Problems with Networking W98(2nd edition) with WindowsXP Home

I am attempting to network a W98 Notebook with a WindowsXP Home PC using an
Ehternet adaptors and a crossover Ethernet cable (to be used just for file
backup purposes). Although the Ethernet cards seem to be functioning OK,
for some reason I am unable to set an IP address for the W98 notebook in the
TCP/IP setup. I am allowed to select the option to set the IP address but
no curser appears in the box. I at first thought that this may be due to
the fact that AOL was installed on the machine so I uninstalled it but this
had no effect on the problem.

I would be most grateful for any advice on how I can resolve this problem
since, as I understand it, I need to set fixed IP addresses on both machines
to enable networking via an Ethernet crossover cable.

Many thanks, Rob

In article <#(E-Mail Removed)>, "rob"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>I am attempting to network a W98 Notebook with a WindowsXP Home PC using an
>Ehternet adaptors and a crossover Ethernet cable (to be used just for file
>backup purposes). Although the Ethernet cards seem to be functioning OK,
>for some reason I am unable to set an IP address for the W98 notebook in the
>TCP/IP setup. I am allowed to select the option to set the IP address but
>no curser appears in the box. I at first thought that this may be due to
>the fact that AOL was installed on the machine so I uninstalled it but this
>had no effect on the problem.
>
>I would be most grateful for any advice on how I can resolve this problem
>since, as I understand it, I need to set fixed IP addresses on both machines
>to enable networking via an Ethernet crossover cable.
>
>Many thanks, Rob

Strangely enough, the problem might be with video and display
settings, not with networking settings.

Download and install the latest Windows 98 drivers for the computer's
video display adapter. If you've changed any of the Windows display
fonts, change back to the default fonts.

BTW, you don't need to set fixed IP addresses. W98 and WindowsXP can
network with each other when configured to obtain an IP address
automatically. They'll automatically assign themselves compatible
"automatic private" IP addresses in the 169.254.x.x. range.
--
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

Many thanks for your help - I will have a go and come back later in the
week.

Rob

"Steve Winograd [MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> In article <#(E-Mail Removed)>, "rob"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >I am attempting to network a W98 Notebook with a WindowsXP Home PC using
an
> >Ehternet adaptors and a crossover Ethernet cable (to be used just for
file
> >backup purposes). Although the Ethernet cards seem to be functioning OK,
> >for some reason I am unable to set an IP address for the W98 notebook in
the
> >TCP/IP setup. I am allowed to select the option to set the IP address
but
> >no curser appears in the box. I at first thought that this may be due to
> >the fact that AOL was installed on the machine so I uninstalled it but
this
> >had no effect on the problem.
> >
> >I would be most grateful for any advice on how I can resolve this problem
> >since, as I understand it, I need to set fixed IP addresses on both
machines
> >to enable networking via an Ethernet crossover cable.
> >
> >Many thanks, Rob
>
> Strangely enough, the problem might be with video and display
> settings, not with networking settings.
>
> Download and install the latest Windows 98 drivers for the computer's
> video display adapter. If you've changed any of the Windows display
> fonts, change back to the default fonts.
>
> BTW, you don't need to set fixed IP addresses. W98 and WindowsXP can
> network with each other when configured to obtain an IP address
> automatically. They'll automatically assign themselves compatible
> "automatic private" IP addresses in the 169.254.x.x. range.
> --
> 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

I was unable to solve the problem of setting the Notebook W98 IP address so
decided to take your advice and also set the XP machine IP address to auto.
I also reinstalled the PCMCIA Ethernet card and introduced the same network
log in name (as the XP name) on the W98 notebook and set up a new network
(excluding ICS) using the XP wizard on the XP machine.

The result is that the W98 notebook can ping, but not see the XP machine or
even the Workgroup or itself, and the XP machine can see the W98 notebook
but can neither ping it or see files on it (both machines have MyDocuments
set up for sharing).

I am now really confused ... any advice would be very much appreciated -
Rob


"rob" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Many thanks for your help - I will have a go and come back later in the
> week.
>
> Rob
>
> "Steve Winograd [MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > In article <#(E-Mail Removed)>, "rob"
> > <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> > >I am attempting to network a W98 Notebook with a WindowsXP Home PC
using
> an
> > >Ehternet adaptors and a crossover Ethernet cable (to be used just for
> file
> > >backup purposes). Although the Ethernet cards seem to be functioning
OK,
> > >for some reason I am unable to set an IP address for the W98 notebook
in
> the
> > >TCP/IP setup. I am allowed to select the option to set the IP address
> but
> > >no curser appears in the box. I at first thought that this may be due
to
> > >the fact that AOL was installed on the machine so I uninstalled it but
> this
> > >had no effect on the problem.
> > >
> > >I would be most grateful for any advice on how I can resolve this
problem
> > >since, as I understand it, I need to set fixed IP addresses on both
> machines
> > >to enable networking via an Ethernet crossover cable.
> > >
> > >Many thanks, Rob
> >
> > Strangely enough, the problem might be with video and display
> > settings, not with networking settings.
> >
> > Download and install the latest Windows 98 drivers for the computer's
> > video display adapter. If you've changed any of the Windows display
> > fonts, change back to the default fonts.
> >
> > BTW, you don't need to set fixed IP addresses. W98 and WindowsXP can
> > network with each other when configured to obtain an IP address
> > automatically. They'll automatically assign themselves compatible
> > "automatic private" IP addresses in the 169.254.x.x. range.
> > --
> > 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
>
>

I have now found the problem - even though I had exited the Ice firewall
throughout my attempts to network, when I uninstalled it the problem was
resolved!

Many thanks for all the assistance given - Rob

"rob" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I was unable to solve the problem of setting the Notebook W98 IP address
so
> decided to take your advice and also set the XP machine IP address to
auto.
> I also reinstalled the PCMCIA Ethernet card and introduced the same
network
> log in name (as the XP name) on the W98 notebook and set up a new network
> (excluding ICS) using the XP wizard on the XP machine.
>
> The result is that the W98 notebook can ping, but not see the XP machine
or
> even the Workgroup or itself, and the XP machine can see the W98 notebook
> but can neither ping it or see files on it (both machines have MyDocuments
> set up for sharing).
>
> I am now really confused ... any advice would be very much appreciated -
> Rob
>
>
> "rob" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Many thanks for your help - I will have a go and come back later in the
> > week.
> >
> > Rob
> >
> > "Steve Winograd [MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > In article <#(E-Mail Removed)>, "rob"
> > > <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> > > >I am attempting to network a W98 Notebook with a WindowsXP Home PC
> using
> > an
> > > >Ehternet adaptors and a crossover Ethernet cable (to be used just for
> > file
> > > >backup purposes). Although the Ethernet cards seem to be functioning
> OK,
> > > >for some reason I am unable to set an IP address for the W98 notebook
> in
> > the
> > > >TCP/IP setup. I am allowed to select the option to set the IP
address
> > but
> > > >no curser appears in the box. I at first thought that this may be
due
> to
> > > >the fact that AOL was installed on the machine so I uninstalled it
but
> > this
> > > >had no effect on the problem.
> > > >
> > > >I would be most grateful for any advice on how I can resolve this
> problem
> > > >since, as I understand it, I need to set fixed IP addresses on both
> > machines
> > > >to enable networking via an Ethernet crossover cable.
> > > >
> > > >Many thanks, Rob
> > >
> > > Strangely enough, the problem might be with video and display
> > > settings, not with networking settings.
> > >
> > > Download and install the latest Windows 98 drivers for the computer's
> > > video display adapter. If you've changed any of the Windows display
> > > fonts, change back to the default fonts.
> > >
> > > BTW, you don't need to set fixed IP addresses. W98 and WindowsXP can
> > > network with each other when configured to obtain an IP address
> > > automatically. They'll automatically assign themselves compatible
> > > "automatic private" IP addresses in the 169.254.x.x. range.
> > > --
> > > 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
> >
> >
>
>