I didn't have any problems getting a generic ALi chipset USB 2.0/firewire card working under 98SE. I also have a Radio Shack USB 2.0/firewire combo card with the VIA chips. I haven't tried it under 98SE though. Are the drivers installing, or are USB devices just not being detected?

9 times out of 10 usb 2.0 will not work properly on windows 98. Its just a limitation of the OS. Its like running usb on windows 95. USB support didn't get "good" until windows 2000.

well W98se.... 3 cards and various things have happened.
- apparent complete installations; good DevMgr, but BSOD when actually using a plugged in external HD
- no response to plugging in HD, no folder displayed in explorer.
- complicated driver installation issues - not finding drivers, DevMgr warnings etc. etc.

With the VIA set's I installed the VIA USB2 update as well as the latest mobo chipset drivers for the old VA6, a Hyperion 4-in-1. The IOGear/NEC kit apparently installed quickly and correctly, but I got a BSOD trying to use it.

@luckybob: your are right sir. I'm in for 3 cards to date, so it looks like I have 6 more to go. W95 I count myself lucky to have USB1.1 fully operational - a lite IE4 core install, USBsupp/USBupd/USBflash update did the trick...

then you are a more brave man than I am. I wont even attempt to use usb on 95 or nt4. Just not worth the aggravation. In 98, as long as I can use a usb mouse and maybe a usb joystick, i'll consider it a success.

I prefer the NEC cards. Currently use a 4+1 from ebay. It works great in Win98SE. I do not enable motherboard USB ports at same time (disabled in bios). Also use the NUSB3.3 files.

This looks like the one I use: http://www.ebay.com/itm/High-Speed-480mb-PCi- … =item25712a594b

Don't expect to get External USB HDD's to work. Successfully used Gamepads and Flash drives up to 16GB.

Edit, here are some Drivers that I have. Maybe they can help you out. I think I just use the one that is in folder "driver".

I've heard the NEC cards are more forgiving/compatible, which is why I thougt the IOGear/NEC would do the trick after wasting time on the others. I have an NEC USB3 card on my XP rig. But W9x... no. Even after the card seemed to install clean, BSOD in use. But it's okay, I was only hoping a Vogons sage would throw down a product that gets it done.. So I pull HDs and back them up on my main rig. No biggie.

Well I have an Asus Athlon boards with USB 2.0 running windows 98; I installed the drivers from the Asus site and never had any trouble with it......

Or you could install nusb because it comes with USB2.0 support http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#NUS
and then don't have to worry about 3rd party drivers.

Oh and NT4 is super easy to get usb working on, 95 not so much i never really bothered trying that

well, it's a pci USB2 card I need, not a mobo that supports it. and Awergh, I have tried nUSB33 in various permutations. After 3 or 4 cards I'mlooking for the "easy" solution haha, ie, someone with my board and the name of the usb card that works!

Well, I kept at it for a couple of evenings - reloading a fresh W98se image and trying combination after combination of drivers and install sequences. Result = 0. Best I can seem to do with the 3 pce USB2 cards and the mass of drivers, IE6 core, and a coupe of Unofficial SPs, is to get everything running smooth in USB1.1 - something I accomplished last week 🤣.

I found a Koutech card in the parts bin - nice since it has front panel headers [the Abit VA6 has none]. So the score of failed cards is now up to 4. I know th Abit mobo is a bit of an antique at this point, If I can score another USB2 card for cheap I give it another shot. For now I'm done...

As someone who owned a VA6, do what you can and burn that board. The VIA Apollo Pro 133 chipset is horrible and slow! The revised 133A fixed a lot of problems.

Aw NJR I kinda like the little fella! VA6 served me well during the slot 1 days, oC C300A @ 450 and all. It still runs fine, and if the only fault I have come up with yet is that it balks at USB2, as many old W98 rigs do, I'm not ready to part with it yet.

My other V5500 board is a BCM GT133KT/Athlon 1100. I'd go with it but the VA6 has *less* retro compatibility issues believe it or not.

One of the virtues of retro-boxing is you are not handcuffded to performance-at-all-costs like you were in your first life. With retro just pick any cpu/gpu/ram flavor you want, and work on stability and compatibility. VA6 is working for me - so far...