PCTech Forums

Hi All,

Anyone know if its possible to use an older PC (98 with 266mhz processor and 32 meg RAM) with a cable modem? Tried to configure myself and couldn't work out the IPCONFIG issues. I'd like to take a junk machine and use it to experiment spyware fixes on by intentionally infecting it. Possible?

To answer your question, Yes you should be able to broadband with that system.
What is the brand and model of the cable modem?

The PC is an Acer Aspire manufactured in like 1997 and the modem is a Motorola Surfboard 2400 I believe. Last time I tried to use it I couldn't get the browser to associate, so I assumed that the CPU speed was too slow to handle the broadband connection.

32MB of Ram is not enough for Win98.
It wont work properly.Win98 requires a minimum of 64mb but will run way better on 128 or better yet 256MB of ram.


Cactus

Requirements for Winodws 98 is as follows :

A personal computer with a 486DX 66 megahertz (MHz) or faster processor (Pentium central processing unit recommended).

16 megabytes (MB) of memory (24 MB recommended).

A typical upgrade from Windows 95 requires approximately 195 MB of free hard disk space, but the hard disk space may range from between 120 MB and 295 MB, depending on your computer configuration and the options that you choose to install.

A full install of Windows 98 on a FAT16 drive requires 225 MB of free hard disk space, but may range from between 165 MB and 355 MB, depending on your computer configuration and that options that you choose to install.

A full install of Windows 98 on a FAT32 drive requires 175 MB of free hard disk space, but may range from between 140 MB and 255 MB, depending on your computer configuration and the options that you choose to install.

One 3.5-inch high-density floppy disk drive.

VGA or higher resolution (16-bit or 24-bit color SVGA recommended).


Not to step on any toes Cactus, but this post caught my eye, I have a computer right now running a Pentium 120MHZ with only 48mb EDO Ram.
It is alittle slow yes I agree, to get the top performance out of 98 I would suggest a minium 64MB and yes will run way better with 128MB.

Hope this info is helpful.

I believe 98 is running fine albeit a little slow, I can handle that(the XP machine is the main PC.) My question was with the modem. The broadband company told me that I need a min. of 64meg RAM to use the service. (Of course, who ever believes the cable company!) Can the PC be configured in a way that would force it to recognize the incoming broadband? I'm on a 399 kilobaud(i think this is right) rate, since I pay for the faster service.

I don't understand....I have 2 older pc's on broadband and they work fine.
Your service requires RAM?Hows that?Whats it use it for?
If the NIC cards are configed properly ,click and go.There's no diff between sending and receiving,if its travelling in one direction it will travel in the other as well.
Either your connected or your not.

liljim, Yes it is a 4200, I think the Cable company may have been referring to their little connection wizard program. That driver will help thanks. At work now will try tommorrow.
Thanks all.