Quickie: Windows 95 and USB 2.0

[Submit]

A friend is still on windows 95 (upgrade is not an option, at this point) and he would like to add an external USB hard disk. I am aware that a USB/PCI controller will be necessary, since windows 95 does not support USB. Since most of the USB HD are 2.0 complient, will a 2.0 controller work on windows 95?

TIA

 

[AndyHui]

Nope. No USB devices will work with Windows 95 (unless the vendor has gone out of their way to write a specific custom driver for it....and that's unlikely).

 

[Submit]

What about any of these? The description says it can do Windows 95..."Windows® 95 (Version 4.00.950 B with USB Supplement Installed)"

 

[DannyBoy]

Originally posted by: Submit
What about any of these? The description says it can do Windows 95..."Windows® 95 (Version 4.00.950 B with USB Supplement Installed)"

Windows 95 has 4 different builds that I know of...

Build 4.00 was the last build of 95 to be released before I moved to Win98.

 

[AndyHui]

Sorry, my head wasn't working. Here we go:

Windows 95 Gold: version 4.00.950 - No USB Support
Windows 95 OSR1 aka Win95A: version 4.00.951 with Service Pack 1 - No USB Support
Windows 95 OSR2 aka Win95B: version 4.00.1111 - no immediate USB Support, but USB Support can be installed with USBSUPP.EXE
Windows 95 OSR2.1: version 4.00.1111 with USBSUPP.EXE installed, limited USB device support.
Windows 95 OSR2.5 aka Win95C : version 4.00.1212 with USBSUPP.EXE installed, same as OSR2.1
Windows 95 OSR2.5: version 4.00.1214 with USBSUPP.EXE and USBSUPP2.EXE installed: revised support for USB...supposed to work better.

What a mess. There's only basic keyboard, mouse, scanner and printer support. Hard drives MIGHT work, but no guarantees.

 

[tenoc]

Like Andy says, usb 1.0 support under W95 OSR2 was fairly basic and rather spotty.

Now you are talking 2.0 devices, good luck.

Why is upgrading not an option?

 

[thorin]

Originally posted by: tenoc
Like Andy says, usb 1.0 support under W95 OSR2 was fairly basic and rather spotty.

Now you are talking 2.0 devices, good luck.

Why is upgrading not an option?

And why doesn't he want a USB HD?

Thorin

 

[bozo1]

n/m

 

[DannyBoy]

Originally posted by: AndyHui
Sorry, my head wasn't working. Here we go:

Windows 95 Gold: version 4.00.950 - No USB Support
Windows 95 OSR1 aka Win95A: version 4.00.951 with Service Pack 1 - No USB Support
Windows 95 OSR2 aka Win95B: version 4.00.1111 - no immediate USB Support, but USB Support can be installed with USBSUPP.EXE
Windows 95 OSR2.1: version 4.00.1111 with USBSUPP.EXE installed, limited USB device support.
Windows 95 OSR2.5 aka Win95C : version 4.00.1212 with USBSUPP.EXE installed, same as OSR2.1
Windows 95 OSR2.5: version 4.00.1214 with USBSUPP.EXE and USBSUPP2.EXE installed: revised support for USB...supposed to work better.

What a mess. There's only basic keyboard, mouse, scanner and printer support. Hard drives MIGHT work, but no guarantees.

Ok, 4 that I personally knew about, the other 2 being released after I had migrated to 98

 

[Submit]

Originally posted by: thorin

Originally posted by: tenoc
Like Andy says, usb 1.0 support under W95 OSR2 was fairly basic and rather spotty.

Now you are talking 2.0 devices, good luck.

Why is upgrading not an option?

And why doesn't he want a USB HD?

Thorin

He does want a USB HD.

1. He does not want to upgrade his PC for several reasons...He has accumulated a lot of software over the years, which he doesn't want to upgrade or it is not supported. For some of it he doesn't even have he install files.

2.He knows some of his hardware, like the modem and scanner (I think) , does not have 98 or 2000 drivers..

3. He likes everything exactly the way it is and does not want to change or relearn...

---

If not a USB HD, then what are the alternatives for removable storage?

TIA

 

[thorin]

If not a USB HD, then what are the alternatives for removable storage?

Option 3 below if probably your best bet for a Win95 machine.

1 --> IDE ZIP (750, 250, you might also be able to find an older 100MB internal but I don't see it on Iomega's site)

2 --> IDE Burner (there's lots of them)

3 --> Removable IDE HD ( like this )

Thorin

 

[Woody419]

A slightly crazed option would be to get an used computer, like a 166Mhz or 200Mhz for real cheap, check the thrift stores, put in Win98, a network card for $10, and the USB2 card for the removable hdd. Network the kludges together and use a KVM switch so you don't need another keyboard, monitor, or mouse - and bingo, USB 2 with Win95.

And on a second thought, a used 166Mhz is probably faster than what your friend is using now.

I also use a ViPower SUPER RACK, Hard Drive MOBILE RACK VP-10LSFU-100/133 for off-site backup. The manual states that it works with Win98 or higher, but it would be a cheaper solution than the USB 2. Of course the BIOS of the used computer would limit how big a hdd you could use.

 

[newbiepcuser]

Originally posted by: AndyHui
Nope. No USB devices will work with Windows 95 (unless the vendor has gone out of their way to write a specific custom driver for it....and that's unlikely).

Even then, its not Microsoft certified.

Microsoft no longer allows WHQL certification for device drivers for Win 9.X.

 

[Submit]

Thanks for all info...

 

[DannyBoy]

Originally posted by: newbiepcuser

Originally posted by: AndyHui
Nope. No USB devices will work with Windows 95 (unless the vendor has gone out of their way to write a specific custom driver for it....and that's unlikely).

Even then, its not Microsoft certified.

Microsoft no longer allows WHQL certification for device drivers for Win 9.X.

Really? :Q

I bet that pissed off a lot of people.

Another one of microsofts plot to push people into getting a newer os (i.e. XP) :|