Win XP Pro home networking problem

[Lorek]

I've just about tried everything. My current home network setup is Computers -> Hub -> Router -> Internet.
Now I want to be able to share all my files across my network. I have 4 machines. 3 Are windows 98 and the fourth is Xp Pro.
The problem I'm having is I can't get the Win98 machines to show up in network neighborhood. Although on the 98 machines you can see the xp machine fine with no problem. I've been doing a lot of reading online and nothing so far's been able to help me figure out why I can't see my 98 machines.

One article suggested I setup both machines logged in as the same username. That didn't work.

Another suggested I use NWLinkg/IPX/SPX. I installed that rebooted and that didn't work.

I've got my network firewall turned off.
I've got netbios over tcp/ip enabled. (No Change)
I've tried disabling Use Simple File Sharing (No Change)

The xp Pro machine is a laptop 2.8ghz.
SiS 900-Based PCI Fast Ethernet

Driver Information
SiS 7/10/2002 1.16.0.0 Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Public Driver

[koldchillah]

Is file and print sharing installed on all your 98 PC's and do you have any shares setup?

[Lorek]

On all the 98 machines file sharing works perfectly. You can see all other 98 machines from a 98 machine. Copy Files. Shares are set up. And the 98 Machines can see the Xp machine. The only problem is the XP machine can't see the Windows 98 machines.

[koldchillah]

Originally posted by Lorek
On all the 98 machines file sharing works perfectly. You can see all other 98 machines from a 98 machine. Copy Files. Shares are set up. And the 98 Machines can see the Xp machine. The only problem is the XP machine can't see the Windows 98 machines.

what if you type directly in the address bar instead of browsing through "my network places"..

ie, in the address bar you would type: \\computername

when you type that in, does it at least bring up a log-in box?

[Lorek]

No it says it gives me a popup saying invalid path.

[gfngfgf]

Hello. I'm not an expert on networks by any stretch of the imagination, but I had a similar problem trying to transfer files between my old desktop (98SE) and my laptop (XP Home). I wish I remembered what I did to fix it though . I'm pretty sure that installing IPX was key. My suggestion would be to check the bindings...not sure what they should be, but somehow File and Print Sharing should be connected to IPX and to the NIC. Of course, check on both computers.

[koldchillah]

Can you ping the IP address of one of the 98 PC's from a command prompt on the Laptop?

at a command prompt type: ping "ip address of 98 PC" (without quotes)

If you don't know how to find out the IP address of the 98 PC's, try START>RUN>winipcfg If that doesn't display the info, go to a DOS prompt and try ipconfig.

Do all computers, including laptop, connect to the internet fine?

EDIT: it also sounds like the bindings are screwy or some network service or protocol is stepping on another. I recommend using just TCP/IP instead of the IPX/SPX fix.. but you could also get away with using NetBEUI as long as all the PC's are using the same protocol. Because TCP/IP is required for the internet, I just use it for everything.

[Lorek]

I can ping all machines from the command prompt and get responses.

[koldchillah]

list for me the items under LAN connection properties for the 98 PC's exactly as they appear on the list so that I can get an idea of the bindings...

something in there must be screwy. Its been awhile since I've networked in win98, but I do remember the bindings often getting screwy once you start adding and removing various protocols.

[Lorek]

Win98 Machine

Client for Microsoft Networks
Microsoft Family Logon
Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller
Dialup Adapter
IPX/SPX Compatible Protocol->Broadcom 440x 10/100
NetBEUI -> Broadcom 440x 10/100
TCP/IP -> Broadcom 440x 10/100
File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks

Custom Bindings on TCP/IP Properties
/ -Client for Microsoft Networks
-File and Printer Sharing
/ -Microsoft Family Logon

Bindings on Netbeui
/ -Client for Microsoft Networks
/ -File and Printer Sharing
/ -Microsoft Family Logon



What's 1394 Net Adapter for Anyway?

Bindings on IPX/SPX
/ -Client for Microsoft Networks
/ -File and Printer Sharing
/ -Microsoft Family Logon

I've had this machine hooked up to Several XP Home computers on a network before and XP Pro Machines that worked.

[koldchillah]

wow, talk about protocol overkill..

I don't recall needing Microsoft Family Logon, but I'll have to doulbe check on that.. Try it without it..

Also I'd dump IPX/SPX.. its a protocol for Netware networks and for old LAN games. I realize people use it as a band-aid fix, but I've never needed it myself.

If you use NetBEUI on the 98 boxes, you need to put in on the XP laptop as well.

can you browse to these PC's directly via \\ipaddress ?

you may have already answered this, but do you have the built-in XP firewall disabled on the LAN connections properties advanced tab?

I'm done for the evening.. be back on the boards tomorrow morning..

JackMDS is pretty good with networking win98.. he's probably lurking around here somewhere.. He always links people to www.ezlan.net and there is some easy to read information there about networking.. you could try that as well.

[Lorek]

Hehe, I play a lot of old lan games. I have the XP firewall disabled. I Use IPX /SPX a lot. I dunno about family networks it just keeps popping up everytime I remove it. (Kinda like that MSN thing in XP) driving me a lil batty.

I can ping. Plugging address into iexplore yields a can't find site.

However I did fix it. Finally.

I removed Netbui from the protocol and it seems to work fine now.

[koldchillah]

Originally posted by Lorek
However I did fix it. Finally.

I removed Netbui from the protocol and it seems to work fine now.

good deal. Yeah, when you have that many protocols installed, its fairly common for one of them to step on the other.

Glad you found a fix.