networking xp and 98

**interspective** · September 12th, 2005, 11:05 AM

i have been using windows 98 for years since my computers were ancient but quite recently i have purchased a laptop that runs on xp. when i was running 98 i accessed my computers from each other quite easily by using network neighbourhood. accessing from my xp computer, however, is a different story. i can't seem to find my other computers in the network. is there any way to do this? (for example, i want to copy something from the c drive of a 98 comp into my xp comp while sitting at my xp comp) are networks possible for different versions of windows?

**NooNoo** · September 12th, 2005, 11:17 AM

You should check that the 98 machines are using the same network group name as the xp laptop. Some maybe home and the others workgroup. In the xp laptop you can view all ms networks. Can the 98 machines see the xp machine?

**Kodiak** · September 12th, 2005, 12:24 PM

Did you run the XP network setup disk on the win98 machine?

Edit: Here is some instructions on how to make a floppy that will run the wizard so you can setup your network on the win98 machine and as NooNoo says make sure they are both either a home or workgroup network: http://www.practicallynetworked.com/...rksetupwiz.htm

**interspective** · September 12th, 2005, 09:06 PM

ok i ran the network wizard on my xp machine but i have a problem...theres no floppy drive so i can't create the setup disk for my 98 machine...would i be able to get them from anywhere

**interspective** · September 13th, 2005, 12:14 AM

i have got another problem now...i dont know if it had to do with setting up the home network wizard but my network connection is being quite flaky...my modem is connected to a router which is in turn connected to my computer...everything will be working fine but then after ten fifteen minutes i wont be able to get anything (for example msn will log off and i can't load any new web pages)...if i pull out the network cable and plug it back in, it is detected and all is fine until another ten fifteen mins...another thing i have done is go to my network connections, lan, and go to repair...this will also work...but again, only for a short period of time

**confus-ed** · September 13th, 2005, 03:10 AM

Originally Posted by interspective

i have got another problem now...

If you fixed the other one (not being able to see the other machines) & got everybody in the same workgroup then this is likely to be a 'master browser' problem, if this is happening :-

..everything will be working fine but then after ten fifteen minutes i wont be able to get anything (for example msn will log off and i can't load any new web pages)...if i pull out the network cable and plug it back in, it is detected and all is fine until another ten fifteen mins...another thing i have done is go to my network connections, lan, and go to repair...this will also work...but again, only for a short period of time..

With a network something has to be in charge, & the mechanism used in a workgroup to decide this is called a master browser election .. Browser elections (that's a win 2k link, but the idea applies whenever there's a workgroup).

The problem arises when you use win 98 with xp, as 98 doesn't know about xp, & assumes its the highest level of browser & tries to take control, & these elections take place approx. every 15 minutes ...

Try this link @tom's networking (particularly the bit headed 'Network Browsing problems')

Best approach is to decide which machine is on most, & make that master browser & then make sure it gets turned on first & off last & hopefully all your problems will go away

...