one win 98 PC is talking, the others aren't!

Hiya,

Got a daft problem really - I have a win xp machine connected directly to
the net, and off that Ive got a win 98 2nd edition that shares the net
connection swimmingly. Ive got two other PCs, both running win98 2nd edition
that i want to network. The computers appear in Network Neighborhood on the
win98 machine (the one thats shares the net connection) but you cannot
access them for love nor money. They all have the same protocols running.
and they all belong to the same workgroup. The only difference is that the
computers that aren't working use ISA cards, but surely that shouldn't make
any difference?? Its all ethernet isnt it.

If anyone could shed any light, I would be beyond grateful!

Thanx, Jonathan

Do they both have File and Print Sharing enabled? Are they sharing any
folders?

> Got a daft problem really - I have a win xp machine connected directly to
> the net, and off that Ive got a win 98 2nd edition that shares the net
> connection swimmingly. Ive got two other PCs, both running win98 2nd
edition
> that i want to network. The computers appear in Network Neighborhood on
the
> win98 machine (the one thats shares the net connection) but you cannot
> access them for love nor money. They all have the same protocols running.
> and they all belong to the same workgroup. The only difference is that the
> computers that aren't working use ISA cards, but surely that shouldn't
make
> any difference?? Its all ethernet isnt it.
>
> If anyone could shed any light, I would be beyond grateful!
>
> Thanx, Jonathan
>
>

Yeah they're all sharing at least one folder and all have file sharing
enabled. Its a total mystery.

> Do they both have File and Print Sharing enabled? Are they sharing any
> folders?
>
> > Got a daft problem really - I have a win xp machine connected directly
to
> > the net, and off that Ive got a win 98 2nd edition that shares the net
> > connection swimmingly. Ive got two other PCs, both running win98 2nd
> edition
> > that i want to network. The computers appear in Network Neighborhood on
> the
> > win98 machine (the one thats shares the net connection) but you cannot
> > access them for love nor money. They all have the same protocols
running.
> > and they all belong to the same workgroup. The only difference is that
the
> > computers that aren't working use ISA cards, but surely that shouldn't
> make
> > any difference?? Its all ethernet isnt it.
> >
> > If anyone could shed any light, I would be beyond grateful!
> >
> > Thanx, Jonathan
> >
> >
>
>

In article <bdvevc$ano$(E-Mail Removed)>, "J. Shilton"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>Hiya,
>
>Got a daft problem really - I have a win xp machine connected directly to
>the net, and off that Ive got a win 98 2nd edition that shares the net
>connection swimmingly. Ive got two other PCs, both running win98 2nd edition
>that i want to network. The computers appear in Network Neighborhood on the
>win98 machine (the one thats shares the net connection) but you cannot
>access them for love nor money. They all have the same protocols running.
>and they all belong to the same workgroup. The only difference is that the
>computers that aren't working use ISA cards, but surely that shouldn't make
>any difference?? Its all ethernet isnt it.
>
>If anyone could shed any light, I would be beyond grateful!
>
>Thanx, Jonathan

You say that "They all have the same protocols running." Using more
than one protocol for File and Printer Sharing can make a Windows
network unreliable, especially when XP is involved. TCP/IP, by
itself, is sufficient (and safe) for sharing on a LAN that has an ICS
host. If you need other protocol(s), choose one protocol for sharing,
and un-bind sharing from the other(s). I've written a web page with
details:

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

If that doesn't solve the problem, please reply to this message in the
news group (not by E-mail) with more information to help other people
understand the problem. For example:

How are the win 98 machines connected to each other? Do they all
connect to a common hub? Switch? Something else?

How are you trying to access the other win98 machines from the one
that shares the net connection -- what are you clicking? What exactly
happens when you do it? If there's an error message, what does it
say?
--
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