I'm upgrading a four client, one server network for a small lawfirm. The system they were using until this weekend was Netware based, circa 1991. I upgraded two of their client stations two weeks ago, the other two client stations are reasonably new. Three clients run Windows98SE, one client runs Win2k.
This weekend, I transfered the files from the Netware server (all 833 megabytes..LOL) to the new server and plugged the new server into the network...given that there are only four clients and cost was an issue, the server is running Win2k PRO SP2. I added the four users to the Win2k user database and told the client computers to stop using netware login and user level access and start using MS client login and share level access (internal network security is not a primary focus and the clients will share no files).
The result was the flakiest network I have ever countered. The Win2k client happily connected. The Win98SE clients have been an exercise in frustration. Occassionaly, I would get one client to see the server, but then it would lose sight of the server during the same login session and would invariably lose it if I rebooted. Long story made short, after several driver reinstallations I got all four clients to see each other on the network and I got two of the three Win98SE clients to see and access the server. The third Win98SE client sees the server on the network, but when you try to access the server, I receive the following message (which I now loathe):
"This device does not exist on the network"
Now, clearly, the device does exist, because I can see it and it's always there, its just not accessible. One of the other Win98SE clients will also give this message, but it seems to resolve itself after a minute or two after reboot (which is weird as hell). Meanwhile, all the clients can happily see and access each other...naturally, the problem lies exclusively with accessing the server.
Right now I'm using TCP/IP protocol and the network is running through a linksys 8 port switch/router (I've tried a regular 8 port switch as well). I have also tried entering other usernames at the station that refuses to connect, still no connection.
I initially thought my problems were based on the residue left behind by the Netware client login configuration. But, I've reinstalled the network drivers at least five times. Ugg! I'm stumped. Anyone else experience this? Any help would be greatly appreciated as I'm slowly losing my mind.
This weekend, I transfered the files from the Netware server (all 833 megabytes..LOL) to the new server and plugged the new server into the network...given that there are only four clients and cost was an issue, the server is running Win2k PRO SP2. I added the four users to the Win2k user database and told the client computers to stop using netware login and user level access and start using MS client login and share level access (internal network security is not a primary focus and the clients will share no files).
The result was the flakiest network I have ever countered. The Win2k client happily connected. The Win98SE clients have been an exercise in frustration. Occassionaly, I would get one client to see the server, but then it would lose sight of the server during the same login session and would invariably lose it if I rebooted. Long story made short, after several driver reinstallations I got all four clients to see each other on the network and I got two of the three Win98SE clients to see and access the server. The third Win98SE client sees the server on the network, but when you try to access the server, I receive the following message (which I now loathe):
"This device does not exist on the network"
Now, clearly, the device does exist, because I can see it and it's always there, its just not accessible. One of the other Win98SE clients will also give this message, but it seems to resolve itself after a minute or two after reboot (which is weird as hell). Meanwhile, all the clients can happily see and access each other...naturally, the problem lies exclusively with accessing the server.
Right now I'm using TCP/IP protocol and the network is running through a linksys 8 port switch/router (I've tried a regular 8 port switch as well). I have also tried entering other usernames at the station that refuses to connect, still no connection.
I initially thought my problems were based on the residue left behind by the Netware client login configuration. But, I've reinstalled the network drivers at least five times. Ugg! I'm stumped. Anyone else experience this? Any help would be greatly appreciated as I'm slowly losing my mind.