Only when Dialup is connected..STRANGE...

Ive just attempted to set up a network between a machine running XP and a machine running Win 98.

The strange thing that is happening is that they can only comunicate with each other once the XP machine has connected to the net throught a Dialup connection.

I wont go into the specs of each machine right now as I think I have just missed something that will be obvious to someone with a bit of knowledge.

hope someone can help..THX

 

How do you have the two PCs connected for networking?

 

direct connection (no hub)
PCI ethernet cards and a cross over cable
static ip
tcp/ip

Oh and The XP is XP Pro and 98SE

 

You need to have the following for the PCs to 'talk' via their local network:

• Client for Microsoft Networking and File & Printer
  Sharing loaded.
• IP address / subnet mask combination that place both PCs on the same network. Using a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 any IP addresses that are the same thru the first 3 octets will work so 192.168.0.x as long as you avoid zero and 255 for the last octet. Good to stick with 192.168.x.x addresses since they are private and won't be assigned on the internet anywhere.
• Some way for XP to know who the other PC & user are so it can figure out if they have access permission or not. Requires both PCs be logged onto with a username and non-blank password. Options are:
  - Use the same one to log on to both
  - Use any you wish and enable the guest account on XP
  - Use any you want and add the 98 one to the Local Users & Groups, Users section of XP