I need to image/virtualize a win98 laptop (used for an old hvac system) hence the need for a serial port. win98 within virtualbox compatible?

Carefully read the owner/service ,manual of your HVAC serial comm Controller for more info about the HVAC Controller signal requirements... You should try to find out if the Controller requires ***full RS-232 serial communications*** or else the abbreviated set of serial communications that can be converted to USB - including the use of this cable. This 26886 cable DOES NOT support full RS-232 serial comms, it only supports abbreviated serial to USB communications. See the following from Wikipedia online about "RS-232": "Compared with later interfaces such as RS-422, RS-485 and Ethernet, RS-232 has lower transmission speed, shorter maximum cable length, larger voltage swing, larger standard connectors, no multipoint capability and limited multidrop capability. In modern personal computers, USB has displaced RS-232 from most of its peripheral interface roles. Few computers come equipped with RS-232 ports, so one must use either an external USB-to-RS-232 converter or an internal expansion card with one or more serial ports to connect to RS-232 peripherals. Nevertheless, thanks to their simplicity and past ubiquity, RS-232 interfaces are still used—particularly in industrial machines, networking equipment, and scientific instruments where a short-range, point-to-point, low-speed wired data connection is fully adequate." .... Later in the Wikipedia article it also says: "3-wire and 5-wire RS-232 A minimal "3-wire" RS-232 connection consisting only of transmit data, receive data, and ground, is commonly used when the full facilities of RS-232 are not required. Even a two-wire connection (data and ground) can be used if the data flow is one way (for example, a digital postal scale that periodically sends a weight reading, or a GPS receiver that periodically sends position, if no configuration via RS-232 is necessary). When only hardware flow control is required in addition to two-way data, the RTS and CTS lines are added in a 5-wire version. "

I have a mad catz mc2 set of pedals with this plug. could this make it windows 8.1 compatable

According to Mad Catz support page the device is supported by Windows 8 natively (no drivers required) into a Serial (game) port. If your model is fully PC compatible (console specific versions exist) then this Serial-to-USB adapter should work, but you may need to install the drivers for the adapter before connecting the Wheel. C2G does promise this adapter is Win8 compliant so it should all work. Good luck and let us know if it does.

I only have 3.0 USB on my laptop with Windows 8.1. Does this support 3.0 USB?

No. It's not USB 3.0. But that 3.0 port on your laptop will support USB 2.0 devices. They just will not go at USB 3.0 speeds. I cannot imagine that you would ever be able to push 3.0 speeds through an RS-232 serial type connection anyway. USB 2.0 will easily handle the typical 115K and slower serial connection speeds used. It should work fine for you.

Color	Blue
Warranty Type	Limited
Unit Count	1.0 Count
Number of Items	1
Package Quantity	1
Item Dimensions	8 x 6 x 1 inches
Power Plug	Type A - 2 pin (North American)
Connector Type Used on Cable	Radio Frequency
Number of Ports	1
Compatible Devices	Personal Computer, Modem
Specific Uses For Product	personal

C2G Legrand USB to DB9 Serial Adapter Cable, Adapter Cable, USB to Desktop Adapter, 1.5 Foot Adapter Cord, Gray, 1 Count, C2G 26886

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