Home Networking Headache

Hi,

First timer so go easy ) Today I stepped (rather blindly) into the world
of home networking and I'm already about to give up!! I have 2 PC's, one
runs W98SE the other XP Pro. XP Pro PC has the main Broadband connection via
ADSL modem. Both PC's have a NIC each and are connected via crossover patch
lead. The XP Pro PC already had the Ethernet card installed and as far as I
know, and according to System hardware manager, is working fine. I purchased
a Linksys 10/100 Lan card today and fitted into the WIN98SE PC and again as
far as I know its working ok. The patch lead is working ok too. I ran the
network wizard on XP machine and it went ok and I successfully created the
network boot floppy at the end. I put this disk into the WIN98SE pc and
continued to setup that machine. That went fine too. Now the WIN98SE PC can
access the internet connection on the XP machine fine. The only problem is
that I want to be able to access files on the WIN98SE PC from the other pc
and vice versa. This is my headache!! I can't and I don't know why. I have
both PC's setup with unique names but the same workgroup. However, the XP
machine can't see any other PC's, not even itself on the network. The 98SE
pc can however see itself and the XP machine but can't connect to it! When I
try to "view workgroup computers" on the XP PC all I get is the message
"MSHOME is not accessible. You might not have the permission to use this
network resource." When I try to view the XP PC from the 98 pc I get is
"ROBINT is not accessible". So what am I doing wrong? Can anyone give me a
run thru of what and how each machine needs to be setup. I do have all
sharing of folders turned on on both machines (icons appear with the hand
beneath them). Any help appreciated sorry for long post.

Rob

I am a little confused by your description, is your ADSL modem an internal
card or is it external? How is it connected to the XP computer?

"Robin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi,
>
> First timer so go easy ) Today I stepped (rather blindly) into the world
> of home networking and I'm already about to give up!! I have 2 PC's, one
> runs W98SE the other XP Pro. XP Pro PC has the main Broadband connection via
> ADSL modem. Both PC's have a NIC each and are connected via crossover patch
> lead. The XP Pro PC already had the Ethernet card installed and as far as I
> know, and according to System hardware manager, is working fine. I purchased
> a Linksys 10/100 Lan card today and fitted into the WIN98SE PC and again as
> far as I know its working ok. The patch lead is working ok too. I ran the
> network wizard on XP machine and it went ok and I successfully created the
> network boot floppy at the end. I put this disk into the WIN98SE pc and
> continued to setup that machine. That went fine too. Now the WIN98SE PC can
> access the internet connection on the XP machine fine. The only problem is
> that I want to be able to access files on the WIN98SE PC from the other pc
> and vice versa. This is my headache!! I can't and I don't know why. I have
> both PC's setup with unique names but the same workgroup. However, the XP
> machine can't see any other PC's, not even itself on the network. The 98SE
> pc can however see itself and the XP machine but can't connect to it! When I
> try to "view workgroup computers" on the XP PC all I get is the message
> "MSHOME is not accessible. You might not have the permission to use this
> network resource." When I try to view the XP PC from the 98 pc I get is
> "ROBINT is not accessible". So what am I doing wrong? Can anyone give me a
> run thru of what and how each machine needs to be setup. I do have all
> sharing of folders turned on on both machines (icons appear with the hand
> beneath them). Any help appreciated sorry for long post.
>
> Rob
>
>

> I do have all
> sharing of folders turned on on both machines (icons appear with the hand
> beneath them). Any help appreciated sorry for long post.

Note - if you do not have a firewall installed you likely already are infected
by a virus - even if your shared folders require passwords. In today's world
a home network that shares files requires a firewall - I would suggest a $40
hardware router myself.

bottom-posted:
"Robin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi,
>
> First timer so go easy ) Today I stepped (rather blindly) into the world
> of home networking and I'm already about to give up!! I have 2 PC's, one
> runs W98SE the other XP Pro. XP Pro PC has the main Broadband connection
via
> ADSL modem. Both PC's have a NIC each and are connected via crossover
patch
> lead. The XP Pro PC already had the Ethernet card installed and as far as
I
> know, and according to System hardware manager, is working fine. I
purchased
> a Linksys 10/100 Lan card today and fitted into the WIN98SE PC and again
as
> far as I know its working ok. The patch lead is working ok too. I ran the
> network wizard on XP machine and it went ok and I successfully created the
> network boot floppy at the end. I put this disk into the WIN98SE pc and
> continued to setup that machine. That went fine too. Now the WIN98SE PC
can
> access the internet connection on the XP machine fine. The only problem is
> that I want to be able to access files on the WIN98SE PC from the other pc
> and vice versa. This is my headache!! I can't and I don't know why. I have
> both PC's setup with unique names but the same workgroup. However, the XP
> machine can't see any other PC's, not even itself on the network. The 98SE
> pc can however see itself and the XP machine but can't connect to it! When
I
> try to "view workgroup computers" on the XP PC all I get is the message
> "MSHOME is not accessible. You might not have the permission to use this
> network resource." When I try to view the XP PC from the 98 pc I get is
> "ROBINT is not accessible". So what am I doing wrong? Can anyone give me a
> run thru of what and how each machine needs to be setup. I do have all
> sharing of folders turned on on both machines (icons appear with the hand
> beneath them). Any help appreciated sorry for long post.
>
> Rob

Pay attention to Beam Guy!
Absolutely you need a firewall between your XP and the internet. A $40
router also serves to isolate you by preventing hackers from probing your
PCs. It will also simplify your set-up considerably.

Having said that. Elsewhere in this group are references to Carey
Holtzman's web page. Try googling for it. He has a lot of helpful stuff.
My only comment on his advice is that he advises installing several
protocols - you really only need TCP/IP but make sure Netbios over TCP is
enabled on both machines.

Hi Beamguy,

Its ok now, it was indeed the password that was the problem. I removed the
password from the XP machine and now it all works as it should.

Cheers guys

Rob


"BeamGuy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:efBIR$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > I do have all
> > sharing of folders turned on on both machines (icons appear with the
hand
> > beneath them). Any help appreciated sorry for long post.
>
> Note - if you do not have a firewall installed you likely already are
infected
> by a virus - even if your shared folders require passwords. In today's
world
> a home network that shares files requires a firewall - I would suggest a
$40
> hardware router myself.
>
>

Tell me your IP address and I will fix your computer for you...
I think if I delete a few files from the windows folder you should be all set!


"Robin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi Beamguy,
>
> Its ok now, it was indeed the password that was the problem. I removed the
> password from the XP machine and now it all works as it should.
>
> Cheers guys
>
> Rob
>
>
> "BeamGuy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:efBIR$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > I do have all
> > > sharing of folders turned on on both machines (icons appear with the
> hand
> > > beneath them). Any help appreciated sorry for long post.
> >
> > Note - if you do not have a firewall installed you likely already are
> infected
> > by a virus - even if your shared folders require passwords. In today's
> world
> > a home network that shares files requires a firewall - I would suggest a
> $40
> > hardware router myself.
> >
> >
>
>

"Moshup Trail" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:LOadnd_CO5QXcdXdRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
> bottom-posted:
> "Robin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> Pay attention to Beam Guy!
> Absolutely you need a firewall between your XP and the internet.

I have one thanks, NPF and its working fine. in fact too fine, XP can access
98 pc but i have to disable the firewall in order to allow 98 pc to access
files on XP machine. Any clues?

>A $40 router also serves to isolate you by preventing hackers from probing
your
> PCs. It will also simplify your set-up considerably.

maybe at a later date but this setup serves me fine for the time being.
>
> Having said that. Elsewhere in this group are references to Carey
> Holtzman's web page. Try googling for it. He has a lot of helpful stuff.
> My only comment on his advice is that he advises installing several
> protocols - you really only need TCP/IP but make sure Netbios over TCP is
> enabled on both machines.

have done that thanks

Rob

"BeamGuy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Tell me your IP address and I will fix your computer for you...
> I think if I delete a few files from the windows folder you should be all
set!


yeah ok its xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx. I think i'll pass on that one if its all the
same. ) and i have a Firewall installed anyway thanks

Rob