Win 98 computer "sees" xp home/pro but not visa versa ~ not consis

I have four computers networked for iinternet sharing on a Linksys router.
All can access the Internet independently (that's a great thing!). The
Notebook (Xp Pro) can "see" the XP Home and the XP Pro Towers in it's
workgroup. The XP Home tower can see the Notebook only. The Xp Pro Tower can
see the Notebook. The Win 98 can see the Notebook and the Xp Pro Tower. I
don't understand why all the xp's don't see each other or seem to see each
other intermittently. Sometimes I think it depends upon which computers are
turned on first. I also don't know why none see the Win 98 SE. I know
recently I printed something off the Win 98 printer from the Notebook, so it
must have been networked the (last weekend) but it's not now. I've determined
that the IP address on the WIN 98 is 192.168.1.108. I don't know what to do
with that info, however. I read some posts from Steve Winograd and have tried
the following on the WIN 98 computer ... disabled "Browse Master", deleted
IPX/SPX and NetBEUI protocols LInksys support had suggested adding, but had
to add back ipx/spx because deleting it made the Internet connectivity stop.
Current network configuration includes: Client for Microsoft Networks,
Microsoft Family Login, Dial-up Adapter, Linksys Wireless adapter, Toshiba
USB cable modem (not sure what that is), IPX/SPX for dialup Linksys and
Toshiba, TCP/IP for dialup Linksys and Toshiba, File and Printer Sharing for
Microsoft Networks. Thank in advance ...

--
Life is good!

In article <4F107086-2D42-49FE-AC6A-(E-Mail Removed)>,
"Kristi B" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>I have four computers networked for iinternet sharing on a Linksys router.
>All can access the Internet independently (that's a great thing!). The
>Notebook (Xp Pro) can "see" the XP Home and the XP Pro Towers in it's
>workgroup. The XP Home tower can see the Notebook only. The Xp Pro Tower can
>see the Notebook. The Win 98 can see the Notebook and the Xp Pro Tower. I
>don't understand why all the xp's don't see each other or seem to see each
>other intermittently. Sometimes I think it depends upon which computers are
>turned on first. I also don't know why none see the Win 98 SE. I know
>recently I printed something off the Win 98 printer from the Notebook, so it
>must have been networked the (last weekend) but it's not now. I've determined
>that the IP address on the WIN 98 is 192.168.1.108. I don't know what to do
>with that info, however. I read some posts from Steve Winograd and have tried
>the following on the WIN 98 computer ... disabled "Browse Master", deleted
>IPX/SPX and NetBEUI protocols LInksys support had suggested adding, but had
>to add back ipx/spx because deleting it made the Internet connectivity stop.
>Current network configuration includes: Client for Microsoft Networks,
>Microsoft Family Login, Dial-up Adapter, Linksys Wireless adapter, Toshiba
>USB cable modem (not sure what that is), IPX/SPX for dialup Linksys and
>Toshiba, TCP/IP for dialup Linksys and Toshiba, File and Printer Sharing for
>Microsoft Networks. Thank in advance ...

I'm sorry that you're having such trouble, Kristi, and I'll do my best
to help you fix it.

The "Toshiba USB cable modem" is probably there because the computer
used to connect directly to a cable modem instead of using a wireless
network connection. If the computer isn't physically connected to a
cable modem through a USB cable, you can remove the "Toshiba USB cable
modem".

Internet connectivity uses the TCP/IP protocol, and the IPX/SPX
protocol has nothing to do with it. Something other than removing
IPX/SPX caused Internet connectivity to stop.

Linksys is well-known for giving the bad advice to add other
protocols. That might help, at least temporarily, in a few cases, but
I don't recommend it, because:

1. It can make network access unreliable, especially when Windows XP
is involved.

2. TCP/IP is the only protocol needed for Internet access and
file/printer sharing on a Windows network. If network access only
works after adding other protocols, the fundamental problem remains,
and it's simply covered over with a bandage of extra protocols. The
network will never function optimally in such a configuration.

How are you determining whether a computer can "see" another computer?
Are you looking in Network Neighborhood and/or My Network Places?
That type of network browsing is notoriously unreliable, especially
when Windows XP is involved. If that's what you're doing, try
accessing another computer directly, by typing the other computer's
name in the Start | Run box in this format:

\\computer

It might help to start over on the Win 98 computer's network settings,
by removing everything except the Dial-Up Adapter and Linksys Wireless
Adapter, then adding the TCP/IP protocol, Client for Microsoft
Networks, and File and Printer Sharing. Those are the only required
network components.
--
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

Sorry it's taken so long to get back on this. I tried to write back on 1/26
and the system was unavailable. Long story; short version. I've got things
working. I uninstalled all the services (TCP/IP, etc.) and reinstalled those
you said I needed. It still didn't work.

I ended up determining that it was the stupid Norton Internet Security [I
hate that they try to "protect" me and cause me so much extra headaches].
Once I made an exception in the firewall to allow incoming and outgoing
TCP/IP connections (and identified the computers to allow through), it is now
working.

So those of you with Norton Internet Security, be advised that it might be
blocking your network. Try disabling the firewall temporarily and see if you
can connect to your other computers. If so, you'll need to create exceptions
to allow the computers to reach one another.
--
Life is good!


"Steve Winograd [MVP]" wrote:

> In article <4F107086-2D42-49FE-AC6A-(E-Mail Removed)>,
> "Kristi B" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >I have four computers networked for iinternet sharing on a Linksys router.
> >All can access the Internet independently (that's a great thing!). The
> >Notebook (Xp Pro) can "see" the XP Home and the XP Pro Towers in it's
> >workgroup. The XP Home tower can see the Notebook only. The Xp Pro Tower can
> >see the Notebook. The Win 98 can see the Notebook and the Xp Pro Tower. I
> >don't understand why all the xp's don't see each other or seem to see each
> >other intermittently. Sometimes I think it depends upon which computers are
> >turned on first. I also don't know why none see the Win 98 SE. I know
> >recently I printed something off the Win 98 printer from the Notebook, so it
> >must have been networked the (last weekend) but it's not now. I've determined
> >that the IP address on the WIN 98 is 192.168.1.108. I don't know what to do
> >with that info, however. I read some posts from Steve Winograd and have tried
> >the following on the WIN 98 computer ... disabled "Browse Master", deleted
> >IPX/SPX and NetBEUI protocols LInksys support had suggested adding, but had
> >to add back ipx/spx because deleting it made the Internet connectivity stop.
> >Current network configuration includes: Client for Microsoft Networks,
> >Microsoft Family Login, Dial-up Adapter, Linksys Wireless adapter, Toshiba
> >USB cable modem (not sure what that is), IPX/SPX for dialup Linksys and
> >Toshiba, TCP/IP for dialup Linksys and Toshiba, File and Printer Sharing for
> >Microsoft Networks. Thank in advance ...
>
> I'm sorry that you're having such trouble, Kristi, and I'll do my best
> to help you fix it.
>
> The "Toshiba USB cable modem" is probably there because the computer
> used to connect directly to a cable modem instead of using a wireless
> network connection. If the computer isn't physically connected to a
> cable modem through a USB cable, you can remove the "Toshiba USB cable
> modem".
>
> Internet connectivity uses the TCP/IP protocol, and the IPX/SPX
> protocol has nothing to do with it. Something other than removing
> IPX/SPX caused Internet connectivity to stop.
>
> Linksys is well-known for giving the bad advice to add other
> protocols. That might help, at least temporarily, in a few cases, but
> I don't recommend it, because:
>
> 1. It can make network access unreliable, especially when Windows XP
> is involved.
>
> 2. TCP/IP is the only protocol needed for Internet access and
> file/printer sharing on a Windows network. If network access only
> works after adding other protocols, the fundamental problem remains,
> and it's simply covered over with a bandage of extra protocols. The
> network will never function optimally in such a configuration.
>
> How are you determining whether a computer can "see" another computer?
> Are you looking in Network Neighborhood and/or My Network Places?
> That type of network browsing is notoriously unreliable, especially
> when Windows XP is involved. If that's what you're doing, try
> accessing another computer directly, by typing the other computer's
> name in the Start | Run box in this format:
>
> \\computer
>
> It might help to start over on the Win 98 computer's network settings,
> by removing everything except the Dial-Up Adapter and Linksys Wireless
> Adapter, then adding the TCP/IP protocol, Client for Microsoft
> Networks, and File and Printer Sharing. Those are the only required
> network components.
> --
> 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 <8A955D5F-1AFF-49B7-8065-(E-Mail Removed)>,
"Kristi B" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> >I have four computers networked for iinternet sharing on a Linksys router.
>> >All can access the Internet independently (that's a great thing!). The
>> >Notebook (Xp Pro) can "see" the XP Home and the XP Pro Towers in it's
>> >workgroup. The XP Home tower can see the Notebook only. The Xp Pro Tower can
>> >see the Notebook. The Win 98 can see the Notebook and the Xp Pro Tower. I
>> >don't understand why all the xp's don't see each other or seem to see each
>> >other intermittently. Sometimes I think it depends upon which computers are
>> >turned on first. I also don't know why none see the Win 98 SE. I know
>> >recently I printed something off the Win 98 printer from the Notebook, so it
>> >must have been networked the (last weekend) but it's not now. I've determined
>> >that the IP address on the WIN 98 is 192.168.1.108. I don't know what to do
>> >with that info, however. I read some posts from Steve Winograd and have tried
>> >the following on the WIN 98 computer ... disabled "Browse Master", deleted
>> >IPX/SPX and NetBEUI protocols LInksys support had suggested adding, but had
>> >to add back ipx/spx because deleting it made the Internet connectivity stop.
>> >Current network configuration includes: Client for Microsoft Networks,
>> >Microsoft Family Login, Dial-up Adapter, Linksys Wireless adapter, Toshiba
>> >USB cable modem (not sure what that is), IPX/SPX for dialup Linksys and
>> >Toshiba, TCP/IP for dialup Linksys and Toshiba, File and Printer Sharing for
>> >Microsoft Networks. Thank in advance ...
>>
>> I'm sorry that you're having such trouble, Kristi, and I'll do my best
>> to help you fix it.
>>
>> The "Toshiba USB cable modem" is probably there because the computer
>> used to connect directly to a cable modem instead of using a wireless
>> network connection. If the computer isn't physically connected to a
>> cable modem through a USB cable, you can remove the "Toshiba USB cable
>> modem".
>>
>> Internet connectivity uses the TCP/IP protocol, and the IPX/SPX
>> protocol has nothing to do with it. Something other than removing
>> IPX/SPX caused Internet connectivity to stop.
>>
>> Linksys is well-known for giving the bad advice to add other
>> protocols. That might help, at least temporarily, in a few cases, but
>> I don't recommend it, because:
>>
>> 1. It can make network access unreliable, especially when Windows XP
>> is involved.
>>
>> 2. TCP/IP is the only protocol needed for Internet access and
>> file/printer sharing on a Windows network. If network access only
>> works after adding other protocols, the fundamental problem remains,
>> and it's simply covered over with a bandage of extra protocols. The
>> network will never function optimally in such a configuration.
>>
>> How are you determining whether a computer can "see" another computer?
>> Are you looking in Network Neighborhood and/or My Network Places?
>> That type of network browsing is notoriously unreliable, especially
>> when Windows XP is involved. If that's what you're doing, try
>> accessing another computer directly, by typing the other computer's
>> name in the Start | Run box in this format:
>>
>> \\computer
>>
>> It might help to start over on the Win 98 computer's network settings,
>> by removing everything except the Dial-Up Adapter and Linksys Wireless
>> Adapter, then adding the TCP/IP protocol, Client for Microsoft
>> Networks, and File and Printer Sharing. Those are the only required
>> network components.
>
>Sorry it's taken so long to get back on this. I tried to write back on 1/26
>and the system was unavailable. Long story; short version. I've got things
>working. I uninstalled all the services (TCP/IP, etc.) and reinstalled those
>you said I needed. It still didn't work.
>
>I ended up determining that it was the stupid Norton Internet Security [I
>hate that they try to "protect" me and cause me so much extra headaches].
>Once I made an exception in the firewall to allow incoming and outgoing
>TCP/IP connections (and identified the computers to allow through), it is now
>working.
>
>So those of you with Norton Internet Security, be advised that it might be
>blocking your network. Try disabling the firewall temporarily and see if you
>can connect to your other computers. If so, you'll need to create exceptions
>to allow the computers to reach one another.

Nice going! You didn't mention a firewall, and I didn't think of
asking whether there was one. Thanks for reporting the solution.
--
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

Kristi, I just want to thank you for this useful post. You have saved me a
lot of extra headaches apart from the many ones I had till now.

I never thought the problem would be the firewall even though I had some
other problems before which had to do with the firewall.

Thank you again.

"Kristi B" wrote:

> Sorry it's taken so long to get back on this. I tried to write back on 1/26
> and the system was unavailable. Long story; short version. I've got things
> working. I uninstalled all the services (TCP/IP, etc.) and reinstalled those
> you said I needed. It still didn't work.
>
> I ended up determining that it was the stupid Norton Internet Security [I
> hate that they try to "protect" me and cause me so much extra headaches].
> Once I made an exception in the firewall to allow incoming and outgoing
> TCP/IP connections (and identified the computers to allow through), it is now
> working.
>
> So those of you with Norton Internet Security, be advised that it might be
> blocking your network. Try disabling the firewall temporarily and see if you
> can connect to your other computers. If so, you'll need to create exceptions
> to allow the computers to reach one another.
> --
> Life is good!
>
>
> "Steve Winograd [MVP]" wrote:
>
> > In article <4F107086-2D42-49FE-AC6A-(E-Mail Removed)>,
> > "Kristi B" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> > >I have four computers networked for iinternet sharing on a Linksys router.
> > >All can access the Internet independently (that's a great thing!). The
> > >Notebook (Xp Pro) can "see" the XP Home and the XP Pro Towers in it's
> > >workgroup. The XP Home tower can see the Notebook only. The Xp Pro Tower can
> > >see the Notebook. The Win 98 can see the Notebook and the Xp Pro Tower. I
> > >don't understand why all the xp's don't see each other or seem to see each
> > >other intermittently. Sometimes I think it depends upon which computers are
> > >turned on first. I also don't know why none see the Win 98 SE. I know
> > >recently I printed something off the Win 98 printer from the Notebook, so it
> > >must have been networked the (last weekend) but it's not now. I've determined
> > >that the IP address on the WIN 98 is 192.168.1.108. I don't know what to do
> > >with that info, however. I read some posts from Steve Winograd and have tried
> > >the following on the WIN 98 computer ... disabled "Browse Master", deleted
> > >IPX/SPX and NetBEUI protocols LInksys support had suggested adding, but had
> > >to add back ipx/spx because deleting it made the Internet connectivity stop.
> > >Current network configuration includes: Client for Microsoft Networks,
> > >Microsoft Family Login, Dial-up Adapter, Linksys Wireless adapter, Toshiba
> > >USB cable modem (not sure what that is), IPX/SPX for dialup Linksys and
> > >Toshiba, TCP/IP for dialup Linksys and Toshiba, File and Printer Sharing for
> > >Microsoft Networks. Thank in advance ...
> >
> > I'm sorry that you're having such trouble, Kristi, and I'll do my best
> > to help you fix it.
> >
> > The "Toshiba USB cable modem" is probably there because the computer
> > used to connect directly to a cable modem instead of using a wireless
> > network connection. If the computer isn't physically connected to a
> > cable modem through a USB cable, you can remove the "Toshiba USB cable
> > modem".
> >
> > Internet connectivity uses the TCP/IP protocol, and the IPX/SPX
> > protocol has nothing to do with it. Something other than removing
> > IPX/SPX caused Internet connectivity to stop.
> >
> > Linksys is well-known for giving the bad advice to add other
> > protocols. That might help, at least temporarily, in a few cases, but
> > I don't recommend it, because:
> >
> > 1. It can make network access unreliable, especially when Windows XP
> > is involved.
> >
> > 2. TCP/IP is the only protocol needed for Internet access and
> > file/printer sharing on a Windows network. If network access only
> > works after adding other protocols, the fundamental problem remains,
> > and it's simply covered over with a bandage of extra protocols. The
> > network will never function optimally in such a configuration.
> >
> > How are you determining whether a computer can "see" another computer?
> > Are you looking in Network Neighborhood and/or My Network Places?
> > That type of network browsing is notoriously unreliable, especially
> > when Windows XP is involved. If that's what you're doing, try
> > accessing another computer directly, by typing the other computer's
> > name in the Start | Run box in this format:
> >
> > \\computer
> >
> > It might help to start over on the Win 98 computer's network settings,
> > by removing everything except the Dial-Up Adapter and Linksys Wireless
> > Adapter, then adding the TCP/IP protocol, Client for Microsoft
> > Networks, and File and Printer Sharing. Those are the only required
> > network components.
> > --
> > 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
> >

Be cautious, sometimes the people we love the most are those we should trust
the least when networking. My son can play the Mp3's I have stored on my
computer and very little else. That's what a personal computer firewall
such as NIS is for. Allow Winamp connection from 192.168.103 to
http://www.pcflank.com/fw_rules_for_app.htm?appid=113 certain ports on
192.168.101, deny everything else. Read the manual that comes with your
firewall.

"Begoña" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:66448A96-D5E4-4E19-B751-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Kristi, I just want to thank you for this useful post. You have saved me a
> lot of extra headaches apart from the many ones I had till now.
>
> I never thought the problem would be the firewall even though I had some
> other problems before which had to do with the firewall.
>
> Thank you again.
>
> "Kristi B" wrote:
>
> > Sorry it's taken so long to get back on this. I tried to write back on
1/26
> > and the system was unavailable. Long story; short version. I've got
things
> > working. I uninstalled all the services (TCP/IP, etc.) and reinstalled
those
> > you said I needed. It still didn't work.
> >
> > I ended up determining that it was the stupid Norton Internet Security
[I
> > hate that they try to "protect" me and cause me so much extra
headaches].
> > Once I made an exception in the firewall to allow incoming and outgoing
> > TCP/IP connections (and identified the computers to allow through), it
is now
> > working.
> >
> > So those of you with Norton Internet Security, be advised that it might
be
> > blocking your network. Try disabling the firewall temporarily and see if
you
> > can connect to your other computers. If so, you'll need to create
exceptions
> > to allow the computers to reach one another.
> > --
> > Life is good!
> >
> >
> > "Steve Winograd [MVP]" wrote:
> >
> > > In article <4F107086-2D42-49FE-AC6A-(E-Mail Removed)>,
> > > "Kristi B" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> > > >I have four computers networked for iinternet sharing on a Linksys
router.
> > > >All can access the Internet independently (that's a great thing!).
The
> > > >Notebook (Xp Pro) can "see" the XP Home and the XP Pro Towers in it's
> > > >workgroup. The XP Home tower can see the Notebook only. The Xp Pro
Tower can
> > > >see the Notebook. The Win 98 can see the Notebook and the Xp Pro
Tower. I
> > > >don't understand why all the xp's don't see each other or seem to see
each
> > > >other intermittently. Sometimes I think it depends upon which
computers are
> > > >turned on first. I also don't know why none see the Win 98 SE. I know
> > > >recently I printed something off the Win 98 printer from the
Notebook, so it
> > > >must have been networked the (last weekend) but it's not now. I've
determined
> > > >that the IP address on the WIN 98 is 192.168.1.108. I don't know what
to do
> > > >with that info, however. I read some posts from Steve Winograd and
have tried
> > > >the following on the WIN 98 computer ... disabled "Browse Master",
deleted
> > > >IPX/SPX and NetBEUI protocols LInksys support had suggested adding,
but had
> > > >to add back ipx/spx because deleting it made the Internet
connectivity stop.
> > > >Current network configuration includes: Client for Microsoft
Networks,
> > > >Microsoft Family Login, Dial-up Adapter, Linksys Wireless adapter,
Toshiba
> > > >USB cable modem (not sure what that is), IPX/SPX for dialup Linksys
and
> > > >Toshiba, TCP/IP for dialup Linksys and Toshiba, File and Printer
Sharing for
> > > >Microsoft Networks. Thank in advance ...
> > >
> > > I'm sorry that you're having such trouble, Kristi, and I'll do my best
> > > to help you fix it.
> > >
> > > The "Toshiba USB cable modem" is probably there because the computer
> > > used to connect directly to a cable modem instead of using a wireless
> > > network connection. If the computer isn't physically connected to a
> > > cable modem through a USB cable, you can remove the "Toshiba USB cable
> > > modem".
> > >
> > > Internet connectivity uses the TCP/IP protocol, and the IPX/SPX
> > > protocol has nothing to do with it. Something other than removing
> > > IPX/SPX caused Internet connectivity to stop.
> > >
> > > Linksys is well-known for giving the bad advice to add other
> > > protocols. That might help, at least temporarily, in a few cases, but
> > > I don't recommend it, because:
> > >
> > > 1. It can make network access unreliable, especially when Windows XP
> > > is involved.
> > >
> > > 2. TCP/IP is the only protocol needed for Internet access and
> > > file/printer sharing on a Windows network. If network access only
> > > works after adding other protocols, the fundamental problem remains,
> > > and it's simply covered over with a bandage of extra protocols. The
> > > network will never function optimally in such a configuration.
> > >
> > > How are you determining whether a computer can "see" another computer?
> > > Are you looking in Network Neighborhood and/or My Network Places?
> > > That type of network browsing is notoriously unreliable, especially
> > > when Windows XP is involved. If that's what you're doing, try
> > > accessing another computer directly, by typing the other computer's
> > > name in the Start | Run box in this format:
> > >
> > > \\computer
> > >
> > > It might help to start over on the Win 98 computer's network settings,
> > > by removing everything except the Dial-Up Adapter and Linksys Wireless
> > > Adapter, then adding the TCP/IP protocol, Client for Microsoft
> > > Networks, and File and Printer Sharing. Those are the only required
> > > network components.
> > > --
> > > 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
> > >