No net cable detected?

Name: · #1 January 26th, 2008, 03:43 PM

I am currently running a WinBook XL, I have no idea how old it is (only that on the top of the screen it says "Designed for Microsoft Windows 95", to give you a rough estimate of it's age).

I am running Windows 98 FE, and the only way I could get this networked is through a Xircom Pocket Ethernet III adapter that plugs into a parallel port and converts the port into ethernet. I know that the adapter and port work, but when I have it linked to a Vista computer (IP addresses, DNS, and gateway all properly configured) the Vista machine network icon in the corner still has the 'x' over it, and says to connect the cable. The computers cannot ping each other, but the cables are connected, and the thing lights up, so I know there's power.

I have no idea what's going on!?!

Name: · #2 January 27th, 2008, 03:55 PM

Not a single thing?

Name: · #3 January 27th, 2008, 09:11 PM

Alright, I'm not sure what it was, but I found a Netgear router, hooked both of my computers into it, and after some installing/setting up, they work! Still no idea why a crossover cable couldn't do the trick...

**Snurfen** · #4 January 27th, 2008, 10:13 PM

Sorry fella, been M.I.A. all weekend, and poor old z1p has been pretty stretched cos I left the poor guy holding the baby (metaphorically!)

There's probably a very good reason why the x-over didnt do the trick, and I'm frantically trying to remember - it's probably about 6 or 7 years since I used the old xircoms, god bless 'em, but theres something nagging me about why it wouldn't talk to Vista. Hmmmmm.
If it does spring into my head, I'll post back here (and PM you to alert you, in case you don't use mail alerts

).

Name: · #5 February 2nd, 2008, 03:17 AM

I too apologize for not posting. (My excuse being mid-terms and such),

BUT...

now I have an old windows 98 computer I planned to use for a dial-in server to access my whole network. I have it configured for dialin access, and it works, but I cannot access the rest of the network. I have it set to find an IP address using DHCP, but it always gets the wrong information. It always worked when I had it set as the server, but it doesn't now that it's a client. Could this be because of the configuration to act as a dialin server?

**Snurfen** · #6 February 2nd, 2008, 11:16 AM

So your getting into the 98 ok, but can't get onwards to rest of network.
OK, what method are you trying to use to get onto the rest of your network?

Name: · #7 February 2nd, 2008, 07:01 PM

Ok, my PHYSICAL setup is that I have all computers connected to the netear router, using straight-through cat-5 ethernet cables at 100mbps, full duplex. both my laptop and my windows vista computer work just fine on it, so I know there is no problem with the router or cables.

how i'm trying to acces my network is by dialing into the windows 98 computer with my laptop, when i'm not home, so I can gain access to my FTP server running on my vista machine.

Name: · #8 February 4th, 2008, 12:34 AM

I'm sorry if that wasn't the answer you were looking for, I didn't know how to answer your question. :-]

**Snurfen** · #9 February 4th, 2008, 09:10 PM

No, it wasn't what I was after, but useful all the same.

What I was after was how are you trying to access the 98 (vpn or such) and then how are you then trying to share the data on the rest of your network?

Name: · #10 February 5th, 2008, 11:07 PM

I am accessing the 98 by dialing into it using a standard phone line. I just hook the modem up to the phone jack, dial my house number, and access my files using
windows file sharing. I thought though, that it would be possible to access other parts of the network via TCP/IP, once I dial-up, such as the FTP server running on my windows vista computer.

**Snurfen** · #11 February 6th, 2008, 10:46 AM

Yes, your quite right there, you should be able to access an FTP server running on Vista. I've not had any experience with this particular setup, but I'm starting to have a dig around.

*EDIT* OK, a quick google showed this baby clicky - looks promising as it specifically states this client will work 98 to Vista. Willing to give it a try?

Name: · #12 February 6th, 2008, 08:50 PM

Thank you, but I am not looking to connect via FTP to the vista computer, as I have already done so with other computers, my problem is that when I am on the win98 computer (not the computer dialed into it) it does not ping the router, or anything else attached to my network, making it so even if I were to use an FTP client such as the one in the link you posted, The windows 98 computer cannot connect to any other computer on the network beside from the one dialed into it, which is what I don't understand.

**Snurfen** · #13 February 6th, 2008, 10:59 PM

If it isnt pinging the router, theres a major physical disconnect - suggest you chuck that xircom and slap bog standard £3 Nic in the 98 machine - save you loads of hassle.

Name: · #14 February 8th, 2008, 01:36 AM

mmmmmmmm...
Well, the laptop's Xircom works, I'm talking about the windows 98 computer that I planned to dial into from the laptop when I'm away from home. Sorry, I probably should have specified. I am trying to have a setup similar to the following:

Laptop--(dial-in)-->Windows98--(ethernet)-->NETGEAR Router--(ethernet)-->Vista FTP server.

I just cannot ping the "NETGEAR Router" from the "Windows98" computer, making it so I cannot access the FTP server on my "Vista" computer from the "Laptop."

I apologize for it being such a confusing setup!