Windows XP Home and 98 _use to work!

Windows XP Home and 98 _use to work!
I put in a network at my brother's business a couple years ago using XP Home (HP pc) and Windows 98SE (Dell). It has run very well (thanks in large part, to this forum). The Windows 98SE computer had some problems so I brought it home and fixed it.

I had to reinstall Windows 98SE so I lost all my network settings.

I tried to set up the 98 Dell today, took Greensteads' list with me to make sure I didn't miss any settings and all looks well but the problem is - The XP machine sees the Dell but the Dell can't even browse the network. I need the Dell to connect to a database on the XP machine as it has in the past.

Here's the configuration:

Belkin Hub connecting two computers
2 ethernet cards -
Windows XP Home on the HP
Windows 98 SE on the Dell (newly installed)

Both have TCP/IP installed
Both have Netbios over TCP/IP enabled
Both are in the same workgroup
Both have unique computer names
MS Client and File printer sharing are checked on each
XP firewall is disabled
All other firewalls are disabled.

The HP pavillion works fine and there have been no changes to it.It sees everything it should on the Dell.

Here are some of my questions:

I have shared the entire C drive on the HP (since there is no internet issue) and I am frantic to get them working. I have also shared the entire C drive on the Dell full access to them. I'm hoping that's 'defining network shares' properly.

The Greenstead checklist says: All NICS have their node type - anything except peer to peer. When I do a winipcfg on the 98 Dell System it says PPP. When I select the network card the setting will always change back to the PPP setting. I do not know if this matters or not.

Here's what I got on the HP (the one that is working fine and can see the Dell) when I did an ipconfig:

Ethernet adapter local area connection.............

Connection specific DNS suffix:
Autoconfiguration IP address : 169.254.210.17
Subnet 255.255.0.0

Windows IP Configuration.........

Host Name Computer1
Primary DNS Suffix :
IP Routing Enabled: No
Wins Proxy Enabled : No
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection..............
Description: Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC
Physical Address: 00-EO etc.
DHBC enabled Yes
Autonconfiguration Enabled Yes
Autoconfiguration IP Address 169.254.318.17
Subnet 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway:

It has "obtain an ip address automatically' checked in settings and obtain dns server automatically checked. It has DHCP enabled.

I have assigned an IP address on the Dell (169.254.210.18 with the same subnet) trying to make it work and have since removed it. I don't understand where the HP's IP address came from. Could this be the hub?

On the goofed up Dell right now I have DHCP enabled. No Wins enabled.

Should I just give up and install Windows 2000 or would that be asking for more trouble?

The network was fine until I reinstalled Windows 98 SE.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am going back tomorrow and really don't know what else to try!

P.S. There's no windows login to the network anymore on the dell computer. I use to have to sign on and use a password.



Thanks.


__________________
hh

Greetings hmharris,

It isn't recommended that you share the entire C: drive. Just share the selected folders you wish to share. Sharing the root of the C: drive is too easy for someone to delete system files. However, in Windows XP Home it does have some restrictions on sharing folders. I suggest that you remove all third party firewalls while troubleshooting. Sometimes disabling doesn't always work. Here are some suggestions that you could try:

1) Open the command prompt and type "ipconfig/release" then type "ipconfig/renew". If you are using Windows 98, you can open winipcfg and click Release and Renew.

2) Download the latest drivers for the network card or reinstall it and see if it fixes the problem. You could try another network card if nothing else works.

3) Assign static ip address on the network. Define them in the 192.168.x.x range.

4) Node types are usually not the problem most of the time in networking. A Node Type Hybrid or Unknown is fine. A Peer to Peer Node Type can be a problem though. I think the PPP Node type is a adapter for your modem but I could be wrong.

Just got back and the problem was in the registry because of the reinstall of Windows 98. The issue is at this link on microsoft's website.

http://support.microsoft.com/default...14&product=w98

Also, I updated the adapter driver.

Thanks so much for everyone's help. It is wonderful to have it fixed again!

Helen