Windows 98 requires a driver for flash drives.

I would check the manufacture's Web site for a driver before you purchase the flash drive. If a driver is not available for Windows 98, try another flash drive manufacture.

I would just stick with a drive that is 98 compatible. Easier is always better

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Thanks to you both. I suppose the same advice applies to the question about opening the files with Linux. I may just go to a dual-boot system.

Thanks again.

I have several flash drives and they all said if you want to use with 98 you would need that driver so yes definitely check to see if that particular one has the 98 driver available.

I run a couple of distros of linux and I use my flash drives with them. Which distro are you considering?

another option would be to back up to an online storage locker which would then allow you access to that data from any pc and easily transfer to and from.
I use www.Adrive.com which provides 50GIG free
and www.mediamax.com which provides 25Gig free
between the two that is a very generous amount of storage.
I have used mediamax for several years with no problems and Adrive for a while now no problems there either.

Thanks, Raven!

By the way, I just followed the "Virus Warning" thread on this forum and also appreciate your contributions there. But I have some catching up to do, and it's going to take a while.

For starts, we're still on dial up ... and afraid to make changes until we know how to handle sophisticated hacking.

Well, any hacking is beyond us.

I don't know what version of linux is being offered to us. The guy who does this has a thing against MS and is happy to get people into Linux, probably also makes a buck or two from time to time as well.

Essentially, we want to I) graduate from dial up, II) be secure in online banking and retirement account management, and III) (probably) get into Linux, since I like the whole idea of open source. In the meantime I'm actually getting along OK with this system, and just want to save my files when we do the changeover from dialup.

And, we are more than open to advice.

Thanks,

Mark

Well I am using Mepis7.0 and a version of Ubuntu7.10 called gOS currently. I would recommend Mepis7.0 highly to any new users because most everything just works out of the box with Mepis with not too much tinkering around. Ubuntu is also a good choice however I much prefer the KDE desktop to the Gnome which comes with Ubuntu, so instead I would recommend Kubuntu which is Ubuntu with KDE instead of Gnome.
I would NOT recommend gOS, I am a global moderator on the gOS forum and really it is just a mess, it is a very incomplete version and the people that put it out have changed it several times and not always for the better. So because of all the problems with it I just do not recommend it.
The great thing about linux is there is a flavor for everyone! And lots of linux community out there willing to help.
Changing from dial up in my opinion is absolutely one of the best moves a person can make! It becomes a whole new world.
I am on verizon fios which I love because it is so stable and extremely fast.
IF you get a good modem/router that has a built in Nat firewall on, and install a software firewall like zonealarm free you will be on your way to stopping the bad guys.
With Linux of course that is less of a worry but there are firewalls and antivirus programs for linux, in fact in Mepis7 the guarddog firewall comes with it set up and on, as well as ClamAV antivirus, pretty neat since it is all free.

Most of the versions of linux come as a live cd which means you can take the cd put it in your computer then reboot the pc so that it now boots from the cd drive (on some pc you have to set the boot order in the bios) when the pc boots up it is running off of the linux cd, nothing gets installed to your pc, you can log in to the demo and look around and use it just like it was installed on your computer, you can get a good feel for it that way and even browse the internet using the provided firefox browser. When you log off you take the cd out and next time you reboot you are right back to your regular pc. To install it once the live cd is in and you are running from it there is an install button right on the desktop of the linux distro you just hit install and follow the directions.
Now if you are going to be doing a dual boot system that is more detailed since you will have to do some partitioning to keep your windows partition and create a new partition for linux to live on. But again that partition program is built right into the live cd and is pretty easy, however I would get some one who knows a little about partitioning to help out. You do not want to accidentally wipe out your windows!

I have SimplyMEPIS installed and am pleased with it. At first I used the 'run from CD' version as ravencajun suggests, I would suggest you go this route rather than do a dual boot. This way you either instantly boot into Windows or pop the CD in and load Linux. That seems better than having to select the desired OS at every boot.

As you are running a PII I would assume you hard drive is not too large by today's standards so creating 2 partitions might not be worth the effort. Plus you seem unsure of doing the task yourself so would always be at the mercy of available time from the friend.

If the friend is going to charge you to install Linux may I suggest and alternative? Look around for another hard drive the try doing it yourself. You could disconnect the Windows hard drive, hook up the extra drive and play away with no fear of loss.