I have networked four computer together. They all run different versions
of Windows. Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows XP Home and Windows XP
Professional.
The computer running Windows 98 can view the other three computers. The
computer running Windows ME can only see the one running Windows 98. The
computers running Windows XP cannot see the othe two computers.
The network was working fine until I introduced the computers running
Windows XP.
Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.
The problem is with the browser subsystem (I'm not talking about Internet
Explorer). The browser for Windows 9x/ME does not work well on the same LAN
with the browser for Windows NT/2K/XP.
Make sure the browser service is running on the WinXP computers. Control Panel
- Administrative Tools - Services. Verify that the Computer Browser, and the
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper, services both show with Status = Started. Disable the
browser on the Win98 and WinME computers:
http://cms.simons-rock.edu/faq_by_subtopic/node138.html
After checking / disabling / enabling as above, power all computers off to reset
the browser settings on each. Then power the Windows XP computers on, and
finally the Windows 98 and ME computers on.
The Microsoft Browstat program will show us what browsers you have in your
domain / workgroup, at any time.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305
You can download Browstat from either:
<
http://www.dynawell.com/reskit/microsoft/win2000/browstat.zip>
<
http://rescomp.stanford.edu/staff/manual/rcc/tools/browstat.zip>
Browstat is very small (40K), and needs no install. Just unzip the downloaded
file, copy browstat.exe to any folder in the Path, and run it from a command
window, by "browstat status". Make sure all computers give the same result.
For more information about the browser subsystem (very intricate), see:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188001
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305
<
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winntas/deploy/prodspecs/ntbrowse.mspx>
