win98/me machines can't browse LAN

[topnode]

Does anyone have any ideas why all 5 win98/me machines on my LAN can't browse the network? The LAN is a workgroup with the 6th machine being a Win2000 Pro system which CAN browse the network.

All nodes can ping one another so there's connectivity up to the transport layer. Each computer can be searched and I can map network drives. In fact that's what I'm doing to share resources. But none of the 98/me machines can browse the LAN in explorer?

Any ideas? Is there something I have to change in the registry?

For clarification. The browsing problem exists only in the 98SE/ME systems (i.e. 98SE<-->ME; 98SE<-->98SE browsing).

How could permission /account settings in Win2K Pro affect inter-98SE system browsing? Does the Win2K system in one way or another dictate the browsing capabilities of the other systems on a workgroup (non client-server LAN)?

the systems aren't behind a router. They are all connected to a Nortel hub. A simple Workgroup LAN using TCP/IP with static IP addresses per PC.

Hope anyone has other ideas.

[Blankman]

One thing I did on a LAN I admin'd was make the 98 machines power users. Of course this also loosens up security but if you don't have to worry about that you should be good to go. Also once you get connectivity it tends to be real slow with 98 machines LAN'd with win2k. There is a registry tweak to speed it up but I can't remember what is was but you may be able to find it in a pcmech archive. Or someone here still may know it because this is where I originally picked it up two years ago. I hope this helps a bit.

[Confused]

Since they all have static IP addresses I believe you need a switch. A hub is OK for networking PC's to share files between PC's but you need a switch to properly rout IP addresses.

You have two options;

1) Get a single port router for to place in front of the hub and set the PC's up with DHCP.

2) Or a better solution is to get a 8 port router and get rid of the hub.
Chas