winxp box with wireless router to win98se box with USB adapter

I can't get this to work with Netgear equip't (tried 2 different
adapters). The best I could do recently was pick up the signal, but no
access. On first install of the adapter, it puts the correct static ip
addresses in the win98se box. When I choose get address automatically,
it doesn't find it. Fresh Win98se install. Would a pci wireless card
have a better chance? The usb ports work with a jump drive. It worked
briefly with the first adapter then nada. MA814v2 "b" router/ Ma111v2
or WG111Na usb adapters. I thought the adapter was fried so I tried
another one. Are they supposed to get warm? Maybe it's the router, or
the usb ports, or winxp with sp2 (so little time, so many issues to
work out? I know there are d/l's for some of these issues, but I don't
think they apply to v2's of these things.

p.s. silly responses only.. helpful responses will not be tolerated.

zZero wrote:
>> p.s. silly responses only.. helpful responses will not be tolerated.

Oh, OK. Hit it with a larger hammer. :-)
--
The path of least resistance is the path of the loser.
-- H. G. Wells

How big? Ball pean or regular. Which end? Both router & adapter? What
then?
Sly, but concise responses only, please..