mixed windows network mixed up!

Hey all,

I have a networking problem and hope you all can help. OK- my original configuration: 6 computers on hard wired lan thru a hub, mixed windows environment, 4 desktops with WIN98SE, 1 desktop with win xp pro sp2 and one laptop with xp pro sp2 also.

All have assigned IP addresses and same subnet, tcp/ip, and so far this system has worked well, files shared and I was able to backup files from the system to a flash drive on the laptop. One of the desktop units running win98se also holds two of the programs that are used/accessed by all other computers. This computers files are the ones backed up to the flash drive.

So...I replaced the old sony laptop with a newer ibm laptop also with xp pro sp2 and the problems started there. Ibm can ping the others and be pinged from the others and the ibm can through windows explorer see the networked drives and open files on the other computers. However, when the ibm is plugged into the lan, the other win 98 computers cannot see the network. I get a 'unable to browse network' when clicking on 'entire network' inside of the network neighborhood.

And, if I re attach the sony in place of the ibm, voila the network is back. Plug the ibm back in and same problems. I thought a possible ibm nic problem and so used a known working pcmcia card from another laptop to plug the cat 5 into and had same (not working)results. I have checked protocols, file sharing (simple file sharing turned off on ibm). The xp firewall is disabled for the lan and I don't have another firewall program. I'm using avg free antivirus and have all windows updates installed on the ibm.

I was able to use the local public library free wireless internet with the ibm and no problems on their network. I read in one of the many articles online that maybe the new xp pro machine is trying to be the master browser, and so changed the setting from automatic browser to disabled on the xp and on all except the one I want to use as the master browser (the one holding the programs used by all other computers) and that didn't seem to change anything. So I changed those settings back to auto and here I am. I just noticed that if I have the sony plugged in, I cannot ping other computers, 'getting destination host unreachable', but the sony can be pinged and accessed from the other computers! So, any help is greatly appreciated, I feel like it is some simple little stupido mistake on my part, but I'm not finding it.

KraigK

 

You have a duplicate address on the network. As you have no DCHP server, and only a hub and not a router, the IP address configuration on the IBM laptop matches an existing use.

Workstation IPs have to be unique. If you use an address already being used by another workstation, your results would obtain.

 

Thanks for replying. The IP address for the sony is 192.168.1.1 and for the ibm it's 192.168.1.3, both same subnet. I do use the same cable for the ibm that the sony was plugged into. You mentioned a hub not router and I guess I just assumed that my system had a hub...it is a cabletron MR9T 802.3 10baseT multiport repeater and a levitron power sum category 5 . The only info I can find on the cabletron unit (online) says it's a hub and there is no software anywhere for it. Am I missing something(s) here?
thanks again.

 

Yes, I think something important is being missed here.

From your IP description and the lack of a router, It is a good bet that the original Sony LAPTOP was set up to be the Internet Connection Sharing Host for the entire network.

By removing it, you removed the Gateway address for all machines.

Here is how to configure ICS on your new laptop:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306126

There is a wealth of information about setting up and using ICS on the Internet. Google "xp use ICS "

My only concern is that some other Proxy software is being used instead of ICS. But lets start here and see how far we get. Note where the instructions have you enable ICS. You could then check your older notebook to see if in fact the settings had been made there.