Networking probs, 98SE & XP Pro

[perola]

This is driving me crazy.

End of July I purchased 2 Dell Dimension 9100 Dual Processor 3.0 MHz boxes with 1GB each to replace to old Dell Win98SE machines. One of the new ones is still in the carton, the other on a desk all hooked up and attracting spider webs.

Hence currently, I have 3 computers online, two 98SE's and one XP Pro. They all connect fine thru the router to my cable modem and the internet.

I was hoping to migrate my data in an orderly and leisurly way from the old boxes to the new via cat 5 cabling using that router/firewall that works just fine.

However after setting up the XP Pro network wizard on all three machines, the XP can only communicate with one of my 98SE's, and not the other, the one I need for this particular XP. Seems something is blocking access to my primary 98SE. I get messages such as I don't have administrator rights to access it, or under Properties, that it's set up as a server and can't be accessed. The other 98SE (which ironically I don't need to migrate things from at this point is completely accessible, the entire disk and all directories.)

I checked and rechecked both 98SE's and as far as I can tell, everything is the same, network settings, TCP/IP settings, and each machine has a unique IP address. Firewall (Zonealarm) settings are the same, too, although I tried disabling all firewalls after unplugging the cable modem to no avail.

Obviously something is misconfigured in my primary 98SE. Any ideas why I can't access it from my XP (but I actually can from my other 98SE?)

I'm going nuts. Pls. email me at perolad@yahoo.com or reply here if any brainstorms arise.

Thanks in advance,

perola

[Kov-Ice]

I only mention this because you didn't say anything above... Have you shared a folder on the computer? Simple thought, but maybe an oversight? Is the XP firewall off? Sorry, I got nuthin' else...

[glc]

Can you go the other direction - access the XP box from the 98 box? Can they ping each other? Is the 98 box being logged in to Microsoft Networking with a username and password?

[perola]

Originally Posted by Kov-Ice I only mention this because you didn't say anything above... Have you shared a folder on the computer? Simple thought, but maybe an oversight? Is the XP firewall off? Sorry, I got nuthin' else...

Somehow the XP networking wizard set up shared folders (an empty one on my 98) even though I don't want that; I want to share the entire drives. I don't have a clue about how to unshare folders and just share drives. It happens automatically when I network my two 98's. And yes, the cursed XP firewall is off. What continues to baffle me is that I can see one of my 98's from my XP but not the other although as far as I can tell, both 98's are identically configured.

Thanks for the input; I'll keep plugging away.

[Panama Red]

Just right click the drive or folder and select the Sharing option. You can make the Share feature a "read" type function or allow users to change the files too.

[perola]

Originally Posted by glc Can you go the other direction - access the XP box from the 98 box? Can they ping each other? Is the 98 box being logged in to Microsoft Networking with a username and password?

I can only access default shared folders (still empty) on the XP box from the 98. I can ping the XP from the 98 but not the other way around. However, from my other 98, I can ping both the XP and the recalcitrant 98 box, and vice versa, but can only see shared folders on the XP (which have nothing to share) and not the whole drive.

I do have Microsoft Networking enabled on both 98s and different computer names for all, but left the usernames and passwords blank since I don't need to secure my LAN, only the WAN. In ZoneAlarm, I've placed all computer IPs as reported by ipconfig and assigned by my router/firewall in the Trusted Zone.

Any other thoughts? I'm extremely anxious to resolve this issue.

Thanks...

[glc]

I would recommend you uninstall (not just disable) Zone Alarm till you get this sorted. The fact that you can't ping one of the 98 boxes from the XP box is strongly suggesting that ZA is blocking it. You also might consider installing NetBEUI as a test and workaround. In 98 it's simple, just add protocol. With XP, it's a bit more involved.

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;301041

[perola]

Originally Posted by glc I would recommend you uninstall (not just disable) Zone Alarm till you get this sorted. The fact that you can't ping one of the 98 boxes from the XP box is strongly suggesting that ZA is blocking it. You also might consider installing NetBEUI as a test and workaround. In 98 it's simple, just add protocol. With XP, it's a bit more involved. http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;301041

Thanks, I'll give those things a shot. I do have NetBEUI installed on both my 98's together with TCP/IP and File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks. What continues to boggle me is that one 98 is accessible from the XP and the other isn't. Both have ZoneAlarm enabled for Trusted Zone IPs and identical network settings Could I have an IP address wrong? It should be what ipconfig on each machine reports, right? And I should put each of those into my Trusted Zone? (Scratching head.)

[glc]

I repeat - uninstall ZA for troubleshooting. The free version is NOT lan-friendly. NetBEUI will get you around this.