Trying to network Pc (win xp) and laptop (win 98)

as the title says, I'm trying to network the 2 via
a 5 port mini switch.

I have set-up the home networking on the win xp PC and also on the win 98 laptop 9using the win xp cd).

there seem to be so many differences between the set-ups on the 2 OS,
is there a website that I could visit to run thru all the various settings?

I laptop & pc can ping each other, but are unable to 'see' each other in network neighbourhood / explorer.

any help / tips would be appreciated

tia

ming

 

You need install "microsoft file and printer sharing service" and share a folder for those computers seeing each other. To access a shared folder or printer, you can try type the IP address following 2 backslashes in the address bar of explorer window after made the share:
\\XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX

Because XP does not support NETBEUI any more, so it is a little bit hard to use network neighbour to show computers. You can go to support.mircosoft.com (these is no www in the address) to search some articles talking about Sharing files or Network neighbourhood...

 

That is not completely true in all cases. I have one XP and two 98SE PCs networked through a 4 port Linksys Router/Switch. As long as the machines are on any machine can see itself and the other two without anything being shared.

I just checked MsHome on this machine and Net Neighbor on the other two and they all see Bob, Nancy & Rip and there is nothing shared on any machine other than this one. And I working on getting rid of the sharing of My Docs.

But on my system there is no need to share anything anyway. Each machine is a standalone unit and dependes on nobody for anything.

BillyBob

 

I just got a BIG surprise.

I just checked the Properties of the Nancy and Rip Icons in Mshome on this XP machine and it says both are Win95 Workstations. But both have 98 SE as the OS.

And again nothing is shared on Nancy or Rip.

BillyBob

 

That's not quite true mirror.

Microsoft does not support NetBeui on the XP platform but it is available on the XP install CD (you just have to dig for it) and it does run fine. It's only if you have problems that the lack of Microsoft support might become an issue.

minghawk - try logging on to the 98 PC with a username and a non-blank password and ensuring the Guest account on XP is enabled.

Network Neighborhood may not show things particularly well but if you have file & printer sharing loaded (per mirror), Client for Microsoft Networking loaded, and something shared, you should be able to connect to the share in pretty much the manner mirror indicated. If you get it working using the IP address, you can try using the PC name and the results will tell us what more you might need to do.

For instance, if you have PC-A with an ip address of 192.168.0.1 that shares a folder as Share-A then from PC-B you can click on Start then on Run and in the run line
\\192.168.0.1\Share-A and windows explorer should open a window containing Share-A.

If not, post back with exactly what did happen.

 

thanks for the help guys.

I have tried everything listed, but no good.
I think I'm so far from a solution, i can't be bothered anymore - just one more victim of MS user-friendlyness!

workgroup name set to mshome on both machines,
each has a different user name however.

pc can ping laptop
laptop can't ping pc

pc 'my computer' cannot see the laptop at all (or anything else for that matter, even tho' a shared folder has been setup).
laptop 'my computer' sees laptop's shared folder, but nothing else!

pc is set to 192.168.0.1
laptop is set to 192.168.0.2

because if I let them assign auto ip's - bizarre numbers are generated.
no dns or gateway's set

guest account on xp on pc is active.
if i try to set login for laptop, it states that the domain isn't found

\\192.168.0.x doesn't work for either machine.


I haven't installed netbui on the PC running win xp yet,
I think I'm losing the will to live - must... open... xp install box....

 

pc can ping laptop
laptop can't ping pc

That is nearly always a firewall issue. If the desktop is running XP and you have ICS turned on, you very likely also have ICF (internet connection firewall) on as well. Without some settings adjustments, the laptop won't be able to 'see' it.

We can continue to work on this and get your network doing what you want - if you want.

If I think I'm so far from a solution, i can't be bothered anymore - just one more victim of MS user-friendlyness! was just frustration and you do want to continue, no problem. But if you are too fed up to want to deal with it, then post back if at some point you get the urge to network them again.

 

thanks for the help newt - i did think of a firewall, so I checked the xp firewall and that was turned off.

Funny thing is, that when I went to check on my Norton Personal Firewall, the icon from the tray had dissappeared1
when I opened up the npf from the start menu, it had somehow disabled itself!

I have set the ip 192.168.0.2 as a trusted ip,
haven't had the chance to check the laptop since as my wife is working on it.

any advice in the meantime would be greatly appreciated - I've calmed down a bit now

 

Been there myself on the 'major frustration' thing.

Lets see if the firewall setting changes have helped.

 

Dear Newt,

OK, sorted out the Norton firewall and added the ip of the laptop to the trusted list -made massive difference.

They can now ping each other and more...

laptop (w98) can see pc (winxp) in 'My Computer'

PC cannot see laptop in 'My Computer', but can see it when I type

//192.168.0.2 in 'Run'

I have successfully transferred some files, and it all seems to work now
(although not quite as smoothly as I'd have thought).

My wife's PC is connected to internet via 56K modem - is there any way she can connect to the internet via my broadband on the PC?

I only ask, because as I've delved deeper, she hasn't any windows updates, or SP1 etc

many thanks for all your help - even if we get no further, at least I have been able to backup her PhD work to date thanks to your help.

Ming

 

My best suggestion to you for letting the PCs share the broadband modem connection is to invest in a router/switch designed for home and small office use. Prices for good ones that offer plug-in for up to 4 PCs are well under $50 US.

The broadband modem connects to the router/switch as do the PCs and the router/switch takes care of networking the PCs to each other and also takes care of letting them share the broadband modem.

This week I think D-Link is your best value. You can get a good device with a hardware, 2 way firewall included for around $35 US.

Otherwise, you can set your PC up as an ICS host (ICS = internet connection sharing) and share the broadband modem that way. It works but not nearly as well as a dedicated hardware solution.

 

thanks newt - you're a diamond.

not only am i looking at a waireless router (netgear OK?),
but my wife is looking to get a new laptop running win xp - that's gotta be easier - right?

this might be the beginning of a huge number of posts for me - if I couldn't sort out the firewall without help, god knows how I'm gonna get on with a wireless network

thanks again

ming

 

Netgear makes good stuff.

Wireless is great but with a fair sized bunch of "if" things right now.
- If you can live with the much slower network speed.
- If you live where the wireless signal can get where it needs to go (walls, distance, etc.).
- If you don't mind being sort of on the cutting edge of things.
- If you don't mind the extra cost.
- If ......

Don't misunderstand me. Wireless has come a long way in the past year or so and is improving at a very rapid rate. In many cases, the extra 'if' factors are well worth it for what you get.

But as of today, I'd say that unless you have a need for wireless, wired might make better sense. Or possibly a hybrid system where you have a wired router/switch with any nearby PCs connected to it and a WAP (wireless access point) providing connection to your wired system for any wireless devices.

As to XP - I use it and love it. Great OS and will be even better when they release SP2 in a month or two or three. Lots of good security features included in that one.

 

I was thinking of the Netgear DG834 (cable only) or the DG834G which is both cable and wireless.

We would need wireless in about 6 months and would prefer to get a one-off router to do both jobs (ideally the 834G).

But that would be no good if the wireless technology will be changing in the next year or so.
Are the wireless protocols going to remain as they are for the next few years or will the 834G be 'really old hat' in 12 months? in which case I'd just get a cable only cheapo unit for now and upgrade properly when necessary.

cheers

ming

 

The DG834G is a good idea. Current 'usual' speeds are 802.11b and the Netgear device will handle up to 802.11g which is about 5 times faster and roughly half the speed of most home wired systems.

Given that the device will run at 54Mbps and that this week the fastest internet any of us are likely to pay for at home is under 2Mbps, your PCs will run faster over the network than internet is likely to be in the near term future so you are only looking at limitations for file sharing or printer sharing at home and for most of us, 54Mbps is more than enough.

The wireless network card(s) you get will depend on your needs and maybe on price. The 834G will do 802.11g but will also happily work with the slower 802.11b cards.

Wireless will certainly continue to get faster but the reality is that most of us just don't need 'really, really, really fast' for home or small office use. My sense is that 802.11g will do nicely for SOHO locations for a few years.

 

thanks newt - i think we can now consider this thread closed.

cheers for your help

ming