Router for both Win98se & XP

I just got a new ASUS z70va with an Intel PRO/wireless 2915ABG wireless adapter. Obviously the ASUS has XP on it.

I have DSL line from Earthlink (really Covad.)

I am having a lot of problems surfing the web with my ASUS. I have extremely slow load times and keep getting "page cannot be displayed" and the like messages. If I try 2 or 3 times, I eventually get it. This includes this forum(and this post )

I have updated the drivers and switched to the Microsoft client, which helped improve things a lot -- my signal constantly says very good to excellent now. But loads are still slow and "can't get server" still happens a lot including this forum.

Next step is to update the drivers of my router but my desktop and my old laptop (in use) use Win98SE. The routers (and maybe the DSL modem, Netopia sent by ISP Earthlink) were picked because they can use Win98SE.

(No surfing problems on the wireless of my old laptop, which I am still using but not at the same time as the ASUS.)

Modem: Netopia
Router: Belkin High-Speed Wireless G RouterF5D7231-4
Wireless PC Card for ThinkPad: Belkin

The modem and the router are between the wall and the Win98SE desktop.

Is there a problem when I update the drivers re: XP on my new ASUS?

I also need to make the connection secure.

 

If the router is by your computer you might want to move it away a bit. The drivers for the WiFi card on Intel's website may help. Definetly update the firmware on your router if available.

 

Update the firmware also make sure that the first network you are attaching to is your network. I had that problem before and then I realized I was hooking up to someone elses network.

 

I canot use the Intel drivers for the wireless because they may conflict with ASUS's drivers for the wireless card. I have the most up-to-date drivers for my wireless card.

My computer is not anywhere near the modem or router which are in another room. It is where I also use my old ThinkPad, with which I do not have this slow load and "can't display page" problem.

My immediate inquiry is pretty specific:

I need to update my router drivers.

wall > Modem> Router> Win98SE Desktop> ASUS v70va w/XP & ThinkPad 600x w/Win98SE.

My concern is updating the drivers for my router. Could it be that the router is designed to connect wirelessly with computers with Win98SE and conflicts with computers with XP?

Or is that irrelevant?

 

As far as your firmware update for your router: The latest that I could find was 4.03.04 , 10/22/2004. That would be the first thing I would check.

 

Since when are there drivers for routers?

 

If I understand you right about the driver concern I can just say tha I don't think that I have ever seen a driver update loose support for a Windows OS. Usually just the opposite ie.. they will shuv the product out quick just for XP and later add support for older OS. So, withought promising I doubt that updating the driver would loose support for 98. Plus, if you still have the original disks you could probably just reinstall whatever you needed to.