(For morpheusxdiana. These are some generic procedures for installing 9X and ME drivers. I can't give you anything specific as the driver install method depends on how the download is put together.)The driver download will usually either be an .exe or .zip file. It needs to be in that form because the download will consist of several files. For an .exe file you just click on it and run it. For a .zip file you need something like winzip. In both cases the files will be extracted.
You need to keep track of where the extracted files are deposited. Sometimes you can specify a folder. In that case make it something like SOUND, for example, for sound drivers or VIDEO for video drivers. It can be anything you want (as long as a folder by that name doesn't already exist) but preferrably something easy to remember. If it doesn't give you a choice just try to keep track of where they go. It'll often show on the screen as the files extract.
After they extract, sometimes a SETUP program will run automatically. If so, you shouldn't have to worry about where the files are located. The setup program should install all the driver files in their correct location and update the registry. Then, almost always, you'll need to reboot for the new drivers to take affect.
If a setup program doesn't run you can browse to the folder where the files downloaded and see what's there. There may be a SETUP.EXE file you can run that will do the installation.
If there's no setup file then you need to do the install via an .inf file. The .inf file is a text file that tells the OS where all the files go and how to adjust the registry. To install the drivers using the .inf file it's usually best to go to 'device manager', click on the hardware item that needs the drivers and choose 'install drivers' or 'update drivers', whichever shows there.
When updating that way, it'll ask where to look for the drivers. What it's looking for is the .inf file. The problem with 9X and ME is it'll only search where you tell it. Now the typical download may contain drivers for several different OS's--windows 98, windows ME, etc. In that case, extracting the files should create several folders for each of the OS's. These folders will actually be subfolders in the main folder created when the files where extracted. So if you installed the files in a folder named VIDEO there may be several subfolders with the drivers for the various OS's. Usually you can tell the correct folder by it's name--98 drivers might be in the folder named 'Win98' or something similar. Note that if there appears to be no win ME drivers then win 98 drivers should work.
So when it asks where to search, browse to the driver folder and its subfolders. Folders containing an .inf file will be highlighted. But you need the .inf file for your particular OS. Once you've found it click 'next' or whatever continues the installation.
Sometimes during this install it may seem your system has stopped responding. Just let it sit there and usually it'll continue. Sometimes the 'New hardware found' box will open as the files are installed. That can be confusing but it's usually OK to click 'next' and continue the installation that way.
In some cases you may need to do a second installation as the hardware item may have more than one function. Many modems, for example, will want to install a 'wave device for voice modem'. But it can only do so after the modem drivers are installed and the system rebooted. There will be a second .inf file for those drivers in that case.
