Hello, So I took a trip down nostalgia lane and have built myself a Windows 98 gaming machine for all the old games like Doom, Duke Nukem, TekWar, One Must Fall 2097, Epic Pinball, etc. All those classic oldies.
I am having one slight problem though. I have a wireless USB Keyboard and Mouse and cannot get it working no matter what I do. It works fantastic on Windows 98 with some open source updated USB and Kernel drivers I was able to find, but many of the games cannot run in Windows and need to be physically dropped to DOS.
I did a lot of research and found out that this could work if I had an option for USB Legacy Support. I am running PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.0.L - HP Revision HN.02.04.US on an HP Vectra VL 6/400 Series 8 and there is no Legacy Support option with the BIOS (of course right? That would just be too easy!). I even flashed the most up to date version and still nothing :(.
Is there anything that I can do? I am not sure where to look and have hit a dead end. Any advice would be most appreciated!!
Frankly, believe you're going to have to go to a ps/2 keyboard and mouse. Another choice might be one of the little touchpad keyboards that uses a ps/2 to infrared connection, but they're clunky and less than a pleasure to use. Skip
Audares Juvo
Yea the only thing is I use my wireless keyboard and mouse for all my computers because it's easy to switch and saves desk space :(. I'm surprised there isn't a driver out there. I can't imagine I'm the only one who has had this idea :)
You could do PS2 (male) to USB (female) adapters.. I haven't done this in a long time, and I THINK the only caveat to this, is if your wireless adapter for the keyboard and mouse is only 1 USB module, then the PS2 port you plug into via adapter will only allow that wireless device to work. So if you plug into the keyboard USB to PS2 adapter, only the keyboard will work, not the mouse. I can't remember off the top of my head what happens though. Depending on the model wireless keyboard / mouse that you have, you may be able to find a ps2 -> wireless adapter as well. http://www.amazon.com/PS-Male-USB-F...
http://networkingoutlet.stores.yaho...www.standby-it.com
Thanks for the tip. I gave it a shot and it didn't work unfortunately :(
Thanks for the tip. I gave it a shot and it didn't work unfortunately :( It seldom does.
I also keep an old gippo MS wireless kybd/mouse for machines I work on but, also keep ps/2 parts for the older stuff or to eliminate usb problems.
I'm afraid the technology shift over the last twenty years or so has left you, me, and the rest of us holding the bag.
I don't see an 'all in one' solution here.
Skip
Audares Juvo
'Legacy USB support' may not be worded as such in your bios setup. It may say something about Dos support or similar and not 'legacy'. You might want to check again to make sure. I booted up an old Vectra P-III to see how its support was worded but it had the 'legacy USB support' option.
Of course even if you find you can enable it you'll still have the driver problem. Have you tried running the dos programs in an MS-DOS window while running 98 instead of booting to pure dos?
What I am suggesting is not what you are looking for, but a solution is to setup a virtual machine (e.g. MS Virtual PC or VirtualBox), install MS DOS or FreeDOS inside and run your legacy games under an up to date operating system as Windows 7. In that way the USB keyboard/mouse support is assured by the host OS and speed to play delivered by modern systems (you may have to slowdown the guest DOS environment). No room for legacy box, all in one system.
@SkipCox - yea... I am just really surprised noone had written a 3rd party driver for something like this. Nothing in depth for the new gaming keyboards and mice, but even just like a regular driver for basic keyboard functions and a 2/3 button mouse... :(. @DAVEINCAPS - I am in my BIOS right now and the only option available is "Integrated USB Interface" which I do not think its the same. I have a P-II Vectra - maybe they didnt put USB legacy support in it until the P-III model. As far as a driver, I do have a driver called USBKEYB.com by a guy named Bret Johnson which enables USB support for up to 4 keyboards in DOS, but I think since I don't have legacy support, it doesnt work.
As far as running the games in the DOS window under Windows 98 - issues. For example, in TekWar, the video files skip and jump and barely play, but when dropped to DOS they work fine - other games have other quirks too. Some just don't seem to play nicely with Windows :)
@IVO - The thing is, I have special cards in the computer designed for Windows 95/98 and MS-Dos such as the Sound Blaster AWE-64 and 3dfx Voodoo Cards for graphics. Last time I tried a virtual machine, it did not recognize things like that and used default General Midi and graphics drivers. Plus unfortunately, I doubt the P-II 400 will be able to run that :(.
I just feel like there has GOTTA be something out there. I can't be the only one who has thought of this..
'Integrated USB inteface' sounds like that option enables/disables the USB ports completely. I assume you have that enabled? Most likely you'll need something a tad bit newer for dos USB support.
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