Win 98 network program fail

I have four computers on a peer-to-peer network through linksys.
My win 98 laptop uses the network to use another computer's printer.
All of a sudden the WIN 98 computer can't access its network, although it can get onto the internet. It also can't get email through the outlook express program, but it can get email over the internet at the server.
I feel the programs are somehow corrupted. I connected with a cable connection going into the linksys, so feel it must be the programs.
When I try to run the windows network troubleshooter, the choices come up but the troubleshooter won't run.

My thought is to delete both programs and reinstall, but I'm afraid to mess with windows until I talk to you.

By the way, I can access the win98 with the problem and access all its files from the other computers. So it appears on the network, but can't access the network.

I appreciate your help.

 

The email problem was resolved. Only have the network access problem from the Win 98 computer.

By the way, I use Client for Microsoft Networks as the network.

Wiry

 

It is a little difficult to work out what your set up is and the precise nature of the problem. For example is "My win 98 laptop" the same computer as "the WIN 98 computer ".

So I will assume that the Linksys device you are connecting to is an internet (braodband?) router and that all the computers are connected to this. I'll also assume that you've left the network set up at default, which will mean that each machine is using the DHCP on the router to automatically obtain an IP address.

First thing you need to is identify precisely what the IP address (one of the fundimental network addresses) are on your network. To do this, go to a command prompt and type:

Make a note of the settings that ipconfig gives you for each computer.

If my assumptions are correct I expect you will find that your IP addresses are something like 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.20 for the computers. Default masks on all the computers will be 255.255.255.0. The default gateway will be the address of your Linksys router (may well be 192.168.0.1) and will be the same on all the computers.

Once you have identified each of the computers, you can start some simple tests. (I'll skip some very basic test as the fact that you can access the internet tells us that you network stack is working).

Basic low level test for connectivity
From the PC you are having the problems on, try to PING the PC with the printer. That is, if the PC with the printer has the address 192.168.0.5, us the command

As you can see the standard syntax for this command is PING <IP Address of Target>.

If you get a reply, you have basic connectivity and the problem is at a higher level and you can go to the next test. If you do not get a reply post back with the response you do get.

Test naming system
If PINGing the IP address worked, the next test is to PING the target by name. To do this you will need to use the syntax PING <name of target>. So if the computer the printer is connect to is "George" you would:

If you get a reply you know that your NetBIOS name system is working. If not post back and we'll suggest some things to try to fix the problem.

If you don't know what the target computer is called, go to that computer and at the command prompt type:

This will give you a more detailed list of the IP configuration of that PC, with at the top, its network name.

Search Network Neighbourhood
If you can ping the computer with the printer by name, you should be able to find it in network neighbourhood. If you don't see it in the first screens, make sure to search the "Entire Network ". If you cannot find it in Network Neighbourhood you probably have a high level network problem. Post back for more suggestions. If you can see the computer in network neighbourhood, but still cannot print, I expect you have the printer share misconfigured, or need to resinstall the driver.

 

I will print out your response and try it ... but it has been working right along. And all of a sudden, the win98 laptop can't access the win98 desktop computer's printer. All other computers can view the laptop. In network neighborhood, the laptop used to be able to see all the other computers. Now it can't see any. It just says that the network is not available. Happened suddenly.

wiry

 

I tried to ping IP numbers ... got timeout response indicating packets were sent but not received. Maybe I'm not doing it right.

Anyway, fooled around with the user id. Somehow it was not marked that all users use the same configuration. So made that change and everything started working again.

I am confused about the IP numbers. Two of my computers have the same number. How do you change the IP numbers? I think they should all be different. They also seem to be the same as the router IPs.

Very confused.

wiry

 

Wiry - a little visual detail would help here. Since Win98 insists on giving IP settings only in a GUI window you'll have to post a couple of pictures but as a contributing member you can do that.

Not sure what photo apps you have available or how much you've messed around with doing this but here is a very easy way to post the information for us.

Download and install the free Irfanview and the plug-ins.

Click on start, on run, key in winipcfg and OK. Then click the button for all details (sorry, no 9X systems around so can't be precise about the button name).

Hold down the CTRL key, press the Print Scr key to copy the screen to your clipboard.

Open irfanview and click on Edit then on Paste.

If you got the entire screen, use the cursor to mark just the Winipcfg screen then click on Edit and then on Crop Selection. You should now have just the GUI screen. Save that as a .jpg file.

In a reply here, click on Manage Attachments and then get a copy of the jpg file attached to the thread.

Do this with two of the PCs including the problem PC and one that is working OK but has the 'same IP address ".

 

Newt ... have to travel tomorrow ... will try to get to it this weekend.
thanks
wiry

 

No rush and we'll certainly still be here. Ivan isn't moving that fast.