Need help with ancient hardware -- Dell GX1 has two USB ports, but how to activate them?

[eppur_se_muova]

I have some very large files on an old CPU that I'd like to transfer. Not networked (sigh). Don't have a SCSI drive I can convert to PC format. I was surprised to learn old Dells have USB ports, but I don't see how to activate them. Currently running Win95 on that machine. Don't see USB as an option in the Setup mode.

Any chance I could use a Linux LiveDisk to boot and copy to USB drive that way? Any other way to mount a USB disk?

[canetoad]

1. Win95 has virtually no usb support

Only possible with a couple of the late revisions. Even then, you would need the Win95 drivers for the usb device you wish to use.

Not a clue about a live CD. You should give it a go and report back. If it was me, I'd be considering a cheap network card for the old machine.

[eppur_se_muova]

2. Thanks, but there's no network in my basement. :(

I'm just trying to recover some old files, hopefully without spending money.

Knowing I was looking for Win95 drivers, I think I found a solution ...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/258773
Will try it out and see.

[canetoad]

3. I was thinking crossover cable

Connect two machines directly together. Not free but would probably work and needs no internet or router.

[eppur_se_muova]

7. Thanks, will note for future. nt

[hobbit709]

4. Live CD may not work, too little RAM

Take the drive out and connect to new computer, It's an IDE drive so compatibility is no problem

[whistler162]

5. Pop the top. It probably has a IDE port on the

motherboard. Take a old IDE drive and hook it into the PC.

or http://www.circotech.com/scsi-801.html

[eppur_se_muova]

6. Cool, thanks! nt