I can see all the comps on my network, but if I double click them, it just keeps searching...

[Boobers]

I've installed quite a few networks, but I can't seem to fix this problem.

I have a network set up in my house using all Netgear products. It works perfect with the 3 desktops (all WinXP) connected to a RT314 router. All can share files and have internet access through the router. No problems.

I have a Toshiba Satellite Pro 480CDT laptop (233Mhz Pent 64Mb Win98) that I decided to hook up to my stereo to play MP3's over the network. I got a Netgear FA411 PCMCIA 16-bit ethernet card (I should have paid extra for the 32-bit card!) and installed it in my laptop, using the latest driver (v3.0). All seemed fine as I could access the internet through the router no problem.

Here's the problem: When I click on "Network Neighborhood", I can see the other three computers (so I know I'm logged in, my password is correct, TCP/IP is working, and they are all in the same workgroup), but if I try to click on any of them, the laptop just keeps searching for shared resources (you know, the cursor turns to an hour glass and the Network Neighborhood window shows the "Flashlight" going back and forth). The link/act light on the card flashes slowly, like it's doing something, but it never does. If I cntl/alt/del, it says "(insert computer name here) Not Responding".

If I go to any of the other computers on the network, I can connect to the laptop without any problems at all. I can transfer files to/from the HD on the laptop. I can ping every comp on the network from the laptop, and all the other comps can ping the laptop. I have no problem with ping!

I have a special account on each XP comp just for the laptop, with the correct password and permissions. I've had other Win98 comps on my network before, and I've never had this problem. I even tried setting the gateway and IP address manually. No dice, same thing.

I'm going to try to get a 32-bit card and see if the busmastering provided by a CardBus NIC helps any. Maybe my laptop is just choking because it's a slow POS. I'd like to put XP on the laptop, but it is only a 233 w/ 64Mb, which is the absolute minimum recommended by Microsoft.

I don't know. It's very late now (or very early! ) If any of you have any suggestions, I'd really appreciate it.

 

[cipher00]

Ok, ping works. Can you just open the other computers? That is, have you tried something like "net use" from the command prompt? Just a thought.....

 

[Boobers]

Yeah, that's my problem. I can't open any of the other computers from my laptop.

"net use" returns "There are no entries in the list".

 

[cipher00]

Gotta admit you've got a complete list here. My next guess would be something in XP that doesn't like 98, but you've done that before (completely, including file sharing?), it appears, so that's not it. And, you can access the net from the laptop, so something's going through.

I'm not sure what you've done re: the stereo (like, how it's hooked up); can you remove whatever you've done there and see if a plain vanilla connection works? I'm as puzzled on this one as you.

 

[Boobers]

The only thing hooked up to the laptop right now is the network cable. I'm going to exchange the card for a 32-bit card today and see what happens.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Boobers]

Well, I wiped the HD on the laptop and installed XP. Everything is working perfectly with the network now.

Oh how I hate Win98....

Now, if I could just find a XP video driver for the laptop, as none seem to exist. Oh well, it's working good even though there's a yellow exclamination point next to the display adapter in device manager...

 

[Doh!]

Well, I am feeling good & I want to help you find the XP drivers for your laptop. Here it is. Enjoy

 

[Boobers]

Thanks, Doh!, for trying to help me. I appreciate it VERY much , but I have already tried that driver and it conflicts somehow with the mouse driver. My video chip is a "Chips & Technologies" 65555, formerly made by Intel. Now it's only supported by Asiliant Technologies , which supply the same driver you mentioned. I tried every driver on that page and they either won't install or won't work with my mouse. Their driver includes "cursor support" (whatever that means) that doesn't get along with the Toshiba mouse, or any other mouse or mouse driver I've tried. I think that driver is for embedded, stand alone products or something, as it just doesn't work on my laptop.

If I install that driver, the mouse becomes a ghost, only faintly visible and red in color, and it zipps all over the screen all by itself, making it impossible to do anything. I tried different mice and mouse drivers and made sure everything is on it's own IRQ, but nothing helps. I guess I'll just have to live with it.

Right now, the laptop is hooked to the network and to my stereo. It works like a GIANT jukebox. I love it, as I can now play my MP3's through my stereo in my dining room. All the MP3 files are on the big 'ol HD's in the basement. This ROCKS!

I guess I'll just have to wait for either an XP video driver from Toshiba or another cheap laptop that is XP compatible...