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.