I’m trying to directly connect (with a crossover wire between the two network cards) two computers together - one with XP, the other using 98 SE.
So far, the computer with XP can see the 98 computer, but cannot access it. The 98 computer cannot see anything apart from itself in the workgroup section of network.
I’ve setup the network on the XP computer, created a network setup disc and used that to setup the network on the 98 computer, the workgroups are called the same and I’ve assigned IP addresses to each computer. As a quick test I tried playing a multiplayer game of Dungeon Siege and if the XP comp was the host, the 98 computer could not see the game, but if the 98 computer was the host then the XP computer could see it (with a ping time, etc.) but could not join it.
Does anyone know something obvious that I haven’t tried?
You say that the 98 machine cannot ‘see’ the XP machine. What exactly do you mean by that? Have you tried to ‘ping’ with a straight IP number in both directions?
If that doesn’t work you have a serious low-level problem, that I’d love to set my teeth in.
If it does work, then we know that the problem is in the software. There I cannot help you at all.
You may need to fudge around with the Network Settings. They can be temperamental sometimes. My suggestion would be to add the IPX Network protocol to your WindowsXP machine, if it isn’t already there.
Here are some sites for you to try too, if that doesn’t work.
you could try manually assigning IP addresses 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.0.2 from settings/control panel/network settings/tcp ip properties for the network card. set ip address as above and subnet mask as 255.255.255.0
also, it could be that it’s working fine but you haven’t set any shares. for this, right click on your hard disk drives in Windows Explorer and choose the Sharing option. If the option doesn’t show up, go to network settings and enable file and printer sharing to share files.
also, try and set the name of the Workgroup for both PC’s to the same name.
When I say one machine can’t see the other, I mean that there is no icon for the other machine in the network neighbourhood. I’ve tried pinging each machine both ways, just get ‘request timed out’.
One card (the one on the 98 machine) says ‘PnP ready’ and ‘WINs ready’ and the other (I’ve lost the instructions) is a US Robotics 10/100 PCI NIC TX card.
Do you have a link on both NICs? Try hardcoding the speed and duplex on both to 100 or 10 Mbps and full duplex. Make them both the same – 10 and 10 or 100 and 100.
I’ve never heard of that problem, DougC. What brands/models of NICs won’t work with a crossover cable?
Tuco, you said you assigned IP addresses to each machine, but what are they? Also, what are the subnet masks?
Installing IPX/SPX on each machine is a good suggestion if you can’t get TCP/IP to work. You could also use NetBEUI, but installing it on XP requires some extra work.
Or you could install AppleTalk (PC MacLan) which is the greatest small-shop networking protocol ever invented. No numbers to set up, no workgroups to define, close to idiot-proof, and cross-platform as well.
Or specifically, a powered hub and a couple normal cables.
…
I have some Linksys 10/100 Etherfast cards that won’t work at all with a crossover cable, but work 100% with a powered hub. Linksys said they don’t guarantee it will work with crossover cables, which is why the instructions don’t say that it will.
~
Sooooooo
imagine this: one of your cards works with crossover cables, and the other one doesn’t. Get it?
Next, look in System settings for harware/IRQ conflicts.
Next, do as xash says: Both comps must use the same submask.
Next, make sure they are both in the same workgroup. Don’t use a funky workgroup name. Use “workgroup”, same case.
Next, make sure they both are running the same protocols. TSP/IP and IPX (ME needs IPX, 98 doesn’t usually, don’t know about XP. ) Install both on both machines.
Next, share folders on both machines.
Next, set up one machine as a Browse Master.
Next, reboot both machines, Browse Master first. Let them run for five minutes or so before checking whether they’re finding each other.
Next, ping each machine to itself. If you get a reply on each, try pinging the other machine. If you get a reply, your hardware/cabling is OK.
Turns out another friend wanted to link his computer up to our network so I had to go out and buy a hub and some network cable. Did that work? Did it b*****ks.
Number - assigned the IPs as 192.168.0.7/57 and the subnets as 255.255.255.0 on both. IPX/SPX and NetBEUI are now on both machines
sigSEGV - I set both cards to 10 and full duplex.
Nutmagnet - They’re in the same workgroup (called ‘WORKGROUP’). What’s a browsemaster and how do I set it up? The cable was bought, but I’m now not using it.
I’ve had the same problem on a home network with three computers, one running XP Home, one running Me, and one running 98. Try going to Control Panel | Network, and look at the list of protocols and such there. If you don’t see NetBEUI, click Add, choose Protocol, select Microsoft, and choose NetBEUI. Do this on both computers, reboot them, and check now if they can see each other.