win95, win98, xp networking

[horsedude]

I'm dealing with two win95, one win98, and two XP computers on a LAN network. All computers configured for the same Workgroup. I have the two XP computers networking with the 'Home & Office Networking' wizard, however it is not recognizing win98. I understand if I run a special program provided by winXP it will set win98 to be able to talk to XP on the LAN. HOWEVER... we still need win95 talking with win98... will running this program on win98 DISRUPT the network between win95 & win98?? I don't particularly need win95 talking with winXP but I DO need win95 AND winXP talking with the win98 since it has all the printers & such.

Thank you!!

[Guest LouCypher]

So these computers, do you have them setup for static IPs or are you using DHCP to dynamically assign them?

If you manually setup the computers for static IPs and the same network parameters (subnet mask, gateway, etc.) then you shouldn't have any problems.

If you don't set them up for static IP addresses then you'll have a problem because different versions of Windows assign themselves IP addresses from different address pools when there isn't a DHCP server to assign them one.

Are you using any Internet Connection Sharing on any of them? Do the all have TCP/IP AND [b:9803ab5f1b]"Client for Micrsoft Networks"[/b:9803ab5f1b] and [b:9803ab5f1b]"File and Print Sharing for Microsoft Networks"[/b:9803ab5f1b] installed? You said they are all in the same workgroup, which they should be. If you don't have the [b:9803ab5f1b]"File and Print Sharing for Microsoft Networks"[/b:9803ab5f1b] stuff installed they won't see each other in Network Neighborhood.

Go to a command prompt on each machine and do this:

ipconfig /all

Look for the IP address it is assigning to the network card. Then try to ping that IP from another machine on your network. If you PING successfully, then you've got connectivity between them you just don't have the setup done correctly.

If you assign IPs, make them all 192.168.0.x, and replace x with a unique number between 2-254 for EACH machine. The subnet mask will be 255.255.255.0, and you won't have a default gateway unless you're using ICS, which by default makes it 192.168.0.1.

[Guest LouCypher]

Boot order can also make a difference when you're in a peer-to-peer LAN w/ no server. The XP/2000 machines will usually try to take over elections as the Master Browser, which can cause a problem where one machine can see all the computers on the LAN but they can't see each other.

You could try leaving the XP machines off the LAN while you see if the Win9X/ME machine can see each other.

Just make sure you check and verify the things in the previous post beforehand.

[LS_Dragons]

Just a thought - but if Lou's suggestions don't get you all the way there - you can enable Netbui and all should be able to see each other. Netbui is not 'supported' in XP but can be made to work. If you do this - be sure you have a GOOD firewall!!!

LS

[horsedude]

I don't know whether the win95 & win98 machines have static or dynamic IPs. I'll try what u suggested. What is DHCP? What is Netbui? So, if I manually configure each computer (two win95, one win98, and two new winXP) and their IP addresses and such, then they should all be able to network with eachother, even though win95 and winXP are vastly different?

I don't think I made it clear that the win95 machines and the one win98 machine are networking with eachother just fine (it's been in place for a few years). However I need the two new winXP machines to network with AT LEAST the win98 machine without disrupting the network between the win98 and win95.

Also, how do you PING another computer? There is no Internet Connection Sharing. Each computer has a 56k dial-up modem (archaic, I know). I think the <B>File & Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks</B> is installed on each machine because the network has been up for quite a while, we're just adding two new XP's.

[horsedude]

hey thank you all for your help. I ran the program provided by XP and got 98 and XP networking with eachother and 98 can still network with 95. I couldn't figure out really how to define IP addresses for each computer. There were IP address settings for TCP/IP........ is that it??? I'll pursue your ideas later. Also is there a way to install netBEUI on XP? Someone suggested it.... i think.

[Guest LouCypher]

DHCP = Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

It's automatic assignment of IP addresses. NetBeui is an old protocol Microsoft was using a lot when Windows didn't come with a TCP/IP stack.

So, if I manually configure each computer (two win95, one win98, and two new winXP) and their IP addresses and such, then they should all be able to network with eachother, even though win95 and winXP are vastly different?[/quote:28c6c7f529]

Yes. If they are all in the same subnet (192.168.0.0), and have the netmask (255.255.255.0), then you should be able to at least PING the computers from and to each other, regardless of them appearing in Network Neighborhood. They have to all have File and Print Sharing Client installed and bound the the LAN adapter, and must all be in the same workgroup to appear in "Computers Near Me" in Network Neighborhood.

Like I said before, if they are all setup for DHCP instead of static IP and they don't have any computer on the LAN issuing IP addresses then they will assign themselves an IP. The Win9X are assigning themselves an IP in the same subnet, which apparently is different from the one the XP machines are using. You wouldn't be able to PING the machines if they assigned IP adresses on different subnets, even if they were all on the same switch or hub. [b:28c6c7f529]Assigning static IP addresses shouldn't make any difference in the networkability of the machines as it is now[/b:28c6c7f529]. I'm almost certain it's the software, which you just have to get right.

You can PING the computers from a command prompt. Just do a:

[code:1:28c6c7f529]

C:> ping 192.168.0.10

[/code:1:28c6c7f529]

replace 192.168.0.10 with the IP your want to PING.

[Guest LouCypher]

I couldn't figure out really how to define IP addresses for each computer. There were IP address settings for TCP/IP........ is that it??? I'll pursue your ideas later. Also is there a way to install netBEUI on XP? Someone suggested it.... i think. [/quote:1fc00ac25e]

Yes, that is where you'd put in static IP addresses.

To install NetBEUI:

([b:1fc00ac25e]BOLD[/b:1fc00ac25e] is a button, [i:1fc00ac25e]ITALICS[/i:1fc00ac25e] is text on screen in Windows)

1. [*:1fc00ac25e]Make sure your XP CD is in the drive
   [*:1fc00ac25e]Go to [i:1fc00ac25e]Control Panel[/i:1fc00ac25e] -> [i:1fc00ac25e]Network Connections[/i:1fc00ac25e]
   [*:1fc00ac25e]Right click your LAN adapter, choose [i:1fc00ac25e]Properties[/i:1fc00ac25e]
   [*:1fc00ac25e]Hit the [b:1fc00ac25e]Install[/b:1fc00ac25e] button, choose [i:1fc00ac25e]Protocol[/i:1fc00ac25e], [b:1fc00ac25e]Add[/b:1fc00ac25e]
   [*:1fc00ac25e]Choose [b:1fc00ac25e]Have Disk[/b:1fc00ac25e], browse to D:VALUEADDMSFTNETNETBEUI (where D: is your CD drive)
   [*:1fc00ac25e]Highlight NETNBF.INF, then [b:1fc00ac25e]Open[/b:1fc00ac25e], then [b:1fc00ac25e]OK[/b:1fc00ac25e]
   [*:1fc00ac25e]NetBEUI will be highlighted, [b:1fc00ac25e]OK[/b:1fc00ac25e]
   [*:1fc00ac25e]Reboot, and you're done
   [/list:o:1fc00ac25e]