For less than the cost of upgrading to Windows 98, you can buy a USB
expansion hub. These devices typically have four USB ports. You will
have to unplug one of the USB devices currently plugged into a
computer, and plug the expansion hub into that jack. Your new scanner
and the device you unplugged can then be connected to the hub, and you
will have two additional ports available.

You can find a USB hub at an office supply store or computer store.
They cost about $15 and up. Make sure you get one that has its own
power (it plugs into the wall), rather than one that uses the
computer's power.

Cliff Lewis

If you need a USB port, you can go to almost any
store that sells electronic stuff, Radio Shack, Best
Buy, Circuit City and purchase a USB hub. This
device connects to you USB port on the computer,
but also has 4 (or maybe more) USB ports. So
disconnect one of the USB devices, connect the
hub, then reconnect the USB device to the hub and
you now have three available USB ports where
you can connect the scanner.

Although we live in a world that wants the latest
and greatest, I don't recommend upgrading from
Win 95 to Win 98 unless there is a specific reason.
I don't think needing more USB ports is a good
reason to upgrade, since this issue can be resolved
by purchasing the hub. If someday you do decide
upgrade, the best thing would be to replace the
entire PC with a new one, which will undoubtly
have Windows XP. Once you decide to upgrade,
check with your software vendors to make sure that
their programs will work with the new version
(of Windows in this case). They might suggest that
you upgrade to a newer version of their product
if one is available. Generically speaking, a program
that works for Win 95 should work with XP,
but there are so many factors involved that this
is a risky statement to make and may not be
true.

Good luck!
Saga

Just add a USB hub to the PC you'd like to hook the scanner
into. It's a no-brainer to install, they're cheap, and you
can buy them just about anywhere...even WalMart should have
one on the shelf.

As for the upgrade...make sure you have any critical
programs operating on another PC first, just in case
something goes wrong. And have your disks available to
reinstall the software with as well.

The HP ScanJet 5550c scanner is a USB *2* connection. You will be sorely
dissapointed if you connect it to a USB1 port. Scanners are persnickety
enough without adding a slow-as-mollasses connection to the mix.

USB2 isn't supported in any manner in versions of Windows earlier than Win98
Second Edition. Has to be at least 98SE (though even then it's iffy), or
Milennium Edition, Windows 2000, XP, or Server 2003. Additionally, the
machine you are contemplating--its hardware isn't likely to handle the USB2
needs, either. Here's an example from Adaptec. You can review its minimum
specs.
http://adaptec.com/worldwide/product/proddetail.html?sess=no&language=English+US
&prodkey=AUA-4000&cat=%2fTechnology%2fUSB%2fUSB+Adapters

If one of your newer Windows machines does not already have a quality USB2
port available, you should either get an additional PCI card to add more
ports (there are many choices, though I know Adaptec's works fine.) I would
not be prone to cascading USB2 using hubs--I feel more comfortable with
direct USB2 connectivity.

Here's the HP specs on that device.
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF05a/15179-64195-215155-15202-215155-77
360.html

Just be aware that Windows 95, now has no support available from
Microsoft.  Windows 98, 98SE and ME support now expires on 30 June
2006 unless changed again to a later date by Microsoft.  :>