NetBeui - Windows 95 (peer to peer) server, Windows XP Pro, problems seeing all computers

[Winchester]

I am trying to get an XP Pro machine to see the Server on a Netbeui (windows 95 peer to peer) network. I have done several different things. I have Netbeui selected as the primary protocol, netbeui over TCP/IP, and it is at the top of the advanced settings list. There is also a XP Home laptop on the network that works fine, but when I set this computer up exactly like the laptop (assigned secondary IP) it only sees itself and the laptop, no other computers, but if I leave the IP to be automatically obtained on both primary and secondary it will see a 6 of 11 computers (ranging from 98, 98SE, to 2000), but it will not see the server (win 95).

In the advanced settings, when I uncheck the TCP/IP protocol under Sharing, about 6 computers show up, most of the time, when I have the TCP/IP box checked, only 2 computers show up, the one im working on and another one on the network, which does not show up as one of the 6 if it is unchecked.


I have googled this and read for several hours, but nothing I found was anything that I have not already done.

 

[StraightPipe]

have you got the newest drivers for the NIC? i had a similar problem with XP being unable to get to a 98 box.

(BTW any possiblity of upgrading the 95 box?) it would definately help

 

[Winchester]

This is for an small accounting firm client, so they are tight wads. However, they discussed with me that they are wanting to buy a new server, workstations, switches and routers, and move to TCP/IP but later down the road. I just need to fix this so I can get my foot in the door to be chosen to do that job as well.

I went out and bought a new NIC. I thought that the old one might be the problem since it came from another network with different settings.

 

[Peabody]

Try here for a great resource to help you figure it out

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

I presume you do realize that 2K & XP have a 10 connection limit, so when the network exceeds 10 systems, you'll frequently have trouble getting all of them connected.

There is no such thing as NETBEUI over TCP/IP, it's NETBIOS over TCP/IP.

Did you disable "Simple Shares" on the XP-Pro machine?

 

[Winchester]

yeah I realize there is a 10 connection limit, but that is only when people are actually connecting to the resources, not just on the workgroup. I can see about 100 computers on the network at work, with XP Pro, so I know that is not a problem in this scenario.

 

[Winchester]

Originally posted by: Peabody
Try here for a great resource to help you figure it out

I followed those instructions several times and it still does not work.

 

[StraightPipe]

uhhh, better ask jack!

(jackMDS)

you could check out his website @ www.ezlan.com (or net or something)

 

[Winchester]

I have been all through the www.ezlan.com website.

Today I took my laptop with XP pro, and had the same results so I am dumbfounded on this one. Ive tried everything and read off of google for hours and tried everything and still nothing happens. I can just see 6 of the 11 computers.

BTW: I noticed today on the ones that I can not see all either 95 or 98SE, they did not have NetBeui marked as the default protocol (a check box under one of the network properties), but I did not look at the ones that were able to be seen so I have no idea. I am used to TCP/IP on 2000/XP but not on 95, so I might have to bust out the old 95 CD.

They mentioned that I can do TCP/IP but I do not want to have them down for a significant amount of time.

 

[Peabody]

Try marking NetBeui as the default protocol on the 95 and 98SE computers and make sure that all of the other computer have NetBeiu installed, it works many times for a small LAN when TCP/IP will not.

 

[Winchester]

Out of 11 computers, only the one (two if you count my laptop) I am working on does not see all of the other computers.

 

[Winchester]

Just to add for reference for others: Someone mentioned to me that by clicking "Install" from properties (under Local Area Connection) and installing NetBeui from the WinXP Pro CD is in correct and it will not function correctly.

You must actually copy the files from the CD to folders:

# Insert your Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive and browse to the Valueadd\MSFT\Net\NetBEUI folder.
# Copy Nbf.sys to the %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\Drivers directory.
# Copy Netnbf.inf to the %SYSTEMROOT%\Inf hidden directory.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

If you look for NETBEUI and XP on the MS-KB, that's exactly what they tell you to do.

 

[Winchester]

It worked!

I was not the person who installed it in the first place, so I just figured it was installed properly.