Win98SE and Win XP Home file sharing

I have a small home network of Win98SE machines connected to a broadband
router with a 4 port switch. I have shared C drives on the machines. I
just added a Compaq laptop running Win XP Home Edition.

I ran the Home office setup on the laptop and am able to see the other
computers and they can see the laptop. When I go to My Network Places
-> View Network Computers the Win98SE computers are visible but double
clicking them gives an error message that the computer is not accessible.

When I try to access the laptop from the Win98SE machines I get the
error message that the machine could not be found on the network,
although it is visible in Network neighbourhood.

What steps am I missing?

-GHB

In article <B8Fbb.125781$(E-Mail Removed) >, Sonja
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>I have a small home network of Win98SE machines connected to a broadband
>router with a 4 port switch. I have shared C drives on the machines. I
>just added a Compaq laptop running Win XP Home Edition.
>
>I ran the Home office setup on the laptop and am able to see the other
>computers and they can see the laptop. When I go to My Network Places
>-> View Network Computers the Win98SE computers are visible but double
>clicking them gives an error message that the computer is not accessible.
>
>When I try to access the laptop from the Win98SE machines I get the
>error message that the machine could not be found on the network,
>although it is visible in Network neighbourhood.
>
>What steps am I missing?
>
>-GHB

1. Permanently disable XP's built-in Internet Connection Firewall on
local area network connections -- it's for use only on a direct modem
connection to the Internet. Disable and un-install all other
firewalls while troubleshooting. Details here:

Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/...c_firewall.htm

2. Use only one protocol for File and Printer Sharing. If the network
needs more than one protocol, unbind File and Printer Sharing from all
but one of them. Details here:

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

3. Make sure that NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled on all computers.
Details here:

Enable NetBIOS Over TCP/IP (NetBT)
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/...hoot/netbt.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