help slaving 2 computers

I stupidly bought a laptop a couple of years ago online when i got it didnt have a internal drive( i think this is the right term) so i bought an external drive and had a shop install it and the software and it worked fine for awhile. now it doesnt it operates with windows 98 and my dektop is vista i have tried a flash drive to transfer simple docs but it errors on the flash drive how can i slave them togehter i want to use my lap top it is a nice one.

 

Win 98 doesn't recognize a USB flash drive such as XP and Vista will. You'll need to install the drivers for the flashdrive from the manufacturer's website.
Or, use a CAT5 cable to create a network between them.

 

my only problem is i dont have a modem or a cat 5 position on this laptop, i guess the best thing for me to do is get rid of it. i really hate to unless you have another suggestion. can i slave it to my desktop another way?

 

No modem, no LAN and no drive. Oh boy.

By no drive do you mean no hard disk or no cd/dvd drive ?

 

Most laptops I have run across usually has a network card installed if nothing else. It seems the best bet is to get the USB drivers onto it. What brand of flash drive do you have, maybe we could offer some assistance in finding the 98 drivers for it on the net. Then burn them onto a CD?
If this external drive is a CD drive and it not functioning, maybe we can get it going? Open the Device Manager, and look for any yellow !'s or ?'s.

 

well i guess i have a hard drive because there are programs on it and i have installed some in the past, i dont know what kind of flash drive that i have but i have used one on this computer in the past as well. the external drive is a cd and i am sure it works.

 

Options:
Assuming you have a PCMCIA port, you can get an ethernet adapter:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_slc.asp?CatId=588

US$7.99 for a 1GB memory stick (flash drive) with Win 98 drivers downloadable from the website:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1955428&CatId=904

Matt

 

i do have a PCMCIA port because i have had it online before, i will try that. And i will go to tiger direct i bought my desktop from them last year. thanks i will let you know what happens

 

PCMCIA will be a connection port on your laptop.

Tigerdirect is only the first (general) supplier of parts I searched for. If you are happy with Tigerdirect, search with them

Matt

 

i ordered the flash drive from tiger direct so i will see what happens.

 

some usb pen drives will install with windows 98 se ( not the original)
go to the website / support and look for support or drivers
You may have to use the driver from an earlier smaller model of the same line of drives if the drive is available
If it is larger drive ( say bigger than a gig) it may not work in windows 98 se
I have had inconsistent results
You will need the windows 98 driver to make the usb flash drive work in windows 98
The easiest way to transfer data for you is to set up 2 messenger accounts
- msn ,yahoo ,skype , eyeball chat or whatever
Have to have the same service on both
Have a router to share the internet connection
Log onto each messenger account and simply send the file to the other computer
If the files are numerous , or they are programs you can compress the files into a zip file or rar file envelope
and then send them
The handshake or connection is made over the internet but the transfer is done by the router at high speed over your home network ( not over the internet) its fast and easy
Keep asking questions
With any luck you will be able to do much of the computer setup work yourself and save your money
If you do not have a network card on the windows 98 computer either find an older one that may install easily or you may have to buy a new card that has a driver disk with it
You have to have the correct version instal program or it will not install
If you buy a network card make sure on the box that it says that it works with windows 98
You may need a windows 98 cd to install the new network card

 

slaving 2 computers

The flashdrive i bought had nothing on it maybe i misunderstood, am i supposed to download the windows 98 drivers onto it now that i have it? i thought that i knew a good bit about computers but i am finding out that i know nothing. Vision thats for your response that all sounds very foriegn to me, but i will have to reread it and try to apply the information. thanks again to you all for your help, i do fear that i will have to junk this thing though.