LAN (Netbeui) with 4 computers and 3 printer on W98SE: Adding XP PRO computer

Follow up to earlier item.
My file sharing works perfectly, but none of the printers (2 x HP and a QMS)
show on the XP.
My router (ADSL Vigor 2600) support people confirm that this is correct and
I quote:
".....Our meaning is that Win98 can
>> install network printer but it can't share this network printer with
>> winXP..."

This seems strange to say the least. I assume there must be many people have
printers shared between W98 and XP.

Comments would be welcomed.
Perhaps Carey would say whether including IPX/SPX along with Netbeui could
solve the problem. (he has advocated this before, but I haven't yet tried
it).
Alternatively, if I remove all the printers from the LAN and instal them
from XP, would the W98 computers see them OK.
I re-iterate, I find this situation hard to comprehend.
Thanks in anticipation.

In article <41efe931$0$13385$(E-Mail Removed)>, "ATK"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>Follow up to earlier item.
>My file sharing works perfectly, but none of the printers (2 x HP and a QMS)
>show on the XP.
>My router (ADSL Vigor 2600) support people confirm that this is correct and
>I quote:
>".....Our meaning is that Win98 can
>>> install network printer but it can't share this network printer with
>>> winXP..."
>
>This seems strange to say the least. I assume there must be many people have
>printers shared between W98 and XP.
>
>Comments would be welcomed.
>Perhaps Carey would say whether including IPX/SPX along with Netbeui could
>solve the problem. (he has advocated this before, but I haven't yet tried
>it).
>Alternatively, if I remove all the printers from the LAN and instal them
>from XP, would the W98 computers see them OK.
>I re-iterate, I find this situation hard to comprehend.
>Thanks in anticipation.

I don't understand what the router support people are telling you.
All versions of Windows can share files and printers with each other.

Using more than one network protocol is likely to cause problems, not
to solve problems, on a network. That's especially true when there
are computers running Windows XP.

Choose one protocol for file and printer sharing. Since Internet
access uses TCP/IP, that's the obvious choice. Remove IPX/SPX and
NetBEUI from all computers. An extra protocol on even one computer
can completely disrupt network browsing on all computers.
--
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

Steve Winograd [MVP] wrote:
> In article <41efe931$0$13385$(E-Mail Removed)>, "ATK"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> Follow up to earlier item.
>> My file sharing works perfectly, but none of the printers (2 x HP
>> and a QMS) show on the XP.
>> My router (ADSL Vigor 2600) support people confirm that this is
>> correct and I quote:
>> ".....Our meaning is that Win98 can
>>>> install network printer but it can't share this network printer
>>>> with winXP..."
>>
>> This seems strange to say the least. I assume there must be many
>> people have printers shared between W98 and XP.
>>
>> Comments would be welcomed.
>> Perhaps Carey would say whether including IPX/SPX along with Netbeui
>> could solve the problem. (he has advocated this before, but I
>> haven't yet tried it).
>> Alternatively, if I remove all the printers from the LAN and instal
>> them from XP, would the W98 computers see them OK.
>> I re-iterate, I find this situation hard to comprehend.
>> Thanks in anticipation.
> ***************
> I don't understand what the router support people are telling you.
> All versions of Windows can share files and printers with each other.
>
> Using more than one network protocol is likely to cause problems, not
> to solve problems, on a network. That's especially true when there
> are computers running Windows XP.
>
> Choose one protocol for file and printer sharing. Since Internet
> access uses TCP/IP, that's the obvious choice. Remove IPX/SPX and
> NetBEUI from all computers. An extra protocol on even one computer
> can completely disrupt network browsing on all computers.
*******************
Thanks Steve.
I don't want to file & printer share using TCP/IP because of security.
Netbeui is non-routable and I have used it successfully for some years
without problem.
I use TCP/IP so that all the computers can access the internet - no File and
printer sharing and there is no problem whatsoever, either in the W98 or the
W98 + XP situation.
I don't see that it's particularly complex to use Netbeui for the file and
printer sharing bit.
It's interesting to note you agree with my own logic - perhaps there is some
problem with the Vigor 2600, although this would surprise me as it has a
good reputation.
I hope others respond as I don't think my situation is all that unusual.

In article <41f10e00$0$15414$(E-Mail Removed)>, "ATK"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>> Follow up to earlier item.
>>> My file sharing works perfectly, but none of the printers (2 x HP
>>> and a QMS) show on the XP.
>>> My router (ADSL Vigor 2600) support people confirm that this is
>>> correct and I quote:
>>> ".....Our meaning is that Win98 can
>>>>> install network printer but it can't share this network printer
>>>>> with winXP..."
>>>
>>> This seems strange to say the least. I assume there must be many
>>> people have printers shared between W98 and XP.
>>>
>>> Comments would be welcomed.
>>> Perhaps Carey would say whether including IPX/SPX along with Netbeui
>>> could solve the problem. (he has advocated this before, but I
>>> haven't yet tried it).
>>> Alternatively, if I remove all the printers from the LAN and instal
>>> them from XP, would the W98 computers see them OK.
>>> I re-iterate, I find this situation hard to comprehend.
>>> Thanks in anticipation.
>>
>> I don't understand what the router support people are telling you.
>> All versions of Windows can share files and printers with each other.
>>
>> Using more than one network protocol is likely to cause problems, not
>> to solve problems, on a network. That's especially true when there
>> are computers running Windows XP.
>>
>> Choose one protocol for file and printer sharing. Since Internet
>> access uses TCP/IP, that's the obvious choice. Remove IPX/SPX and
>> NetBEUI from all computers. An extra protocol on even one computer
>> can completely disrupt network browsing on all computers.
>
>Thanks Steve.
>I don't want to file & printer share using TCP/IP because of security.
>Netbeui is non-routable and I have used it successfully for some years
>without problem.
>I use TCP/IP so that all the computers can access the internet - no File and
>printer sharing and there is no problem whatsoever, either in the W98 or the
>W98 + XP situation.
>I don't see that it's particularly complex to use Netbeui for the file and
>printer sharing bit.
>It's interesting to note you agree with my own logic - perhaps there is some
>problem with the Vigor 2600, although this would surprise me as it has a
>good reputation.
>I hope others respond as I don't think my situation is all that unusual.

You're welcome, ATK. It's OK to use NetBEUI for file and printer
sharing, but it's not necessary for security. Your Vigor 2600 ADSL
router acts as a firewall, preventing other Internet users from
accessing your computers, as described here:

http://www.draytek.co.uk/products/vigor2600.html

If you use NetBEUI for file and printer sharing, un-bind sharing from
TCP/IP, so that only one protocol is used. I've written a web page
with details:

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

"ATK" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:41efe931$0$13385$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Follow up to earlier item.
> My file sharing works perfectly, but none of the printers (2 x HP and a
QMS)
> show on the XP.
> My router (ADSL Vigor 2600) support people confirm that this is correct
and
> I quote:
> ".....Our meaning is that Win98 can
> >> install network printer but it can't share this network printer with
> >> winXP..."
>
> This seems strange to say the least. I assume there must be many people
have
> printers shared between W98 and XP.
>
> Comments would be welcomed.
> Perhaps Carey would say whether including IPX/SPX along with Netbeui could
> solve the problem. (he has advocated this before, but I haven't yet tried
> it).
> Alternatively, if I remove all the printers from the LAN and instal them
> from XP, would the W98 computers see them OK.
> I re-iterate, I find this situation hard to comprehend.
> Thanks in anticipation.
>
>

MS XP has no official support of NETBEUI protocol. And, XPs firewall has no
protection for netbios attacks. I associate the two as the reason for the
former.

Hi Steve. Sorry for time gap but I have been away.
I have read your stuff and it's in accord with everything I know and have
done in the past.
Before I abandon Netbeui, one thing occurs to me.
I allocated the addresses to my printers myself, i.e. I didn't leave it to
the Vigor router to do so.
The HP printers were done from the printer itself plus the HP software: the
QMS was done from the printer. BUT, this never gave any problems while all
the computers were on W98SE.
Perhaps it is time to go down the TCP/IP route, but I remain unhappy that
the change to XP should not work for the combination of printers and
netbeui, even although the Vigor people confirm that this is so.
If I hear nothing else on this item I will go to TCP/IP.
Many thanks to all who replied.


Steve Winograd [MVP] wrote:
> In article <41f10e00$0$15414$(E-Mail Removed)>, "ATK"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>>> Follow up to earlier item.
>>>> My file sharing works perfectly, but none of the printers (2 x HP
>>>> and a QMS) show on the XP.
>>>> My router (ADSL Vigor 2600) support people confirm that this is
>>>> correct and I quote:
>>>> ".....Our meaning is that Win98 can
>>>>>> install network printer but it can't share this network printer
>>>>>> with winXP..."
>>>>
>>>> This seems strange to say the least. I assume there must be many
>>>> people have printers shared between W98 and XP.
>>>>
>>>> Comments would be welcomed.
>>>> Perhaps Carey would say whether including IPX/SPX along with
>>>> Netbeui could solve the problem. (he has advocated this before,
>>>> but I haven't yet tried it).
>>>> Alternatively, if I remove all the printers from the LAN and instal
>>>> them from XP, would the W98 computers see them OK.
>>>> I re-iterate, I find this situation hard to comprehend.
>>>> Thanks in anticipation.
>>>
>>> I don't understand what the router support people are telling you.
>>> All versions of Windows can share files and printers with each
>>> other.
>>>
>>> Using more than one network protocol is likely to cause problems,
>>> not to solve problems, on a network. That's especially true when
>>> there are computers running Windows XP.
>>>
>>> Choose one protocol for file and printer sharing. Since Internet
>>> access uses TCP/IP, that's the obvious choice. Remove IPX/SPX and
>>> NetBEUI from all computers. An extra protocol on even one computer
>>> can completely disrupt network browsing on all computers.
>>
>> Thanks Steve.
>> I don't want to file & printer share using TCP/IP because of
>> security. Netbeui is non-routable and I have used it successfully
>> for some years without problem.
>> I use TCP/IP so that all the computers can access the internet - no
>> File and printer sharing and there is no problem whatsoever, either
>> in the W98 or the W98 + XP situation.
>> I don't see that it's particularly complex to use Netbeui for the
>> file and printer sharing bit.
>> It's interesting to note you agree with my own logic - perhaps there
>> is some problem with the Vigor 2600, although this would surprise me
>> as it has a good reputation.
>> I hope others respond as I don't think my situation is all that
>> unusual.
>
> You're welcome, ATK. It's OK to use NetBEUI for file and printer
> sharing, but it's not necessary for security. Your Vigor 2600 ADSL
> router acts as a firewall, preventing other Internet users from
> accessing your computers, as described here:
>
> http://www.draytek.co.uk/products/vigor2600.html
>
> If you use NetBEUI for file and printer sharing, un-bind sharing from
> TCP/IP, so that only one protocol is used. I've written a web page
> with details:
>
> Windows XP Network Protocols
> http://www.practicallynetworked.com/..._protocols.htm