XP and 98 Home Network: Find Computer works but Neighborhood does

I have a small home network with an XP SP2 PC and a 98 PC successfully
sharing the net via a Belkin router. If I do a Find Computer they see each
other and can share files quite happily, but neither computer can see the
other in Network Neighborhood/My Network Places. Nor can the 98 share the
XP's printer presumably for the same reason. I've asked a few people I know
but none can solve it, in fact one has the same problem. Any help gratefully
received.

The shared printer name is probably either too long (more than 12
characters) or contains a space or other character Windows 98 doesn't like.
Change the share name to something simple and short (like XPPrinter) and see
if you can use it then.

As for browsing, this is a common problem in home networks. Since you can
find the computers and share resources this means the network is working
correctly, so most likely both computers are trying to be the network master
browser and that's why you can't browse. Turn on both computers and log
into them, then walk away for at least 15 minutes. Can you browse the
network then?

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (E-Mail Removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Clive Johnson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:A49F0702-616F-4052-AC9D-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have a small home network with an XP SP2 PC and a 98 PC successfully
> sharing the net via a Belkin router. If I do a Find Computer they see
> each
> other and can share files quite happily, but neither computer can see the
> other in Network Neighborhood/My Network Places. Nor can the 98 share the
> XP's printer presumably for the same reason. I've asked a few people I
> know
> but none can solve it, in fact one has the same problem. Any help
> gratefully
> received.

Thanks very much for your response. It inspired me to keep trying a number
of things, but my problems aren't solved yet. The printer is just called
Lexmark with no funny characters, The XP computer did have a hyphen in the
name, I took it out, but no luck.
I'm beginning to think I'm tackling the wrong problem. I've tried to get a
new W98 printer driver today, but Lexmark's website errored, I've emailed
them. I've found that I can map network drives as well as Find Computer, I
still can't use My Network Places/ Network Neighborhood, but maybe that's the
way it's meant to be for my setup.
I did find a message in the XP Event Viewer about the 98 PC forcing an
election for the master browser, but I can't find any info on how to
permanently configure this.

"Richard G. Harper" wrote:

> The shared printer name is probably either too long (more than 12
> characters) or contains a space or other character Windows 98 doesn't like.
> Change the share name to something simple and short (like XPPrinter) and see
> if you can use it then.
>
> As for browsing, this is a common problem in home networks. Since you can
> find the computers and share resources this means the network is working
> correctly, so most likely both computers are trying to be the network master
> browser and that's why you can't browse. Turn on both computers and log
> into them, then walk away for at least 15 minutes. Can you browse the
> network then?
>
> --
> Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (E-Mail Removed)
> * PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
> * for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
> * My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
> * HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
>
>
> "Clive Johnson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:A49F0702-616F-4052-AC9D-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I have a small home network with an XP SP2 PC and a 98 PC successfully
> > sharing the net via a Belkin router. If I do a Find Computer they see
> > each
> > other and can share files quite happily, but neither computer can see the
> > other in Network Neighborhood/My Network Places. Nor can the 98 share the
> > XP's printer presumably for the same reason. I've asked a few people I
> > know
> > but none can solve it, in fact one has the same problem. Any help
> > gratefully
> > received.
>
>
>

Hi,

Windows XP does not come with the NetBeui Protocol, you may need to add this
protocol to your XP box - there are two files you will need to do this. One
is netnbf.inf and the other is nbf.sys. Once you have these files you need
to copy the netnbf.inf to c:\windows\inf
The nby.sys nets to be copied to c:\windows\system32\drivers.

Once you have copied these to the appropriate folders you will need to add
the protocol to My Network Places - Right click on this icon and come to
properties, once the window pops up - right click on the local area
connection - go to properties - click Install - choose NetBeui.

This should help with seeing each other - might help with the printer issue
- but that sounds more like a driver issue.


"Clive Johnson" wrote:

> Thanks very much for your response. It inspired me to keep trying a number
> of things, but my problems aren't solved yet. The printer is just called
> Lexmark with no funny characters, The XP computer did have a hyphen in the
> name, I took it out, but no luck.
> I'm beginning to think I'm tackling the wrong problem. I've tried to get a
> new W98 printer driver today, but Lexmark's website errored, I've emailed
> them. I've found that I can map network drives as well as Find Computer, I
> still can't use My Network Places/ Network Neighborhood, but maybe that's the
> way it's meant to be for my setup.
> I did find a message in the XP Event Viewer about the 98 PC forcing an
> election for the master browser, but I can't find any info on how to
> permanently configure this.
>
> "Richard G. Harper" wrote:
>
> > The shared printer name is probably either too long (more than 12
> > characters) or contains a space or other character Windows 98 doesn't like.
> > Change the share name to something simple and short (like XPPrinter) and see
> > if you can use it then.
> >
> > As for browsing, this is a common problem in home networks. Since you can
> > find the computers and share resources this means the network is working
> > correctly, so most likely both computers are trying to be the network master
> > browser and that's why you can't browse. Turn on both computers and log
> > into them, then walk away for at least 15 minutes. Can you browse the
> > network then?
> >
> > --
> > Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (E-Mail Removed)
> > * PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
> > * for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
> > * My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
> > * HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> >
> >
> > "Clive Johnson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:A49F0702-616F-4052-AC9D-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > >I have a small home network with an XP SP2 PC and a 98 PC successfully
> > > sharing the net via a Belkin router. If I do a Find Computer they see
> > > each
> > > other and can share files quite happily, but neither computer can see the
> > > other in Network Neighborhood/My Network Places. Nor can the 98 share the
> > > XP's printer presumably for the same reason. I've asked a few people I
> > > know
> > > but none can solve it, in fact one has the same problem. Any help
> > > gratefully
> > > received.
> >
> >
> >

In article <A5EED7BF-85CC-4DE6-AED9-(E-Mail Removed)>, "net
beui" <net beui @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> > "Clive Johnson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:A49F0702-616F-4052-AC9D-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > >I have a small home network with an XP SP2 PC and a 98 PC successfully
> > > sharing the net via a Belkin router. If I do a Find Computer they see
> > > each
> > > other and can share files quite happily, but neither computer can see the
> > > other in Network Neighborhood/My Network Places. Nor can the 98 share the
> > > XP's printer presumably for the same reason. I've asked a few people I
> > > know
> > > but none can solve it, in fact one has the same problem. Any help
> > > gratefully
> > > received.
>
>Hi,
>
>Windows XP does not come with the NetBeui Protocol, you may need to add this
>protocol to your XP box - there are two files you will need to do this. One
>is netnbf.inf and the other is nbf.sys. Once you have these files you need
>to copy the netnbf.inf to c:\windows\inf
>The nby.sys nets to be copied to c:\windows\system32\drivers.
>
>Once you have copied these to the appropriate folders you will need to add
>the protocol to My Network Places - Right click on this icon and come to
>properties, once the window pops up - right click on the local area
>connection - go to properties - click Install - choose NetBeui.
>
>This should help with seeing each other - might help with the printer issue
>- but that sounds more like a driver issue.

In my experience, adding protocols to a network that isn't working is
likely to make the problem worse, especially when the problems involve
network browsing and XP. Nothing in Windows networking requires, or
has ever required, NetBEUI. It's better to get everything working
using TCP/IP as the only protocol.

Disabling Browse Master on the 98 PC might help. That setting is in
Control Panel | Network | File and Printer Sharing | Properties.

You should be able to access the other computer, without using Network
Neighborhood or My Network Places, through Find Computer, or by typing
the other computer's name in the Start | Run box preceded by two
backslash characters:

\\computer

Make sure that the XP computer's shared printer name isn't longer than
12 characters. If it is, 98 won't be able to see the printer.
--
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

Thanks Steve! Disabling Browse Master, and perhaps also the fact that I
recently temporarily connected the same printer to the 98 computer and got it
working that way first, has got me a networked printer for the first time.

"Steve Winograd [MVP]" wrote:

> In article <A5EED7BF-85CC-4DE6-AED9-(E-Mail Removed)>, "net
> beui" <net beui @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> > > "Clive Johnson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > news:A49F0702-616F-4052-AC9D-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > >I have a small home network with an XP SP2 PC and a 98 PC successfully
> > > > sharing the net via a Belkin router. If I do a Find Computer they see
> > > > each
> > > > other and can share files quite happily, but neither computer can see the
> > > > other in Network Neighborhood/My Network Places. Nor can the 98 share the
> > > > XP's printer presumably for the same reason. I've asked a few people I
> > > > know
> > > > but none can solve it, in fact one has the same problem. Any help
> > > > gratefully
> > > > received.
> >
> >Hi,
> >
> >Windows XP does not come with the NetBeui Protocol, you may need to add this
> >protocol to your XP box - there are two files you will need to do this. One
> >is netnbf.inf and the other is nbf.sys. Once you have these files you need
> >to copy the netnbf.inf to c:\windows\inf
> >The nby.sys nets to be copied to c:\windows\system32\drivers.
> >
> >Once you have copied these to the appropriate folders you will need to add
> >the protocol to My Network Places - Right click on this icon and come to
> >properties, once the window pops up - right click on the local area
> >connection - go to properties - click Install - choose NetBeui.
> >
> >This should help with seeing each other - might help with the printer issue
> >- but that sounds more like a driver issue.
>
> In my experience, adding protocols to a network that isn't working is
> likely to make the problem worse, especially when the problems involve
> network browsing and XP. Nothing in Windows networking requires, or
> has ever required, NetBEUI. It's better to get everything working
> using TCP/IP as the only protocol.
>
> Disabling Browse Master on the 98 PC might help. That setting is in
> Control Panel | Network | File and Printer Sharing | Properties.
>
> You should be able to access the other computer, without using Network
> Neighborhood or My Network Places, through Find Computer, or by typing
> the other computer's name in the Start | Run box preceded by two
> backslash characters:
>
> \\computer
>
> Make sure that the XP computer's shared printer name isn't longer than
> 12 characters. If it is, 98 won't be able to see the printer.
> --
> 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 <D95448FC-E92D-4316-A334-(E-Mail Removed)>,
"Clive Johnson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> > > >I have a small home network with an XP SP2 PC and a 98 PC successfully
>> > > > sharing the net via a Belkin router. If I do a Find Computer they see
>> > > > each
>> > > > other and can share files quite happily, but neither computer can see the
>> > > > other in Network Neighborhood/My Network Places. Nor can the 98 share the
>> > > > XP's printer presumably for the same reason. I've asked a few people I
>> > > > know
>> > > > but none can solve it, in fact one has the same problem. Any help
>> > > > gratefully
>> > > > received.
>> >
>> >Windows XP does not come with the NetBeui Protocol, you may need to add this
>> >protocol to your XP box - there are two files you will need to do this. One
>> >is netnbf.inf and the other is nbf.sys. Once you have these files you need
>> >to copy the netnbf.inf to c:\windows\inf
>> >The nby.sys nets to be copied to c:\windows\system32\drivers.
>> >
>> >Once you have copied these to the appropriate folders you will need to add
>> >the protocol to My Network Places - Right click on this icon and come to
>> >properties, once the window pops up - right click on the local area
>> >connection - go to properties - click Install - choose NetBeui.
>> >
>> >This should help with seeing each other - might help with the printer issue
>> >- but that sounds more like a driver issue.
>>
>> In my experience, adding protocols to a network that isn't working is
>> likely to make the problem worse, especially when the problems involve
>> network browsing and XP. Nothing in Windows networking requires, or
>> has ever required, NetBEUI. It's better to get everything working
>> using TCP/IP as the only protocol.
>>
>> Disabling Browse Master on the 98 PC might help. That setting is in
>> Control Panel | Network | File and Printer Sharing | Properties.
>>
>> You should be able to access the other computer, without using Network
>> Neighborhood or My Network Places, through Find Computer, or by typing
>> the other computer's name in the Start | Run box preceded by two
>> backslash characters:
>>
>> \\computer
>>
>> Make sure that the XP computer's shared printer name isn't longer than
>> 12 characters. If it is, 98 won't be able to see the printer.
>
>Thanks Steve! Disabling Browse Master, and perhaps also the fact that I
>recently temporarily connected the same printer to the 98 computer and got it
>working that way first, has got me a networked printer for the first time.

You're welcome, Clive.

Yes, installing a printer locally can make it easier to install later
as a network printer, because the drivers are already loaded.
--
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