Now this may be a dumb questions!!! I have an old Pentium III 600 MHz 128Ram Desktop computer. Want to put it in basement but the distance is too far for usb connector. Has the usual ethernet card etc. Nobody had wireless when this computer was purchased. Is it possible to install a wireless card in the usb port and just load the router program or is there some additional type of hardware that has to be installed internally. I can increase the ram so that is not a problem but just don't know if I can convert this old girl to wireless! Thanks for any help Thanks Teabag

You'd need a wireless router on your main PC & some sort of wireless adapter for your basement PC. I have DSL with wireless router in my living room, a PC with wireless PCI adapter card in my bedroom, & in the basement I have a USB adapter for when I do repairs. I have to install the USB adapter software, then plug in the adapter, then configure the network settings...after that, I'm good to go. Setting up WinXP & WinME are fairly easy...Win98 is a little more of a hassle, but I've done it enough times that I can have just about any machine hooked into my network in a few minutes

You can also get a USB wireless adapter for the PIII, that should not be a problem since you've got Windows ME. Those are very common these days. http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WG111.php

I already have a wireless network setup with newer computer. I just wanted to know if all I had to do with an old computer was put the wireless card in the usb port. I didn't think all older computers are able to go wireless. I have already set up two computers on the network so I am familiar with that. Are all older desktops able to go wireless without any internal new hardware another words more that the external usb wireless card. Thanks Teabag

Dude, all you have to do is buy a wireless USB adapter like the one Sabertooth posted (or whatever brand you prefer), install the software that comes with, then plug in the adapter & configure the settings. Or if you prefer, you can buy a PCI adapter card instead. The age of the PC has nothing to do with it, it's the OS that matters. As long as you have an open PCI slot or USB port, it can be done.

I agree with jam. I'm using an old PII with me and a USB PCI card with a wireless adapter in the USB port. Works a treat as I only use the old girl to print out invoices. D4Dog "beauty is in the eye of the beer-holder"

usb 1.1 is going to be SLOW, i would go with a pci card over usb anyday.