No infrared devices detected

Hi!

I have a IBM ThinkPad, office bld. next door threw it out. Works fine! Win '98. Nice condition.

I want to use it at a coffee shop w/internet access. It says it does not detect devices within range. Sitting smack dab in with other surfers. Checked to see if its enabled. It is.

Any comments?

Thanks,
Duchaine

 

Infrared devices? That's not Wi-Fi.

 

Opps!

Pardon my dumbness... I guess it's for infrared mouse, printer....

Almost no experience with laptops.

Based on the info given what do I need to go on line? It does have a card in the right side. It has a snap out phone line connection on the card, also one on the left side of the computer. There are phone connections in the area but I don't see anyone using them. I was told that you open the browser and the Community Coffee (CC's) logo pops up and you go from there.

Thanks for the comment,
Duchaine

 

You'd need a Wi-Fi card which is something that wasn't really around when Win 98 was.

 

Ok, Thanks!

That narrows it down. If I upgraded windows would I still be grounded?

Would I need a wi-fi card or whatever... would it fit?

I know, just get a decent laptop! But hey, the price was right and I can use it for offline tinkering.

Thanks,
Duchaine

 

What model is it exactly?

 

Ok, thanks!

It says...

3Com Megahertz Lan
10/100 Lan Card Bus PC Card
Model 3CXFE575BT

Thanks again,
Duchaine

 

I think Downloads meant the laptop's model. The model you just gave is for the LAN adapter (wired ethernet).

 

It's a 600X type 2645.

That's all I found.

There's also

2645-3EU s/n 78-gyzm2 01/100


There is another... actually two issues. The USB port seems to need a driver. Can't seem to find one. For now the CD Rom works great for moving files.

On start up I get a hokey thing (agua color bg) that says ERROR with 00161 and under that 00163.

I click ok then date/time comes up, click ok. But then I get a circle with OFF under it and a > in the center then a | with ON under it on the right. Nothing works so I shut down but I found that if I restart right away it all starts up after the usual items and I get the desktop.

Any comment? Can I bypass all that?


Thanks,
Duchaine

 

It has a PCMCIA type II port(s) so you could buy a PCMCIA Wi-Fi card if you wanted to but to be honest there's not much use for such a machine.

Windows 98 is rubbish in general but even more so when it comes to Internet. You'd have to use Win XP to be semi-comfortable. That means you'd have to upgrade RAM to at least 128MB and buy a PCMCIA Wi-Fi card.

Or you could buy a used notebook that has been made more recently than in 1998.

EDIT: Hard-drive might be to small to comfortably use XP. Linux would be better than Windows on this machine but it still doesn't make sense to invest money in it.

 

Hi!!

Ok, I can use it to work on files...

On the other hand I have this door that the wind keeps closing....

Thanks for your help!!!

Duchaine