Windows 98 USB Mass Storage Driver: Download & Install Guide
Although Windows 98 has been out of general circulation for well over a decade now, it might come as a surprise to some people that it’s still actively in use, especially in a business or specialized environment for running old software. There is actually a third party Service Pack for Windows 98 Second Edition which is still being updated well into 2013, even though Microsoft ended their support for Windows 98 on the 11th of July 2006! Obviously, hardware support from all major manufacturers has ended years ago so if you or your company still run Windows 98 in some capacity, it’s incredibly difficult to find compatible hardware and software for it.
As an example, a company I did some work for a while back purchased a Kingston Data Traveler USB flash drive for backup purposes on a computer that’s still running Windows 98. The problem is, due to some obsolete software that needs to run on Windows 98, the computer cannot be upgraded to newer versions of Windows such as 8, 7, Vista or even Windows XP. I’ve tried compatibility mode on Windows XP and it doesn’t work either, so it’s either upgrade the software or continue using Windows 98. Updating the old software is very expensive, so the decision was to stay with Windows 98 and try to source parts that can support this ageing operating system.
The immediate problem was getting the flash drive to work. Windows 98SE is actually not too bad at handling mass storage drivers for a USB storage device IF you have a driver disc that accompanied it or a download is available. 98SE doesn’t come with a generic mass storage driver that would install support for all standard USB storage devices like newer Windows versions, so not every device you insert will simply get recognised. Predictably, Kingston offers no support for their devices in Windows 98 so no driver can be installed to pick up the flash drive.
After much searching and testing, I finally managed to install the Kingston DataTraveler on Windows 98. This following method which I’m about to show you can work for most USB mass storage devices if your Windows 98 has detection problems. What I found was a generic Windows 98SE USB mass storage device driver that will work with many makes and models of the following:
– USB Flash Drives
– Digital Photo and Video Cameras (that connect to the PC via USB)
– USB Hard Drives
– MP3 Players (including Apple iPod from v2.4)
– Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP)
This driver isn’t guaranteed to work with all devices because it’s a generic driver, and you shouldn’t install it if you have no issues in the first place. It does though work well for the purpose it was intended for, it did for me and has for many other people.
Using an utility tool
DriverFix software is a utility tool that provides missing and updated system drivers. With over 500,000 drivers on the platform, users can find USB mass storage drivers that allow their Windows 98 device to recognize external devices like hard drives, SD cards, and USB flash drives.
1. The first step is to Download the DriverFix application on the Windows device and launch it. After installation, allow the software to perform an initial analysis and download the necessary USB storage drivers the computer is missing.
2. After the initial scan, the application provides a list of recent drivers you can manually install.
Installing the generic USB Mass Storage driver
1. Download Windows 98SE Generic USB Mass Storage Device Driver to the desktop.
2. Open Device Manager (right click My Computer -> Properties -> Device Manager) and remove ALL drivers for USB flash drives. This includes any drivers of removable devices previously installed from the “Disk drives” tree.
3. Remove all drivers for any USB controllers (under Universal Serial Bus controllers). Devices in Device Manager can be uninstalled by right clicking on an entry and selecting “Remove”. Also remove any Unknown/Other devices, those which have no installed driver.
4. Run the nusb36e.exe driver installer. After that has completed, reboot the computer.
5. During reboot, the computer will detect new devices and USB controllers and will ask for the Windows 98 install CD so make sure you have it to hand. The driver install window actually tells you to reboot after these controllers are installed but I didn’t have to. If you have any issues, then follow the advice and reboot a second time.
6. Then insert your USB storage device and it should get picked up by Windows. Don’t forget Windows 98 cannot read NTFS so the storage device needs to be formatted with FAT/FAT32 to be recognised with a drive letter. Open My Computer and your flash drive or device should be visible.
The 16GB flash drive above wasn’t a Kingston but still required the general USB mass storage driver to be installed for it to be detected. Do note that this driver is for English versions of Windows 98SE only and won’t work on the original Windows 98. You can visit the related MSFN forum thread for more support or updates to the driver in future.
you’re the man now dog
It works like a dream! When I rebooted Windows didn’t automatically see it, went into Device Manager and clicked Refresh and Windows picked it up that fast! Close all Windows on the desktop and open My Computer, it will be listed as Removable Disk! Then you’re all set, I didn’t think it were possible to see your basic DataTraveler G3 mass storage device under Windows 98SE but miracle on miracle it works great on my IBM ThinkPad 770X!
At first my USB storage device did not work, but after i did a reinstal the driver
as mass storage device, W98SE (dutch version)W98SE worked fine with my usb stick.
(device manager usb, properties) Verry happy now
WOnderful!
But —
I have W98, not W98SE.
Assuming there is a similar solution for W98, will it work both for flash drives AND external hard drives (Portable Hard Drives)? I have several, of 250GB, 750GB, and 3TB capacities.
And, assuming there is such a driver — either for flash drives or PHDs, or both — where can I get it?
Thank you so much!
This worked perfectly on my “new” w98 build!
Amazing program and works great. I can finally use a flash drive instead of burning cd’s to get windows 98 better.
Brilliant!
Excellent,
Worked a dream, Win98 now reads Kingston USB stick, so I can now recover all my old treasured Win98 stuff…
Magnus.
I was getting extremely frustrated after days of trying to find the proper USB drivers for my Gateway Armada e500 laptop running a fresh install of Windows 98 SE until i ran across this site purely by accident. I figured I would give this a try because I was starting to get desperate at this point. I had already gone through over a dozen CD-R disks in an attempt to find the right drivers and had one more left. Took a chance and burned this software to my very last CD and installed it. IT WORKED!! It read and installed my 16gb flash drive immediately. No more burning disks to copy files to my laptop. THANK YOU!!!
I had long known this was possible (I think Phils Computer Lab has something like this linked) but this was a well-written, easy to understand process. This saved me from the necessity of removing the hard disk from my Armada 1750 and copying games to it though an intermediary “multi-media” PC (a P4 with IDE (40 and 44 pin), SATA, SCSI (1 and 2) Zip100, and a few other proprietary 90s stuff). Thank you, it worked the first time, now I can copy large files over without the need for taking stuff apart.
:D
fantastic !! thanks very much. it worked for my Toshiba satellite 320 with dual dos and win 98. it even reads sd cards with the appropiate interface. all in fat32 ofcourse. this configuration is ideal for flashing old motorola radio equipment both with DOS and windows CPS
It did not work for me. I get a message that it only works from 98 SE 4.10.0.2222A – but I have 4.10.2222 – and I haven’t been able to find an upgrade from 4.10.2222 to 4.10.0.2222A
This worked for me! Thank you very much for sharing!
YESSS!!! thankyou! I was getting sick of copying files over zip disks to my windows 98 machine.
Used the Nusb36e on an old Windows98 machine. Rebooted and presto- it immediately recognized an older 32gb USB stick. Great! Thanks!
Worked great for me. Thank you!!
When my win 98 couldn’t read a usb stick the operating system asked for specific files. I simply searched the files and dragged them onto a floppy disk. The files are there in win 98, the computer simply doesn’t know where to look for them. Now when I put a new usb drive in I simply put the floppy in and win 98 picks up the files it requires. I have several old computers with win 98. It works on them all.
Does not work with the following USB controllers:
Intel 82371AB/EB USB 1.0 Universial Host Controller
OPTi 82C861 (Firelink) PCI to USB Open Host Controller (USB 1.1)
Thank you very much. I was able to use the driver in our old Win 98 computer connected to a scientific instrument to retrieve files using the usb port. Our old CD burning program was not working so I decided to use the usb in desperation. The usb port is not working in our Win 98 computer in the first place so I searched the internet for a driver. After the download I followed the instructions and it works great. This is so helpful and I am so grateful to you sir!
This was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for posting this information. I use an old Toshiba laptop for retro gaming. I wanted to connect my external 500 Mb HDD to the one USB port on this laptop, I was doubtful if this would work, but as soon as I installed this driver and rebooted, my external was detected as a mass storage device and works great.
Thank you! With this information I was able to finally use a PCMCIA USB adaptor with my old Dell Latitude XPi CD Windows 98SE. I had been going around in circles beforehand. I need to retain an older PC in order to be able to program some of the older 2-way mobile and portable radio equipment which is still soldiering on.
Thanks, I tried several times using the instructions but it didn’t seem to auto load my kingston datatraveler flash drive. However, in the device manager it showed up as ? But then when clicking and selecting update driver… Win98se found and loaded the general USB mass storage driver for it. Nice…
I can see the files as loaded under E: drive now. Very nice to have something you need work when everyone is telling you “IT WILL NOT WORK!”
It works!!! :)
It just simply works!!! :)
Isn’t that how things are supposed to be?
It didn’t work with my camera, but that’s no problem. I just pop the chip and plug it into a card reader and it works! A Digital Concepts model CD-35 card reader is not recognized, but that’s not a problem for me.
Big THUMBS UP!!!
Hi thanks for the wonderful help.
It works. However, strangely it never asked for the Windows CD. I am able to read a recently purchased 32 GB drive.
Thanks a ton. Would love to be in touch as I am a regular Win 98SE user courtesy my home recording setup that I started in 1997.
regards
Sumit
okay. I think my problem had to do with the usb I was using. it was a weird capacity mp3 player/usb flash drive.. anyway. I just picked up the cheapest 4gb one i could find at a nearby store and voila! it works. woohoo! thanks for this.
hi Ive followed the instructions exactly but it wont open the flash drive. Every time I try to open it a windows pops up asking me to format it. I’ll do the format, it appears to work and then when I try to open it again the same thing happens. I get the windows telling me to format again. I’ve tried to assign a label but that doesnt work. I have tried formatting in other computer to FAT or FAT32 with no success.. any help?
Thank you!!!
Thank you for solving a problem I have been trying to solve off and on for 5+ years, I had tried numerous attempts via Kingston website/drivers with no success. I can now at last retrieve data from my old Laptop/s and Floppy Discs and transfer via usb ‘Stick’ to my current computers. Thank you again.
I have a newer computer but I had 2 older computers tht wouldn’t work so I took the Windows 98 hard drive out of one and put it in the other. It tries to boot up ok but runs into a stop that displays tht it has found the USB port and needs a driver for it. I’ve been trying to get past that because I really don’t need to use the USB port on it but it won’t get by the installation Wizard, Does anyone know how I can get it by the installation Wizard? (it wants me to isert the Windows 98 CD-ROM but I don’t have one!)
Hello,
using nusb36e with W98SE solved all the problems.
Big thanks :-)
I tried several times with different versions of drivers, but this one did the job properly. Many, many thanks!!!
Thank You very much! It works excellent!
The people who give their knowledge freely are to be commended. Thank youall sooo much.
The people who give their knowledge freely are to be commended. Thank youall sooo much. I found it all interesting & I am a volunteer who wants to set up a 98 laptop with some ukulele tutoriasl for an old (84) friend in my uke class. Problem is the USB outlet isn’t working according to my clicking on my computer – it doesn’t show any other drive when I have a USB IN THE 98 COMPUTER.. My search through the settings gave me hope when I went to Add new hardware, next, Wizard asks “Is the device u want 2 install listed” “No” next, Do u want Windows search?” “No” “From a list” “Yes” Clicked on storage device – only CD ROM USB DisK & Optical – Clkd USB & next Said it finished installing Clkd finish Then read disk has to be FAT! Checked that & it is. Then selected USB controllers, next, Generic Hub, next, next,, finished installing. But the USB installed still isn’t recognised. Sure wish I could do this job for the old lady. Can anyone help please. Pam Vincent
Thank you so much this actually worked, I have tried several times trying to get information off my old IBM600E via USB before find this.
Have installed it under Windows ME (without any prior USB-related items deletion).
After restart and after insertion of the USB flash drive it successfully installed itself.
Thank you.
Many thanks!!!
cool stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! at last i have finally found a suitable driver for my OS….. Tnx!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
I need a widows 98 format disc or instructions on how to format my laptop so I can install xp. can you help me?
Regards
richard
Thank you. This software is the treasure! Regardeless of all disclaimers and warnings, it worked out just fine.