My sister gave me her old pc. A Packard Bell Pentium. However it doesn't have an ethernet socket.?

Question

Is it possible to buy an adaptor to plug the ethernet cable into the back of the tower? How would i make it broadband capable? The ethernet connection won't fit into the socket. Anybody got any ideas for me please?

Answer 1

The socket you are looking at right now on the computer is more then likely a phone modem, thats why the ethernet cable will not fit into it. Go down to your local Radio Shack or Best Buy or other electronics stire and tell them you need to purchase a Ethernet Card.

Now since your computer is so old it wont be supporting PCI card slots, so you need to tell them you need a ISA Ethernet Card.

Answer 2

i presume that the system that you are speaking of is not a laptop since you said tower.

if it is a tower, then just go to any computer shop to ask for a Cat 5 Ethernet NIC (Network Interface Card), PCI or ISA given that the PC your sis threw you is from eons ago. it should not cost you too much. should set you back around 25 odd dollars only at max. then open the tower that you have and plug the card into one of the slots. don't worry. the card can only fit into one specific slot. if the slot is too big and it goes in, the slot ain't the right one. all the gold pins has to go into the slot entirely. try each slot and you'll get the correct one soon if you are unsure. but do not force the card in, rather, use a rocking motion to push the card in slowly and lock the card in place should your motherboard have any retainer clips.

but that alone will not make your computer broadband capable. in order to be broadband capable, your computer also has to have an Ethernet modem. it is a modem that has the same Cat 5 jack that you will see when you purchase the Cat 5(RJ-45 socket) Ethernet NIC. the modem will also have another jack called the RJ-11 socket, known to the layman as the telephone jack. and the last jack that you will see is for the power source. now using a Cat 5e STRAIGHT!!! (getting a cross will waste your money) cable, connect the modem to the PC and connect the phone line to a DSL microfilter (i'll explain this later on). then connect the microfilter to a wall outlet. you are then rigged to go online.

a microfilter basically does what it's name means, filtering. it filters out the higher frequencies that broadband operates on the phoneline. so when you use the modem without a microfilter, you get lost data, no connections and connections cutoff. the microfilter is there to make sure nothing happens and you are surfing the net away quietly without cursing. and the best thing about this little gadget, is that when someone picks up the phone in your house, your internet connection won't cut off like a regular dialup line.

note: if you are using a laptop, then you would have to get a PCMCIA cardbus card. thats a little wee card that fits into the laptop slot at either the left side or right side. follow the previous instructions and you will be fine.

Answer 3

Its probably too old to run XP, Explorer 7 and windows XP pack2.

If you use the computer with on previous version of Explorer or basic version of XP without service pack 2, then the computer will be open for virus attack and hackers.

Windows no longer supplies updates for Windows 98/98SE and each is open to virus and hackers. Abandon Windows 98/98SE.

If used detached from the internet the computer OK for word processing etc.

Answer 4

Firstly, what do you plan on using it for? If you just want a computer for basic internet browsing and the occasional bit of word processing, then it'll be fine, but SLOW! If you want to use it for anything else (games, video editing, etc.), then you may as well use it as a door stop and buy a new computer!

If you decide to keep it, simply buy a network adapter card.

Answer 5

BK_1 were given the answer. in case you want a set of ninety 5 numbers, I actually have a set of everyday ninety 8, and a ninety 5. The 133 will run 98SE yet i'd advance the ram. I actually have Plus98SE and a 98SE boot disk.

Answer 6

what a lovely gift .... you can get a ethernet socket fitted for about £5.00 all in. I know for a computer shop fitted one for me and i already had one good luck

Answer 7

you can but a ethernet port ,also if you can use usb from your modem to the pc that will work as the packard bell should have usb ports .(not all modem have a usb port ) but if yours does all u need is a cable.

Answer 8

Yes, just buy a network interface card.

Answer 9

trash it... its obsilete