Win XP home can't see Win 98, Win 98 can see Win XP!

[deddard]

Driving me mad!!
Have 4 machines on peer to peer, via a 4 point hub.
The machine connected to the Internet uses a USB Cable modem, and is an Athlon 1100, using Win XP Home.
I've got 3 other machines, 1 runs Win 98 SE, and 2 run Win 98 1 ed.
All the machines can see each other, except for the athlon (XP)
disabled as much as possible in protocols etc, so that TCP/IP is the main protocol.
All 3 machines running Win 98 can see each other, and have no problems accessing each other.
THey can also all see the Win XP machine, and can access it ok.
(although I had a few problems setting this up)
The Win XP machine cannot see anything!
If I go into Network on the XP, only the Athlon (XP) is there.
If I click on 'show workgroup computers' it does nothing for 30 seconds or so, and then displays the other computers; except it can't access any of them.
I've got Norton firewall running, and have the 3 Win 98 machines in my trusted zone - and it works as far as they can access the XP ok; but for the life of me, I can't get the damn XP machine to access the rest of the network!
Win XP firewall is disabled.
THe other machines say that the XP machine is running an NT Domain, but seem to get on ok with it.
Am I missing something, am I going insane?

[beauness]

I'm not quite sure why,but I bought an Intel camera for the wife last x-mas and had horrific problems setting it up so she could chat with a friend about 3 hrs. away. We have XP PRO and the friend had Win ME, she had dialup and we had dsl. After hours of phone calls and hair pulling, I had to up grade her o/s to XP and get her on high speed before they could connect. Don't know if it was the type of connection or compatiblity between the two o/s's but I sympathize with you, hope someone can help you better!

[Jiggy]

i dont know if THIS (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14874) will help, i use it.

[classicsoftware]

You have 2 choices:

1) Install NetBEUI on the XP computer.

2) Create a network setup disk on XP computer and run it on the WIN 98 computers...

[deddard]

Thanks for the help - I'll give it a try tomorrow.

[deddard]

OK, this is what happened:

I pulled lots of hair out...........
the Athlon (XP) can now see all the other computers in a roundabout sort of way.
On the Athlon, I used the setup network disc (tried before but no luck)
and then put it into the other machines.
This didn't allow the athlon to see the other machines, but it did allow them to see the internet.
What finally happened to allow the athlon to see the other machines, is
1: When I ran the network setup, I specified a new workgroup name.
2: On each of the other machines, I created a USER with the same name as the user on the Athlon.
3: I used the 'Internet Properties' - 'Connections' - 'Setup' wizard on the machines which run Win 98, I selected the 'connect via LAN' option, and also, under the 'LAN settings' under 'Internet Properties', I selected 'Automatically detect settings'
After applying this, I could then access the Internet properly via the Win 98 machines, and the Athlon also recognised the Win 98 machines.
I then went back to the USER section of control panel, and chose to save EVERY setting,- this ensured that I don't have to reset everything each time I boot one of the Win 98 machines (OK you got me - I made the mistake of not saving the settings once!)
The Athlon (Win XP) will now recognise the other machines, but extremely slowly. Under the network, I can only see one other machine. Clicking on the 'view workgroup computers' will bring the other machines into view, but it takes 30 seconds to a minute for this to happen.
However, if I click a shortcut from my Win XP desktop to one of the Win 98 machine's disks that was created prior to installing Win XP, it will link immediately.
So I'm claiming a cautious victory, even if I haven't got things the way I think they should be (i.e. perfect!)
Well, I did say I was taking my A+, if this isn't a baptism of fire, what is?:D

[sleddog]

Originally posted by deddard
The Athlon (Win XP) will now recognise the other machines, but extremely slowly. Under the network, I can only see one other machine. Clicking on the 'view workgroup computers' will bring the other machines into view, but it takes 30 seconds to a minute for this to happen.

This is a known issue in a mixed network of Win 2000/XP and Win 95/98/ME machines.

For the fix see: http://www.windows2000faq.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=20450

[deddard]

Nice one;)
These forums are excellent!

[deddard]

Well, unfortunately, the WIn 2k known problem link didn't solve anything. I altered the registry, and sure enough, it speeded things up but still nothing can be seen by the XP machine. I've written a tech request to symantec to see if they know anything about it (as I am running their software as well) I'll keep you posted.........

[classicsoftware]

Did you run the XP network setup disk on all of the other computers?

[deddard]

Originally posted by classicsoftware
Did you run the XP network setup disk on all of the other computers?

Yep - they can see the XP fine, a little too well in fact. They are not in the Norton Firewall trusted zone (I removed them to start again and found they could still access the XP machine) - the setup disc must somehow bypass the firewall. It's getting the XP to see the other machines that is the problem.

[sleddog]

Can XP access a Win 98 shared folder if you type it into a window address bar or the run dialog box?

\\Win98box\sharename

Of course those are backslashes.

If it doesn't work, what is the error message?

Does it trigger any activity with the firewall or cause a log entry?

Does it create an entry anywhere in XP Event Viewer?

On the XP box, go to Start > Programs > Administrative Tools > Service. Check that the following services are shown as Started and are set to Automatic:

Computer Browser
Network Connections
Server
Workstation

[sleddog]

Originally posted by deddard
Well, unfortunately, the WIn 2k known problem link didn't solve anything. I altered the registry, and sure enough, it speeded things up...

The registry modification did exactly what it was supposed to do: eliminate the delay which occurs when accessing a Win 9x share from a 2000/XP machine.

[deddard]

OK Sleddog - your second to last post clinched it!
I'd effectively tried the direct route suggested (by a direct shortcut on the desktop) and that was fine, but using the usual network neighbourhood (or whatever it's called thesedays!) didn't.
Does it create an entry anywhere in XP Event Viewer?

"On the XP box, go to Start > Programs > Administrative Tools > Service. Check that the following services are shown as Started and are set to Automatic:

Computer Browser
Network Connections
Server
Workstation"

Hmmmmmmm........ Event viewer........Hmmmmmmmmm Administrative tools........
Oh yes, this is microsoft. I foolishly thought this sort of thing would be part of the default installation......Sheesh!
No admin tools installed (I upgraded from Win 98) they're not even documented (unless it is REALLY tiny print) in the manual I received, which is more like a couple of pages anyway.
Anyway, I ran the win XP disc and chose to install all the extras, which of course included the admin tools.
Checked through as you suggested, and the Server was set to manual - changed that and it seems fine now.
:)
Sleddog, thanks for your patience and skill. I'd buy you a drink, but I don't think pouring it down my Cable connection would do much good!:D
cheers.

[sleddog]

Originally posted by deddard
I'd buy you a drink, but I don't think pouring it down my Cable connection would do much good!:D
cheers.

Wouldn't do much good for either your cable connection or me! :D

Though I really appreciate the offer. Glad everything worked out.