Simple home network not working

struggling · #1 August 21st, 2002, 06:12 PM

Trying to set up a small home network with two PCs sharing (via ICS) an ADSL internet connection (PCI ADSL card).
PC1 - WinXP Pro (ADSL connection) / PC2 - Win98SE. Linksys EtherFast 10/100 5-Port Workgroup Switch.
Initially I used WinXP Network Setup Wizard and went through the whole procedure on both PCs with no problem - distinct PC names and identical network name were specified. The partitions to be shared were specified on each PC. Looking at 'Entire Network'/'Network Neighborhood' each PC only showed itself and no mention of the other. The NICs and cabling are installed and functioning properly. The switch detects both PCs immediately at full duplex 100Mbps. I have specified a network address in TCP/IP Properties (192.168.1.1,2 - 255.255.255.0) and have 'pinged' each PC and received instantaneous replies via the network.
All this has been checked and rechecked many times, and I've spent hours delving into books and websites on the subject.

Please! Not another few months of being banished by my e-mailing, chatrooming, messengering teenagers. Dads have rights, too.

Any help very gratefully received. Thanks.

Titleist · #2 August 21st, 2002, 09:20 PM

Have you tried installing NetBeui and using Lmhosts files?

struggling · #3 August 22nd, 2002, 01:56 PM

Will investigate suggestions asap - thanks.

Just a couple of thoughts:

1. The Win98SE PC used to have Intel AnyPoint wireless networking installed, but this was uninstalled prior to the present network. (Uninstalled 'properly' via Win98 Add/Remove.) Could there be any remnants remaining which are screwing up the current networking attempts?

2. The Win98SE PC presents a dialog at startup:

"Enter your network password for Microsoft Networking, etc."

There are no multiple user accounts on this PC. I have checked and there is no password in being. I can press Esc or click OK or Cancel with the same effect - the PC continues to boot up as normal. Where this dialog came from I don't know. My son (his PC) says that he may have installed/uninstalled some prog which triggered it.

Cheers.

struggling · #4 August 23rd, 2002, 05:14 PM

Titleist - thanks. Have now installed NetBEUI on both machines, but still no luck.

What are Lmhosts files and how do I use them? (In Net Properties>TCP/IP Properties>Advanced>WINS, 'Enable LMHOSTS Lookup' is enabled, but I haven't done anything with 'Import LMHOSTS'.)

Cheers.

Titleist · #5 August 23rd, 2002, 10:46 PM

You can find the Lmhosts file on XP at

C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc

can't remember offhand the exact location on 98 but just do a search for it. Open it with Notepad and there is detailed instructions on its use.
HTH

struggling · #6 August 25th, 2002, 02:43 AM

Threw in the towel after trying every suggestion and still exactly where I started.

Imaged the C: partition (as a fall-back) and installed WinXP on the second PC - immediately recognised the network. Problem 'solved'.

Cheers.

rplay · #7 August 26th, 2002, 10:48 PM

If you could answer me a question it would be spectacular. I am doing the same thing you just did, but am naive in the ways of networking. Is it necessary to use a hub when networking only two computers. Also, I really don't want XP on my 98 computer. Does that seem to be the only choice? Thanks

struggling · #8 August 27th, 2002, 01:14 AM

To network two computers you only need a network interface card in each, joined by a 'crossover' cable. This cable links the 'send' pins from one NIC to the 'receive' pins of the other, and vice versa. (A 'straight-through' patch cable doesn't allow this, linking like with like - used with a hub, switch, or router.)

I found this webpage to be helpful.

Everything that I read stated that networking Win98 to WinXP is possible. No doubt many other members of this forum have done it without problem. See my username? ... Says it all. Tried for a week then took the coward's way out.

Good luck.