strange networking problem with windows 98

  • Thread starter Thread starter doug mccausland
  • Start date Start date
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doug mccausland

I have 3 PCs hooked up to a hub, one is connecting to the internet via
modem, another is hooked into the hub, with internet connection sharing
activated. The third PC has the same setup as the second, except that I am
unable to get it logged onto the network. I can view the files and the
drives on that PC from the other PCs, but cannot acceess the internet or
even get prompted to login to the network. I've changed network cards,
formatted the drive, reinstalled, everything I can think of. Anyone ever
see this before?
 
Get a router and discard the hub and remove ICS.
Routers are so cheap these days, why fool around with ICS and hubs.
 
I can't being to tell you how right he is... ICS caused me some MAJOR
headaches, especially in the unexplained time-out department.

Do yourself a favor; avoid ICS at all costs.
 
I have 3 PCs hooked up to a hub, one is connecting to the internet via
modem, another is hooked into the hub, with internet connection sharing
activated. The third PC has the same setup as the second, except that I am
unable to get it logged onto the network. I can view the files and the
drives on that PC from the other PCs, but cannot acceess the internet or
even get prompted to login to the network. I've changed network cards,
formatted the drive, reinstalled, everything I can think of. Anyone ever
see this before?
Click to expand...

Check the third PC's TCP/IP configuration with Winipcfg. As an ICS
client, it should show:

IP Address: 192.168.0.x (1<x<255)
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1
DNS Server = 192.168.0.1 or your ISP's DNS server

Internet access doesn't require logging into the network, but
accessing files and drives on other PCs does. On the third PC, click
Start | Log Off, which should cause a login prompt to appear. Don't
cancel the login -- enter a user name and, optionally, a password, and
click OK. If that makes network browsing work properly, the most
likely fix is to go to this registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Network\Real Mode Net

and delete the value named "AutoLogon", as shown here:

http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/nologon.htm#AutoLogon

Please see these Microsoft Knowledge Base articles for more
information:

"Unable to Browse the Network" When You Click Network Neighborhood
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;260214

No Windows or Network Logon Dialog Box at Startup
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=KB;en-us;141858
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional - Windows Networking
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Steve Winograd's Networking FAQ
http://www.bcmaven.com/networking/faq.htm
 
Winograd is the expert, of course, but why fiddle with the registry and all
that stuff, when a $30 router will solve all the problems? You need to know
what you're doing there or else you will have some real problems.
I always feel that if a problem can be solved for $30, then you don't have
much of a problem.
 
Unfortunately, at least in my case getting a router does not solve the
problem. I am just about ready to give up on wireless.

My setup is also 3 PCs, 2 running XP Home and one running W98 SE. I do not
have broadband so all all dialup via modems. So I do not need internet
sharing. All my wireless hardware is 802.11b.
Setup is as follows:
1. XP PC with a PCI LAN card cabled to a DI-514 DLink router
2. XP PC laptop with built in wireless card
3. W 98SE PC with wireless PCI connector installed.
IP Address: 192.168.0.x (1<x<255)
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1
DNS Server = 192.168.0.1
Click to expand...

All the IP settings are correct as above and I have shared drives on all
three.

Weirdest thing of all, is the that the W98 SE PC (#3) has a Network
Neighborhood that is empty and shows none of the other PCs ("Cannot browse
network) -- BUT when I search on it (W98 SE, #3) for the XP PC (#1), it can
find it and what's more I can access #1's files.
YET, #1's Network Neighborhood which does show the W98 PC (#3) cannot open
it and says cannot find path!

It enough to pull your hair out - if I had any left. This #3/#1 LAN is the
one I need most to share printers and files.

--

Jeff McPherson
Email address deliberately false to avoid spam
(e-mail address removed)
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free by AVG
 
Weirdest thing of all, is the that the W98 SE PC (#3) has a Network
Neighborhood that is empty and shows none of the other PCs ("Cannot browse
network) -- BUT when I search on it (W98 SE, #3) for the XP PC (#1), it can
find it and what's more I can access #1's files.
YET, #1's Network Neighborhood which does show the W98 PC (#3) cannot open
it and says cannot find path!

It enough to pull your hair out - if I had any left. This #3/#1 LAN is the
one I need most to share printers and files.
Click to expand...

Jeff,

If you have a mixed network (Win 9x vs WinNT2KXP), you might want to
check the protocol used for file sharing. Win9x computers used to use
Netbeui, and WinNT2KXP use NBT (Netbios over TCP/IP). Try enabling
Netbeui on your WinXP computer. Netbeui is non-routable, so you would
probably need to enable NBT on your Win9x computers.

Also, remember to login to the Win9x computers with a userid /
password setup on the WinXP computer (don't hit Esc when starting
Win9x).

Cheers,

Chuck
I hate spam - PLEASE get rid of the spam before emailing me!
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
 
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