Weird networking problem

Z

zeretul

I am posting this question in the networking and general
forum as I see that very few questions are answered
promptly in the networking newsgroup.

I have three computers set up in a home network. C1 has
xp home and the most cpu speed, memory, etc. C2 has 98se
and a 633mhtz cpu and 256mb ram. C3 has 98 and a pII400
and 128mb of ram. C3 also has a printer attached.

I have set up all these computers to connect to the
internet through a router that hooks up to my cable
modem. All the computers have IP addresses sequential
from 100 to 102, with C1 being the first, and so on.

I have run the network setup wizard from the xp disk on
the other two comps, and checked and re-checked all my
settings, but my problem remains.

Here it is. C1 and C2 can both see each other across the
network. They can also see C3. They can access it's hared
files and shared printer. But C3 cannot access the
network at all. I get the error stating that I am unable
to browse the network, or a flashlight .gif file after I
access the Network Neighborhood.

I have tried to ping C3 and get the error that all
packets timed out. C1 and C2 can ping each other, but not
C3. C3 can access the internet with no problems, as can
C1 and C2.

So, my first and second computers work fine on the
network, and can see and use the third computers assets,
but the third computer can't even see the network.

I also noticed that the C2 computer, with a IP id code
of .101 on the network can access the C3's files much
faster than my xp computer can, and that the C2's network
runs faster altogether.

I want to know if designating one of the computers as the
networks router would improve the performance, or what
else I might do to fix my problem with C3.

Thanks all.
 
R

Ron Martell

zeretul said:
I am posting this question in the networking and general
forum as I see that very few questions are answered
promptly in the networking newsgroup.

I have three computers set up in a home network. C1 has
xp home and the most cpu speed, memory, etc. C2 has 98se
and a 633mhtz cpu and 256mb ram. C3 has 98 and a pII400
and 128mb of ram. C3 also has a printer attached.

I have set up all these computers to connect to the
internet through a router that hooks up to my cable
modem. All the computers have IP addresses sequential
from 100 to 102, with C1 being the first, and so on.

I have run the network setup wizard from the xp disk on
the other two comps, and checked and re-checked all my
settings, but my problem remains.

Here it is. C1 and C2 can both see each other across the
network. They can also see C3. They can access it's hared
files and shared printer. But C3 cannot access the
network at all. I get the error stating that I am unable
to browse the network, or a flashlight .gif file after I
access the Network Neighborhood.

I have tried to ping C3 and get the error that all
packets timed out. C1 and C2 can ping each other, but not
C3. C3 can access the internet with no problems, as can
C1 and C2.

So, my first and second computers work fine on the
network, and can see and use the third computers assets,
but the third computer can't even see the network.

I also noticed that the C2 computer, with a IP id code
of .101 on the network can access the C3's files much
faster than my xp computer can, and that the C2's network
runs faster altogether.

I want to know if designating one of the computers as the
networks router would improve the performance, or what
else I might do to fix my problem with C3.

Thanks all.

Are you using fixed i.p. addresses in the 3 computers?

Try changing them all to "get an i.p. address automatically" and let
the DHCP server in your router assign them their i.p. addresses. That
generally works much better.

Also check Control Panel - Networks on all 3 computers and remove any
unnecessary networking components, especially network protocols. The
only protocol you really need in this situation is tcp/ip.

Good luck.


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."
 
Z

zeretul

I already have them set this way, and the only computer with more than
the bare minimum networking components is C1, and is is working fine
in the network, although a little slow. The TCP/IP is it's only
protocol.
 

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