2 Win98 machines and 1 WinME machine

[Fierce]

In short I am trying to network the 3 together....(using Linksys 4 port router)

I had the two Win98 machines talking fine to each other, could see each others drives and printers. Customer then wanted to introduce a WinME machine. So I created the ME networking disk that is to be installed on the 2 Win98 machines. I installed the disk on each machine, now I can't see anything on any machine.

Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks!!

[NooNoo]

Need to know fierce, what network settings you used... dhcp? Is the gateway set to the router? What ip does the router use?

[Fierce]

Need to know fierce, what network settings you used... dhcp? Is the gateway set to the router? What ip does the router use?

1. The router is set to DHCP, so every machine recieves its IP from the router.

2. gateway set to the router....??? Don't know.....

3. The IP the router uses is 192.168.1.1

I had just the 2 Win98 machines talking to each other, and once the WinME machine network disk was installed, POOF! it was all gone. I hope this info helps.......Thanks!

[arch0nmyc0n]

ok well first of all are they all the same workgroup? and file sharing is installed?
I'm assuming you're using network neighbourhood to see if they're talking? have you tried directly entering the computer name into the address bar? IE:

\\computername\

Check in winipcfg.exe to make sure they are acquiring an IP properly. if they are, try pinging the router from each machine to make sure they all see it. Then try pinging each other computer. somewhere along the lines there should be a problem there....

[gizmo1_1]

Is file and printer sharing still enabled.

Do you know the IP address for all three machines.

Can the machines ping the router and each other.

Once you have determined connectivity for the three machines,

You can then work on the sharing issues.

[amyb]

In short I am trying to network the 3 together....(using Linksys 4 port router)

I had the two Win98 machines talking fine to each other, could see each others drives and printers. Customer then wanted to introduce a WinME machine. So I created the ME networking disk that is to be installed on the 2 Win98 machines. I installed the disk on each machine, now I can't see anything on any machine.

Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks!!

I used that networking disk once, didn't work. So, all I had to do is to do a start->run-> \\servername\workgroup and it worked.

[Fierce]

UPDATE!!

Ok, I changed the workgroup name on all three machines, and I now have sharing going on, but there is still a problem....

- All three machines have printers attahced, all printers and drives are shared.
- the two 98 machines can see each other, and print to each others printers.
- the ME machine can see the two 98 machines and print to any of the three printers.
- the 98 machines can see (in Network Neighborhood) but not access or be mapped to the drives or printer on the ME machine.

Customer is ok with this setup and aware of current limitations of 98 mcahines not being able to see anything on ME, but ME can see everyhting. Any ideas why this may be happening? I know all the IP address and can ping to any machine and router from any machine, so connectivity isn't a problem. Any clues?!? Thanks!!

[NooNoo]

- the 98 machines can see (in Network Neighborhood) but not access or be mapped to the drives or printer on the ME machine

What error message do you get? Its usually the other way round, nethood wont play ball but everything works manually.

[Fierce]

What error message do you get? Its usually the other way round, nethood wont play ball but everything works manually.

When I open Nethood I see each PC and their correct names. So I double click to view the ME machine, and it will show the hour glass for about 45 seconds, then a error box comes up saying "cannot find yada yada, make sure path name is correct..."

When I double click on the 98 machine, I can see all the shared drives and such. I run over to the ME machine (different building), open Nethood, I can see all 3 machines, and open any shared drive on either 98 machine.

[NooNoo]

Does the me machine have AV? One with a firewall integrated?

[Fierce]

Does the me machine have AV? One with a firewall integrated?

Its a possibility...I know it has Norton 2003 installed.....can't remember if a Firewall is installed....I'll check on that. Thanks!

[ilovetheusers]

If there is no server to keep a list of the PC's on the network they may always have some issues keeping track of each other via name if they get powered off on a frequent basis. Whatever machine is maintaining the master browser list the others refer to shuts off and the rest have to have an election to see who becomes master browser and they make take some time to see the machine that powered off once it comes back up. One solution to getting 9.x machines to see each other by name is to just leave them on for a few hours.

One solution may be to hardcode the IP's and refer to the shared priters by IP instead of sharename. Hardcoding will give you the ability to manage each of their internet connections (i.e. restrict their access to things via the routers controlls if that is needed later). You can then set up shared drives via IP instead of by computer name.
\\192.168.1.#\c$
or
\\196.168.1.5\sharedfoldername


To hardcode:
ip's 192.168.1.#
subnet 255.255.255.0
gateway is 192.168.1.1
If needed, dns is the dns of the ISP.