Lou Ramsey said:
Chris,
The Windows platform (including Windows 9x and NT/2000/XP) has its
networking infrastructure based upon TCP/IP, with NetBIOS Over TCP/IP
(NBT) used as an interface between TCP/IP and the various networking
applications.
Any properly configured installation of Windows will run just fine with
these components.
Be selective when accepting advice, in web pages or otherwise, that
contains instructions to install redundant and unnecessary components,
such as IPX/SPX or NetBEUI. Adding these extra components may serve as
a workaround, but will add needless complications that may cause
problems in the future.
I agree with you, Lou.
Installing an additional protocol for file and printer sharing isn't
necessary, and it can make browsing a Windows network unreliable,
especially when XP is involved.
If a network doesn't work with TCP/IP as the only protocol, adding
IPX/SPX or NetBEUI might appear to make it work. However, it won't
work optimally, and the underlying problem will still exist. It's
much better to fix the underlying problem. Practically all TCP/IP
problems are due one of these easily correctable errors:
1. A firewall program is improperly configured.
2. NetBIOS over TCP/IP isn't enabled.
3. IP addresses aren't in the same subnet.
There's one exception to the TCP/IP-only rule, but it's a
configuration that Microsoft specifically recommends not using: all of
the computers connect to a broadband Internet service through a hub or
switch (not a router) and receive public IP addresses from the ISP.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)
Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
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