setting up XP to network into existing home 98 network

[Andre Gareau]

I have a home network of computers that use Windows 98 and works. I have just bought a new Presario with XP and am not able to get it to talk to the other computers on the network. It does, however, communicate tothe internet through the router quite well.

[Jorge Pinto Leite]

Hi Andre
Check if all of them have similar TCP/IP addresses. A similar address is when they match the numbers where the network mask is 255, for example 169.154.x.x when the network mask is 255.255.0.0
If not, aply fixed IP address for all of them with same network mask, for examplo, 192.168.0.1, 192.168.0.2, 192.168.0.3 and so on whith network mask 255.255.255.0.
Make also sure that they all belong to the same workgroup.
Please note that XP should be able to gain access to any of the shared resources of 98, but the opposite is not true, unless you open an user on XP with the same login name & password of the 98's user.
Keep us updated
Good luck
Jorge

[Jim Kisco]

Do the following :

Confirm the Workgroup name is the same on both PCs = Control Panel / System / Computer Name.............

Confirm and install the same login account and password on both PCs.

Confirm the Windows Firewall is turned off on the XP PC............

Right click on both PC's C:\ drive in "My Computer" and select "Sharing and Security" to enable sharing.

Restart the PC.........

Windows XP only =
Go to the Control Panel / Network Connections, then run the "Network Setup Wizard"... During the Wizard install, keep the Workgroup name the same on both PCs.

Shutdown and restart each PC, wait ten minutes after each login. Then try it...

Happy Holidays,
Jim

[Harald_8]

Perhaps u dont use Password with your users?
with a standard Konfiguration XP only allow Communication with a password set for the user that wants to connect.
This user must exist on all the Workstations with the same name and password.

[Thomas Bianco]

if this is a fairly recent XP, it probably as XPSP2, which sets the firewall on by default. make sure you disable this if your connected to a secured home network.

if you can get to the internet, they it's probably talking fine to your router/Cable modem/etc... which makes me suspect the firewall that much more

[Andre Gareau]

Thanks to every body that has tried to Help me , but the problem remains ! I have implemented several of the suggestions, all the time re-booting afterwards to make sure that they take effect, but to no avail.
-The workgoup is the same on the various computers (the XP was not initially).
-The Windows Firewall was on but has been turned OFF
-Yes, the Compaq came with XP Service Pack 2

[Thomas Bianco]

ipconfig is your friend, now.

go to a dos prompt on each machine and run ipconfig to get the ip addresses of each machine, then ping all the other machines.

somewhere in here you'll find that one machine can't ping anyting, or one machine can ping everyone, but noone can ping it.

from there we can look at the configurations of the non-pinging machine and work on why it's now working.


alternatively, if everything pings: then we need to get some other tools like browser monitor and figure why browsing is eating your lunch, as it often does.

[Andre Gareau]

I would like to check the IP addresses on the Windows 98 systems to compare with the XP addresses, but do not know where to access them on Windows 98. I do have them for the XP system and they appear to match those of the DLink router

[Thomas Bianco]

DOH! my mistake, Win9x uses IPWINCFG, not IPCONFIG. stupid me.

everthing else still holds though.

[Thomas Bianco]

ok, that's 2 in a row. win9x = WinIPCFG!

not ipwincfg or anything else.

once again: me = moron and win9x = WinIPCFG!

[Andre Gareau]

Imagine how bright I feel, the whole family is watching me !
Latest !
I can ping using the IPCONFIG ! I can ping everyone except the XP, which comes up unknown and one of the Windows 98 system whose name has a space in it, but otherwise works very well.
The XP can't ping anyone and has hung several times when trying to use "View Workgroup computers"
Also...the DLink router CANNOT ping the XP !but can ping the other computers.

[Andre Gareau]

Harald, maybe you can explain this password business a bit further. There are 2 account on the XP - Administrator and Guest.

[Andre Gareau]

Progress !!
First, a little more info on the configuration of the network. The DLink router is connected to the highspeed cable internet service. Connected to the DLink are wireless portable as well as computers by cable and (1) DLink switch and more computers directly wired into the switch (my son's gaming activity) We have removed the XP system from being directly wired into the DLink router and wired it into the DLink Switch. We can now partially ping it, but it times out in IPCONFIG. The other computers can also see it int their Network Neighborhoods BUT cannot access it. The XP continues to be blind to ALL.

[Andre Gareau]

For those who are interested, IPCONFIG appears to have a bug in that it does not allow a space in the computer name whereas the other polling programs seem to. removing the space by renaming the computer solved this particular problem.

[Thomas Bianco]

spaces are bad for browsing.

check out http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q145949/

this doesn't talk about XP, but it's old, so....

[Jim Kisco]

Just reading your responses =

Please create the same login name and password account in WinXP that you use in Windows 98. Control Panel / User Names....
Actually all the computers should have the same login account installed on them.

This is extremely important and required to realize your networking. This is probably what is holding you up.

Computer names have to be one word -- do not use more that one word.


Open a Command Prompt window on either PC and do the following command =
ping {name of the either computer}

Is the display showing any response?

On the XP PC open a Command Prompt window type in =
ipconfig /all

What are the IP addresses being displayed?

On the Win98 PC, create a shortcut to the Winipcfg tool in Windows 98. Or
Open MY COMPUTER icon and do a search
for "winipcfg.exe" file, then double click...

What are the IP Addresses?

Remember setting up a network with different Windows software can be very difficult?

Jim

[Andre Gareau]

Thank you Jim.
First, where do you find the MS DOS command prompt on XP ? I was able to get to it through a link in "Help" but still do not know where it is.
The XP's IP addresses appear to be quite correct. The XP's IP address is congruent to the rest of the network, that is , it fits in between d2 of the other computers. It is .107 and there is a .106 and a .108, which both work fine. The other computers can ping and see each other BUT cannot see the XP. And the XP doesn't see anyone but itself.

[Andre Gareau]

Can someone tell me how on earth one assigns points to the replies ???
Also the problem has been fixed. The problem centered around the Norton Security package that came with the computer. It has a "Firewall" that has to be disabled "completely". Once done, the system works well. Thanks to all who helped me !

[Jim Kisco]

Command Prompt window =
Go to Start / Program Files / Accessories
You should see it there.

Be sure to create the same login account on each PC.

Shut down all Windows 98 PCs.

Run the "Network Setup Wizard" in the "Network Connections" icon of the Control Panel.
Use the same Workgroup Name for all PCs.

Shutdown the XP PC.
Turn on the XP PC.

Turn on the Win98 PCs, wait 10 minutes.

Check........

You should realize the URL link to assign points.........

Getting Closer,
Jim

[Thomas Bianco]

points: set the drop menu next to the post, repeat until you run out of posts, the click the "assign points" button at the bottom of the page

[ira_5]

having similar probelem - except I've got my WIN 2000 laptop to recognize my WIN ME desktop. Just can't get the desktop printer to print from the laptop. see attached

I have set up a laptop in a "network" with mt desktop via a wireless modemm DSL connection. Laptop runs WIN 2000 and desktop runs ME. Cannot get laptop to print using desktop printer ( HP PSC All-In-One) connected to desktop even though it recognizes the printer through "sharing". I think problem is 2 diff't OSs. Downloaded additional drivers from HP website to no avail. Any ideas?