trouble linking with network

[shifty]

I'm having trouble joining my network with my new machine.It has a onboard lan card.The board is a Soyo Dragon+.The other machines are a Sony and HP and they have been networked for six months and never had a problem.The Sony is running w98,the HP is windows me and my new build is xp.When I link them up I can see the HP in network places but not the Sony but I can't see the new build in either of the others.I think I have all the drivers installed and have checked all my connections,the lan is on in the bios.The HP seems to hang when I try to connect to the Sony.When I unplug the new build everyting is back to normal.Does anyone know what these systoms might mean?I have a Linksyse card I can put in the new build if I have to.Can someone point me in the right direction?

[Confused]

On the XP PC right click view Network Connections, right click Local area connection, select properties, select your TCP/IP and select properties. Ensure that obtain IP and DNS address automatically are checked.
Chas

[shifty]

They are checked. Thanks for response.I would appreciate any more suggestions.

[LawyerRon]

Make sure they are all in the same "Workgroup" under Identification in network properties.

[shifty]

Same workgroup name on each machine.Thanks for responding Ron

[Confused]

I don't have experience with onboard LAN. Did your mobo come with drivers for the LAN? Are they installed? Enabled in BIOS? Just asking questions that come to mind as I'm basicall shooting in the dark.
Chas

[TheOldMan]

Shifty,

What protocols are installed/running on the three machines?
You've already mentioned the OS's but how are they connected and how are the IP's assigned?

If you have an IP address conflict or don't have a common protocol, this could be the problem. Please post back with details.

The Old Man

[shifty]

All three machines show Client for Microsoft Services,File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks,TCP/IP Internet Protocol,IPX/SPXNetbios Compatable Protocol.The Sony and HP have Net \BEUI.Please explain IP address conflict.Thanks for the help.

[glc]

Get rid of the netbeui - I hear that ME has issues with it. TCP/IP and IPX should be plenty.

[shifty]

HI Confused and Glc.I don't remember installing any drivers for the lan and there are none on the main board cd rom but the adapter is a Via PCI fast ethernet adapter and it's in the device manager and there is no yellow exclaimation next to it .If the driver was not installed I don't think I would be making any contact at all.The lan is enabled in the bios.I a have Linksys lan card in the Sony and I can't make any contact with it from the new machine.The linksys install manual says to make sure NETBEUI is installed.

[glc]

I would take that recommendation with a grain of salt - all you really need is properly configured TCP/IP but having IPX also won't hurt.

[shifty]

How do I properly configure TCP\IP.I'm new at this.Thanks for the help.

[shifty]

Just wanted you to know that my new machine "IPX/SPX/Netbios CompatibleTransport Protocol" not "IPX/SPX Compatible Protocol".Don't know the difference.

[TheOldMan]

shifty,

I agree with glc. Lose the NetBEUI as ME has problems with it. TCP/IP should be all you need. Unless you have a specific need, eliminate the IPX/SPX as it will only complicate matters.

By IP address conflict, I mean two devices with the same address. This is not an acceptable condition and can cause unpredictable results. You would not see an indication of this in the device manager. You SHOULD get an indication somewhere but it may be going unnoticed.

Confused already posted the basics in configuring TCP/IP. Make sure the router (assuming you have one ) is set as the default gateway on all the machines. YOu've got a mixture of OS's so either use ipconfig or winipcfg to release and renew the IP addresses or you can restart all the machines.

I ahve seen cases where Win98 get "stuck" with the IP config and it was necessary to remove and reinstall the networking. You can check if this is the case by doing a winipcfg after you've done the above. If you do not see the changes reflected, you may need to do this extra step.

Once you've done the above, try to ping each of the machines from the others. Do it in both directions. Ping the HP from the Sony and the Sony from the HP, for example. Keep track of where you succed and fail. Try pinging the router also.

Post back with the results.
The Old Man

[shifty]

I'm not using a router.I'm using a hub.That should not be a problem should it.

[TheOldMan]

Ahhh, therein lies the problem.

If you are using a hub, then you should not be checking the options to obtain IP address automatically. Where is your DHCP server? Unless you have some connection to the internet and your ISP has provided you with multiple IP's, then there is no server. You will need to go into each of the network control panels and assign IP addresses. For example,
for the Sony - 192.168.10.1
for the HP - 192.168.10.2
for the new build - 192.168.10.3

How do you connect to the internet? Cable? DSL? dialup?

The Old Man

[shifty]

In my network connections window I have " Local Area Connection 5 WAN Network Driver "it has a manually configured IP adress 192.168.0.1 .Then I have"Local Area Network VIA 10/100MB Fast Ethernet Adapter".That was set to optain IP address automatically.Now I assume that's my problem and I need to set it manually and I can see how it's done.Should I give it the same address or should it be192.168.0.2.Sounds like it should be the same because it's the same machine.This is my new build with windows xp that I'm on.thanks for your help.

[shifty]

I set the address the same and it told not to do that.So should I change the last number?

[shifty]

The second address that needs to be configured was in the"TCP/IP Properties" Window.sorry about that.

[TheOldMan]

shifty,

Can you describe the equipment, network and internet connection?

How many NIC's in the machine? The WAN connection would usually be used if youi are directly connected to the internet, like through a cable modem. The setting that you need to be concerned with is the one bound to the NIC. Set the IP there and make sure there is no conflict with another address.

The Old Man

[shifty]

My Sony has a Linksys NIC and the HP has a Realtech NIC. they all have 56k modems for Internet and my IPS is Compuserve.MY new build is a onboard LAN VIA PCI ethernet adapter.Do you think I don't need the WAN.The other machines don't have it but this machine I want to use to share the internet over the network.

[glc]

You aren't going to be able to use internet connection sharing with Compuserve because it uses a proprietary dialer instead of standard DUN (dialup networking).

[TheOldMan]

OK, I've got a better picture now. I would suggest stripping out any unnecessary adapters and protocols. Get it down to basics and get that working before you add levels of complexity. You do not need the WAN adapter at this point. Configure the TCP/IP bound to the VIA adapter and make sure you are getting connected.

If you are going to do internet sharing, I would suggest you invest in a router. Good ones can be gotten for $60 - $100 and I think your performance, even with dialup, will be more satisfactory. If you want to try ICS with dialup, you'll find help here.
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_ics/

Just remember that the machine hosting the connection has to be on all the time and it will use the resources of that machine. you will not be getting the same performance as if each was dialled in on its own.

Hope that helps.
The Old Man

[shifty]

Hey glc.I plan to get cable internet in a few months.I took that three year deal with the 400 dollar rebate they offered but it will be done in October.Hi Old Man.I just found that the TCP\IP addresses are being set automatically on the other machines.I'll have to set them manually to.Thanks for your help.I really appreaciate it . I'll let you know how I make out. Also DNS is diabled in both machines.If you could post once more and let me know if I should enable them.