if you have one, and if you do, share with the needy.

Worked for me (but it won't help you if you have Win95 -- it is only for Win98!)

Good luck.