Setting up home network between xp pro and 98se

[Rich]

I need help setting up my home network.

I have one computer with XP Pro. It is plugged into an ethernet
connection in the wall of my home.

I have second computer with 98se. It is plugged into another ethernet
plug.

The ethernet plugs come together in a 8-port box in my basement (it
has capacity for eight computers but only two are plugged in right
now). From the box, the computers are connected to a Linksys router,
which is plugged into my cable modem.

Both computers can get on the internet without a problem. However, I
am unable to set up the home network using xp network setup wizard.
The xp firewall is off, but when I try the wizard on xp, I don't see
the new network displayed anywhere. With the 98 machine, I run the
wizard and can then see the network there, but only with that computer
listed (not the xp computer).

Am I missing something here, or is it not possible to connect these
computers?

Thanks.

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

I need help setting up my home network.

I have one computer with XP Pro. It is plugged into an ethernet
connection in the wall of my home.

I have second computer with 98se. It is plugged into another ethernet
plug.

The ethernet plugs come together in a 8-port box in my basement (it
has capacity for eight computers but only two are plugged in right
now). From the box, the computers are connected to a Linksys router,
which is plugged into my cable modem.

Both computers can get on the internet without a problem. However, I
am unable to set up the home network using xp network setup wizard.
The xp firewall is off, but when I try the wizard on xp, I don't see
the new network displayed anywhere. With the 98 machine, I run the
wizard and can then see the network there, but only with that computer
listed (not the xp computer).

Am I missing something here, or is it not possible to connect these
computers?

Rich,

please have a look at http://www.michna.com/kb/WxNetwork.htm.

Hans-Georg

 

[Rich]

Hans-Georg,
Thanks for the link. However, I'm still having trouble. I tried
disabling the Windos (SP2) firewall for my LAN both in Control
Panel/Windows Firewall and Control Panel/Security Center, but when I
go through the network wizard, the LAN firewall gets re-enabled. I
don't get it. I can't even add my own computer to a network. What I
am I doing wrong?

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

Thanks for the link. However, I'm still having trouble. I tried
disabling the Windos (SP2) firewall for my LAN both in Control
Panel/Windows Firewall and Control Panel/Security Center, but when I
go through the network wizard, the LAN firewall gets re-enabled. I
don't get it. I can't even add my own computer to a network. What I
am I doing wrong?

Rich,

haven't used the network wizard for some time, but if I had
programmed the wizard, I would also have it enable the firewall,
because that's actually a good idea.

In other words, you aren't doing anything wrong.

The recommendation for the old firewall was to have it off for
the LAN connection, but the new SP2 firewall should be on,
because it works well enough for the purpose.

You may want to activate the File and Printer Sharing exception
in the firewall.

Hans-Georg

 

[Rich]

Hans-Georg,

With the firewall on (and file and print sharing enabled), it still
doesn't work. Doesn't make much sense to me. I go through the
process, but then the network doesn't show up anywhere. I saw
somewhere else on the net (maybe on the site you gave me the link for)
that it's somewhat difficult to link an xp machine with 98, but I
haven't been able to find exactly what I need to do to make it happen.
Any further guidance is appreciated.

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

With the firewall on (and file and print sharing enabled), it still
doesn't work. Doesn't make much sense to me. I go through the
process, but then the network doesn't show up anywhere. I saw
somewhere else on the net (maybe on the site you gave me the link for)
that it's somewhat difficult to link an xp machine with 98, but I
haven't been able to find exactly what I need to do to make it happen.
Any further guidance is appreciated.

Rich,

the solution to your problem is almost certainly in
http://www.michna.com/kb/WxNetwork.htm. Check first NetBIOS over
TCP/IP, which needs to be enabled in XP, check the
browser-related issues, and check the repair procedures for the
IP stack and Winsock.

But since there are several more potential causes, you have to
keep scanning that web page if these first points don't solve
your problem.

Hans-Georg