What am I doing wrong setting up Win98SE network?

[flenn]

I'm stumped. I have two machines using Win98SE with properly configured NICs and 5 port Linksys switch. Both machines have unique names and have same workgroup name. In Network properties they list:

Client for Microsoft Networks
NIC
Dialup Adapter
IPX/SX ->DUA
IPX/SX ->NIC
TCP/IP ->DUA
TCP/IP ->NIC
File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks

Facts:
One machine sees itself (name only) in Network Neighborhood but can't see any directories/files.

The other machine doesn't see anything and reports "Unable to browse network"

Occasionally I'll get an error message which says something like "there is a conflict with IP address 198.162.1.101 at hardware address (then lists an address)".

Both machines worked fine with this configuration when on my home network using my 5 port switch so I know the NICs are installed/configured properly.

Well guys, any ideas? I'd appreciate any help you can offer.

 

[Eug]

I dunno, but I found as soon as I installed and bound NetBeui to file and printer sharing my problems were solved (in Windows 2000). Slower theoretically in a big LAN, but who cares on a 2-3 PC network? Didn't work the first time with my friend's Windows 98 machine but the network card was coming out so I didn't pursue it.

 

[flenn]

Although I shouldn't need Netbeui to get this to work, it's worth a shot. I'll post results in a few minutes.

 

[flenn]

No luck with Netbeui. Both machines list their own name under Network Neighborhood but no directories/files can be seen. Also, each machine doesn't see the other.

Just to give a little more info. I have a total of 4 machines that I have to set up on this network (for a client). I'm only dealing with 2 until I get this problem straightened out. All 4 machines are on a bench in my basement along with the switch and 4 15' ethernet cables. I also have a separate cable to my home network upstairs which I use when setting up machines. For kicks, I just changed the workgroup name on both machines to my home network name and both machines log on and can access files from my home network machines. One thing though, my home network machines CAN'T access files from the basement machines, the names show up, but no directories/files. Anyone?

 

[fergiboy]

Are you sharing the full c drive? Try accessing a machine manually, go to a my computer window and type '\\computername\'. See if that works.

 

[placid]

More than one of those machines are using "198.162.1.101 " as their IP address. Every single machine on the network needs to have a UNIQUE IP address, for starters. After that, things get easier ;-)

Also, one of the major problems, is that you don't have a WINS server (or it's equivalent) setup. What is happening is that all of those machines are talking NetBIOS/NetBEUI at the same, and getting confused. See if you can go to "Start">"Find">"Computer" and find the machine that way.

 

[flenn]

Thanks fergiboy, in my haste, I forgot to "share" the individual partitions. I was able to get both machines to see each other by forcing Netbeui as default protocol.

Everything seems to be OK now. I can see all machines and I have a 4 player race going on in Motocross Madness 2 as we speak.

Thanks all.

 

[ssteele]

First lets start from the basics. On both machines goto a DOS prompt, and type in Ping 127.0.0.1
If it replies then your NIC card is functioning properly. 127 is a loop back to your card. Make sure both work on both machines. make sure you have a gateway, I know it is a little weird to have a gateway on a peer to peer but it is good to have one. Example(150.114.65.65) Also for your IP Address use on one machine 150.114.65.71 on the other machine use 150.114.65.72 Make sure your subnet mask fits your IP in this case it will be 255.255.255.192


NetBUI: is a very fast protocol that broadcasts over and over therefore on large LANs it will cause a bottleneck.
On peer to peer it is very fast. Another problem with that is that it's not routable and not for gaming.

These setting should work for you. If they should not work go to the BIOS and make sure that Byte Merge is turned off in your chipset configuration, it will also cause the machines not to see each other.

Let me know what happens, and I will continue to help you with your problem