Local network assistance (XP/Win98)...... anyone?!

from WinCustomize Forums
HEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp!!!!

I'm trying to connect two computers on my local network. One running Win98 and the other WinXP Pro but I can't get any connection
I know it can be done cause I allready have had them connected (can't remember how I did it though), but after I reinstalled WinXP a couple of weeks ago I just can't get the network up and running again.
The two computers are connected through a five port hub and from there connected to the web through an ADSL adapter (ADSL 512/256). Both connects to the web just fine and the IPX protocol IS installed on the 98 pewter.
I have tried every combination in the "Network Setup Wizard" on the XP machine and then using the following setup disk on the Win98 machine to no avail. I have tried installing Win98 on both machines, that works fine but the connection between the machines are (pardon my French) slow as hell!! (only just about 1 meg a min!!!)

I really need to get the network running again cause I have to transfer all the files to the 98 machine (temporary) so I can get the XP totally cleaned. One of my HD's crashed the other day so I have to reconfigure the two remaning drives (format/repartitionate). Well of course I *could* use my CDburner..... nah... we're talking about almost 15 gig of files that needs to transfered

What am I doing wrong?! CAN ANYBODY HELP ME PLEEEEZE?!?!

Thank you in advance
Snow
3,709 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
From one computer can you ping the other?
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
From DOS box on each computer run the following command
ipconfig
That'll report the computer's IP address.
Then from A DOS box, try pinging that address from the other computer:
ping blah.blah.blah.blah
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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I should've typed this in just one stupid post. oh well...Anyways,
If that works, than you can expose a network share from the WinXP box and mount it from the Windows 98 box.

On the WinXP box make some directory sharable.

Then from the Win98 box mount a share in the format \\blah.blah.blah.blah\SharedDrive
Where the blah stuff is the XP boxes ip address. When you mount the drive it may prompt you for a username and password to connction to your XP box.

Now you can copy files back and forth using the Win98 box.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
one computer has to be the host which would be your better computer or the one that has windows xp and make sure your workgroups are the same, it works for mine this way.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Here are some things to take into consideration:

1. IPX will be of no use so don't even bother with it.

2. Are both pc surfing the web at the same time? You talked about a hub and it's impossible to access the Web from both machine at the same time if you use a hub unless you use a router after the hub which will NAT your packets or if you use ICS (Internet Connection Sharing).

So if both machine can access the web *at the same time*, that means they are both configured to be in the same subnet. For your info, ICS also act as a DHCP server which means that it automatically assign IP addresses to whoever request one. For both pc to talk together, they HAVE to be within the same subnet. For example, if one is 192.168.0.1 with a mask of 255.255.255.0 then the other machine must be using 192.168.0.x also with 255.255.255.0 as the mask. ICS actually takes care of this aspect so if it's enabled, you're in business. Otherwise, you can always set your IP addresses manually but you have to make sure you they are both in the same subnet, as pointed earlier. I will spare you deep technical details but to keep things simple, if you use static IP address (address you set yourself), then just set one pc with 192.168.0.1 and the other with 192.168.0.2 with both a 255.255.255.0 subnet mask

3. To share file you need to set enable Netbios on both pc. To do so, you go under the TCP/IP properties, Advanced, and it's under the WINS tab. Also, make sure File and Print Sharing service is installed and checked on both too.

I'll let you look for these basic points first and will wait for replies from you before I fill this thread too much
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
NetBios.... DOOOH!!! Off course, and after installing that the network functioned! Thanks mate!
Now I need to find why the heck I can't connect to the internet from the XP machine.. (works fine from the 98 machine)
It has nothing to do with installing NetBios, because the problem occoured before installing NetBios, but I guess it's due me pokeing around in the diff settings... just gotta figure out what I've done
But... it's kinda wierd though, cause my firewall (ZoneAlarm Pro) keeps blocking "incoming" traffic... so it looks like all something is blocking all outgoing "calls", not the firewall though cause even if I close it I still can't connect... oh well I guess the worst that could happen is that I have to reinstall (again-again)

Anyways, thanks for the help folks, much appresiated!!

PS: FlipNET, yes both PCs can be connected to the web at the same time!
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
it's working now ... but now the local network is gone again..... I'm just about ready to kick some hardware-ass now!
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You pc's seems to give you hard time In your XP machine, check if you have enabled the Internet Connection Firewall. You can find it in your LAN settings under the Advanced tab. Since you already use a soft firewall (ZoneAlarm) you *shouldn't* use ICF. Otherwise, you'll be good for a nice configuration headache
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
hehe... the ICF is one of the first things I turn of after reinstalling.... I just don't trust it enough to use it!!
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
hmm... for some reason I've been unable to connect to the net from the XP machine for the last two days Had to reinstall to get the connection up again.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have internet sharing on all my home computers through my XP machine, which has 2 network adapters (incoming and outgoing).
Of course my XP machine has to be on for the others to have net access.