Whats the best way to connect a erthanet cable to my Dell Dimension PC. There is no port at the back, My last internet connection was by a USB port

First you need to know if your computer is set up to connect to the Internet. Look on the back of the computer and find the Ethernet connector (looks like a large version a phone jack). If you have this, simply connect the cable that came with your modem and then make sure both ends of said cable are plugged in. It doesn't matter which end of the cable goes where.
If you don't have one of this ports, you need to use a USB port to install a wireless receiver - these usually smaller than a thumb drive. Install the software for the receiver (or it may do so automatically) and you should be able to connect to a wireless router.

Does your cable modem have wireless internet? If so, you can buy a Netgear wireless usb port adapter for about $20 and use that to connect wirelessly to the internet. Your pc has usb port connections - right? (Usb port looks like a rectangle)

If you don't want to use a wireless connection you can purchase a cable modem with a usb connection for about $65. You run the ethernet cable to the modem and then a usb cable from the modem to your pc.

If you have a serial cable connection on your pc (looks like a round circle with tiny metal pins in it) you can buy a gender changer and convert that to usb (in case you dont have a usb connection or need another one). You can buy one for about $11.

You can buy an I/O Gear bluetooth usb adapter for $13 and pick up the internet via bluetooth by putting it in your usb port but I'm unsure how well it would work with Win 98.

If you have another pc that has an ethernet connection you could use good old fashioned bi directional printer cable and network both computers together. You may need to upgrade to win xp for networking capabilities.

That would be the best solution! Reason being that the serial port is not converting the info correctly reason why ur seeing that on the screen..also the board on the keyboard can not function in that type of transaction!

KJR

since it is a USB device try this:
http://www.fixya.com/support/r3567552-resolving_intermittent_windows_usb_devic
other things you can do, update the:
BIOS Wireless Driver Video Driver (Effects power management)

USB ports are connected directly to motherboard so replacing them is not so simple because it is multilayer motherboard and you need special tools.
I think best solution is for you to byu PCI usb card or PCI USB card with firewire.

If the system is a Dimension 1100, all you need is a CAT 5 network cable as the Network Interface Card (NIC) is part of the motherboard. (Back of the tower next to the bootom 2 USB ports)
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:Hovik_cj2NQJ:www.andovercg.com/datasheets/dell-dimension-1100-b110.pdf+dimension+1100+manual&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjfefSAxcYphVynxkY-e_VhuVyY-C8VK4uVOZEPgI_tY_Bnv2MDJubL0tSsUiBTWS7Owdj2yZci0crCSjFFqxyu9UGmes3NlvAT0VjerwkXiWuXXDxzwJ5rY5FAly5Owx9Ftqo6&sig=AHIEtbQv5quQ9poKR23GjlJp1PQNHPbIMA

Try and test the computer and modem connection by hooking it up directly by an ethernet cable..

If the internet connection stays solid when cabled up..

Then try either changing or removing the wep or wpa encryption on your wireless network, and seeing if that allows the computer to stay connected.

Also try disabling the firewall on your computer, and also on your modem.

Reinstall your drivers you'll find them in your control panel

Hi Whitney,

I was able to locate manual and a troubleshooting guide.

1. Manual
2. Troubleshooting Guide

Summary: Your modem only supports 802.11b standard, which limits the throughput to max. 11Mbps (compare to 802.11g = 54Mbps, 802.11n = 108 Mbps). In other words: your connection is only about 10% of the speed compared to a wired connection via Ethernet cable (100 Mbps). So - if you can - you should try to use a wired instead of a wireless connection, but you have to decide what makes is more important to you: having no cable and you can be away from the modem or the connection speed.

This also means - and that is in regards to APremkumar's solution - that you can skip all 802.11n adapters (this would just be a waste of money). Since you will not find an adapter that only connects to a class b network, look for something like "802.11b/g".
An example page is here. You can choose between an internal (PCI card) or external (USB adapter) solution. Both are ok and the decision depends on the availablity of a free USB port on your Dell and your comfort of opening the computer case or not. (You can always come back here and ask for help;-)

If you have any more questions, please let me know - I'm happy to help!

Hi Antatg,
Go into your bios and make sure all your USB option are enabled, specially Enable USB for legacy devices, and check to make sure you NIC is enables. Hope that helps!
Good Luck!