OK, I’ve managed to set up a direct connection between my Dell desktop (windows 98) and an HP laptop (Windows XP Home) with an ethernet wire, under the workgroup of “Home”. However, I can’t seem to get a similar connection going between the Dell desktop and a Dell laptop (also Windows 98). If any kind soul wants to take a look at the details and help me figure it out, I would be extremely grateful!
Here’s all the pertinent info I can think of:
Yes, the Dell laptop (name “Jeff”) has an ethernet port, and it works (I’ve used the ethernet connection to access the net)
Yes, I set the workgroup name as “Home” for the Dell laptop, and activated the “File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks” in the Network control panel. I’ve also selected several folders for sharing on both the laptop and desktop.
Under Network Neighborhood for the Dell laptop, the name of the computer “Jeff” shows up below the “Entire Network” icon. The shared files are indeed there. The workgroup doesn’t show up there, or when you click on Entire Network. HOWEVER, if I type the workgroup name (Home) into the address field, the workgroup shows up with “Jeff” in it. However, the Dell desktop (named “Bob”) is not there. Also, the path is weird… it shows up like this:
Note that clicking on Network Neighborhood from the desktop and then Entire Network leads you to a dead end (the only way to get to Home is by typing it in the address field)
Jeff doesn’t show up here, and there’s only one “Entire Network”… is it possible the two computers are expecting the workgroup Home in different places?
Note that I believe the ethernet link between the two computers is working; the cable light glows green and when you do stuff on one computer, it makes the other computer do some of those processor noises.
Under the Configuration tab in the Network control panel of the Dell laptop (Jeff), I believe the pertinent adapter to be the FE575C-3COM 10/100 LAN CardBus-Fast Ethernet. Its binding is “TCP/IP -> FE575C-3COM 10/100 LAN CardBus-Fast Ethernet”. Network Link Selection is set to Auto Negotiation and NDIS Driver Version is set to Auto Select.
I tried using the Network Setup Wizard from the HP laptop (remember it has windows XP) by putting it on disk and installing it on the HP laptop, but no dice. Also note I’ve tried connecting the two laptops together as well, and it hasn’t worked.
When connecting the two laptops, the HP laptop shows that it has been sending packets to Jeff but not receiving them.
I’ve been gnawing away at this problem for over two hours now and I think I’m at the end of my rope. The maddening thing is it already worked (between HP laptop and Bob), so I know it can be done (heck, it took about 2 minutes to set that one up)…
So, if you have any ideas as to how to get Jeff to join the party, please shout’em out!
(and then post it here!)
Keep the XP machine off the network as much as possible. Find which machine it will allow you to get files from. Put all files on that machine and hook up the XP computer and retrieve them and then remove the XP puter from the network.
You will have more hair at the end of the day.
Got 2 XP lap-tops and 3-5, 98 machines networked at any given time. All is cool as long as the XP puters are out.
YMMV and if you get a XP & 98 network to pass info freely and consistently with more than one 98 machine, without causing problems between any of the other machines on the network, I will pay a reasonable amount if I can get it to work.
It should work though…can you map a drive? Map to \192.168.0.1\shared (or whatever the IP is and the folder is called). Then maybe try using the name instead of the IP. Have you checked what the IP addresses are? Where are they getting them from automatically? You have a DHCP server somewhere?
Actually, there is no need to use the NetBEUI protocol (WinXP doesn’t even include or support it anymore). However, you should activate “NetBIOS over TCP/IP” on the Win98 and WinXP machines. It is a known problem that “mixed” networks will have problems if you don’t use NetBIOS. For more information on how to activate “NetBIOS over TCP/IP” look here.
I have a wireless home network, with one machine running WinXP, two running Win98, and one running Mandrake Linux. I kept having problems communicating between the WinXP and Win98 machines until I installed NetBIOS over TCP/IP".
Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound condescending (and didn’t actually realize I might have). No offense intended. But just in case you’re whooshing me: I am an MCSE. Nyaaaah, nyaaaaah, nyaaaah, nyaaaah, nyaaaah.
P.S.: The MCSE is worth about as much as the little piece of plastic they give you.
Some NIC’s will not work with crossover cables. If the instructions do not specifically say that they are supposed to function with crossover cables, then either NIC may not. I would try a hub and two regular cables.
~
You don’t have a DHCP server, so you need to assign the IP’s statically. Sure, the computers may obtain one, but it’s something like ‘168.234.3434513.45’. No good.
In the TCP/IP settings for your network adapter for each computer, give each one a unique IP, but on the same subnet mask:
Dell PC - 192.168.1.1
Jeff LT - 192.168.1.2
Bob LT - 192.168.1.3
All should use a subnet of 255.255.255.0
No gateway required.
But I would suggest going with the others and buy a $10.00 4-port hub or switch and get regular (non-crossover) cables. The IP addressing would be the same as I’ve already suggested.
Thanks for the replies, guys. I’ve been scouring the internet for help and I finally was led to the following site, which provided a step-by-step on troubleshooting network probs:
http://www.careyholzman.com/netfixes.htm#1
It turns out that I had to install the IPX/SPX protocol for “Jeff” (the dell laptop); the TCP/IP protocol wasn’t enough apparently. Also, some of those random settings were off, I believe, so I changed them to what the guide said (for the TCP/IP binding, you’re not supposed to check the enable file sharing box, which seemed really counter-intuitive to me… Also I had the primary network logon as “Client for Microsoft network” instead of “Windows logon”)…
In any case, it’s all good now, and I can start transferring the hard drive over
