2 computer network

I'm sure this seems so basic to many of you, however I have tried to
read up on it but I just don't grasp it. I was hoping for some
clarification in a non technical manner.
I have two computers; a Desktop running Win 98 SE and a Laptop running
Win Me. I have a cable connection coming in to the cable modem which
is connected to a hub which in turn provides the Internet connection
via RJ45 Cat 5e wires to both computers. Both computers can be on the
Internet at the same time. I have a printer connected to my Desktop.
I would like to be able to print from the Laptop and/or to communicate
between computers. I have assigned a name to each computer and also to
the network yet the computers don't recognize each other. From my
perspective Troubleshooting guides appear to be written more for the
advanced user (for example, I don't understand if I should be
concerned with ICS ! ). I should add, I may have complicated things by
trying to rename the Laptop because the network couldn't find it.
I would be grateful for any assistance in resolving this.
Thank you .

www.careyholzman.com/netfixes.htm

Carey

"Dapper Dan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm sure this seems so basic to many of you, however I have tried to
> read up on it but I just don't grasp it. I was hoping for some
> clarification in a non technical manner.
> I have two computers; a Desktop running Win 98 SE and a Laptop running
> Win Me. I have a cable connection coming in to the cable modem which
> is connected to a hub which in turn provides the Internet connection
> via RJ45 Cat 5e wires to both computers. Both computers can be on the
> Internet at the same time. I have a printer connected to my Desktop.
> I would like to be able to print from the Laptop and/or to communicate
> between computers. I have assigned a name to each computer and also to
> the network yet the computers don't recognize each other. From my
> perspective Troubleshooting guides appear to be written more for the
> advanced user (for example, I don't understand if I should be
> concerned with ICS ! ). I should add, I may have complicated things by
> trying to rename the Laptop because the network couldn't find it.
> I would be grateful for any assistance in resolving this.
> Thank you .
>
>

In article <#(E-Mail Removed)>, "Dapper Dan"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>I'm sure this seems so basic to many of you, however I have tried to
>read up on it but I just don't grasp it. I was hoping for some
>clarification in a non technical manner.
>I have two computers; a Desktop running Win 98 SE and a Laptop running
>Win Me. I have a cable connection coming in to the cable modem which
>is connected to a hub which in turn provides the Internet connection
>via RJ45 Cat 5e wires to both computers. Both computers can be on the
>Internet at the same time. I have a printer connected to my Desktop.
>I would like to be able to print from the Laptop and/or to communicate
>between computers. I have assigned a name to each computer and also to
>the network yet the computers don't recognize each other. From my
>perspective Troubleshooting guides appear to be written more for the
>advanced user (for example, I don't understand if I should be
>concerned with ICS ! ). I should add, I may have complicated things by
>trying to rename the Laptop because the network couldn't find it.
>I would be grateful for any assistance in resolving this.
>Thank you .

This answer applies to computers that connect to a cable modem or DSL
modem through a hub or switch. It doesn't apply if they connect
through a broadband router.

Your computers receive IP addresses from your cable ISP, and they can
only communicate with each other via the TCP/IP protocol if your ISP
assigns them IP addresses that are in the same subnet.

Most cable ISP's assign IP addresses using DHCP, which means that a
computer's IP address can change at any time. Most cable ISP's won't
guarantee that they'll always assign IP addresses in the same subnet.

If your computers receive public IP addresses from your cable ISP,
it's possible that other Internet users can connect to your computers,
access your files, install spyware programs, etc.

The solution is to install the IPX/SPX protocol for file sharing and
to un-bind sharing from TCP/IP. I've written a web page with details:

Windows XP Network Protocols
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/..._protocols.htm

Here are two alternatives that I think are better. Both have the
following advantages over your current setup:

A. You'd only need to get one IP address from your cable modem
provider, which would save you money if your ISP charges a monthly fee
for more than one IP address.

B. Your computers would receive private IP addresses for their local
area network connections. Private IP addresses aren't accessible by
other Internet users, so your network would be safe.

C. You could use TCP/IP as the only network protocol, with no need for
IPX/SPX.

Alternative 1. Replace the hub with a broadband router, connect the
cable modem to its WAN port, and connect the computers to its LAN
ports. In that case:

Alternative 2. Put two network cards (cable modem, local area network)
in one of the computers and run Internet Connection Sharing to share
the cable modem with the other computer.
--
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

Thank you Carey. Problem solved via your first tip. It may have been
the Me patch (??), although I think one of the two computers had a
different protocol for File & print sharing (I think).
Just a couple of comments.
Under step 19 for my Win 98SE there is no NET CRAWL, thus I did
not perform step 20. Also there is no "SHARES" folder under the
Printer folder. Thus should I go ahead and delete everything
in the PRINTER folder (there are duplicates of old printer
and current printer as well as Acrobat PDF writer and
QuickLink111) ?

Under step 21 for my Win Me there is a Default in the right pane
for SHARES. However there is a + sign
next to SHARES and if clicked, it shows in the right pane
"desktop/c" (which is the name of the computer). Should this be
deleted ?

I appreciate your assistance in resolving these minor issues. I note
below that Steve also responded and he has scared the crap out of me
re: security which I will address with him separately, however if you
have anything to add on this subject, I would be grateful.
Thanks again.
Dan



"Carey Holzman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> www.careyholzman.com/netfixes.htm
>
> Carey
>
> "Dapper Dan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> > I'm sure this seems so basic to many of you, however I have tried
to
> > read up on it but I just don't grasp it. I was hoping for some
> > clarification in a non technical manner.
> > I have two computers; a Desktop running Win 98 SE and a Laptop
running
> > Win Me. I have a cable connection coming in to the cable modem
which
> > is connected to a hub which in turn provides the Internet
connection
> > via RJ45 Cat 5e wires to both computers. Both computers can be on
the
> > Internet at the same time. I have a printer connected to my
Desktop.
> > I would like to be able to print from the Laptop and/or to
communicate
> > between computers. I have assigned a name to each computer and
also to
> > the network yet the computers don't recognize each other. From my
> > perspective Troubleshooting guides appear to be written more for
the
> > advanced user (for example, I don't understand if I should be
> > concerned with ICS ! ). I should add, I may have complicated
things by
> > trying to rename the Laptop because the network couldn't find it.
> > I would be grateful for any assistance in resolving this.
> > Thank you .
> >
> >
>
>

Steve, thanks for your input. I was able to resolve the recognition
issue with a patch for Me based on Carey's Tips (see above).
I just spent over $150 to organize myself with a PCMCI card, a Hub and
the special cable. I am not prepared at this point in time to simply
dump it and change to a router.

I must confess that you have got my attention with respect to
security. Both "Client for Microsoft Networks" and also "File and
Printer Sharing" are checked under the IPX/SPX protocol. Moreover,
both computers have ZoneAlarm firewalls.

My ISP allows up to 3 IP addresses, and yes, it uses DHCP. Am I more
at risk than the average user, and if so, is there anything I can do
to configure ZoneAlarm ? Or is this a question for the Security NG ?
Thanks again.
Dan
"Steve Winograd [MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> In article <#(E-Mail Removed)>, "Dapper Dan"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >I'm sure this seems so basic to many of you, however I have tried
to
> >read up on it but I just don't grasp it. I was hoping for some
> >clarification in a non technical manner.
> >I have two computers; a Desktop running Win 98 SE and a Laptop
running
> >Win Me. I have a cable connection coming in to the cable modem
which
> >is connected to a hub which in turn provides the Internet
connection
> >via RJ45 Cat 5e wires to both computers. Both computers can be on
the
> >Internet at the same time. I have a printer connected to my
Desktop.
> >I would like to be able to print from the Laptop and/or to
communicate
> >between computers. I have assigned a name to each computer and also
to
> >the network yet the computers don't recognize each other. From my
> >perspective Troubleshooting guides appear to be written more for
the
> >advanced user (for example, I don't understand if I should be
> >concerned with ICS ! ). I should add, I may have complicated things
by
> >trying to rename the Laptop because the network couldn't find it.
> >I would be grateful for any assistance in resolving this.
> >Thank you .
>
> This answer applies to computers that connect to a cable modem or
DSL
> modem through a hub or switch. It doesn't apply if they connect
> through a broadband router.
>
> Your computers receive IP addresses from your cable ISP, and they
can
> only communicate with each other via the TCP/IP protocol if your ISP
> assigns them IP addresses that are in the same subnet.
>
> Most cable ISP's assign IP addresses using DHCP, which means that a
> computer's IP address can change at any time. Most cable ISP's
won't
> guarantee that they'll always assign IP addresses in the same
subnet.
>
> If your computers receive public IP addresses from your cable ISP,
> it's possible that other Internet users can connect to your
computers,
> access your files, install spyware programs, etc.
>
> The solution is to install the IPX/SPX protocol for file sharing and
> to un-bind sharing from TCP/IP. I've written a web page with
details:
>
> Windows XP Network Protocols
> http://www.practicallynetworked.com/..._protocols.htm
>
> Here are two alternatives that I think are better. Both have the
> following advantages over your current setup:
>
> A. You'd only need to get one IP address from your cable modem
> provider, which would save you money if your ISP charges a monthly
fee
> for more than one IP address.
>
> B. Your computers would receive private IP addresses for their local
> area network connections. Private IP addresses aren't accessible by
> other Internet users, so your network would be safe.
>
> C. You could use TCP/IP as the only network protocol, with no need
for
> IPX/SPX.
>
> Alternative 1. Replace the hub with a broadband router, connect the
> cable modem to its WAN port, and connect the computers to its LAN
> ports. In that case:
>
> Alternative 2. Put two network cards (cable modem, local area
network)
> in one of the computers and run Internet Connection Sharing to share

> the cable modem with the other computer.
> --
> 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

In article <#(E-Mail Removed)>, "Dapper Dan"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>Steve, thanks for your input. I was able to resolve the recognition
>issue with a patch for Me based on Carey's Tips (see above).
>I just spent over $150 to organize myself with a PCMCI card, a Hub and
>the special cable. I am not prepared at this point in time to simply
>dump it and change to a router.
>
>I must confess that you have got my attention with respect to
>security. Both "Client for Microsoft Networks" and also "File and
>Printer Sharing" are checked under the IPX/SPX protocol. Moreover,
>both computers have ZoneAlarm firewalls.
>
>My ISP allows up to 3 IP addresses, and yes, it uses DHCP. Am I more
>at risk than the average user, and if so, is there anything I can do
>to configure ZoneAlarm ? Or is this a question for the Security NG ?
>Thanks again.
>Dan

You're welcome, Dan.

With your setup -- computers connected directly to cable modem, not
through a router -- you DO want file and printer sharing to use
IPX/SPX. You DON'T want it to use TCP/IP, which might expose your
network to other Internet users. On each computer, go to the
TCP/IP->NIC's Properties | Bindings and un-check all of the boxes.
ZoneAlarm adds a second level of protection.
--
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