Networking problem

[Stubbs]

I have two HP computers. the first is WIN XP and is connected to a HP printer. The second computer is WIN 98SE. I also have DSL service which and a D-Link router. Both computers work via the router to the internet OK, but I can't seen to get the WIN 98 computer to use the printer or share files. I have made all the necessary checks within the printer and control panel files for the sharing to take place but nothing seems to work.

Any thoughts as to my problem?

[Steve]

Are you sure you have file and printer sharing enabled on both the 98 and the XP machines?

On the 98 computer it's R.click Network Neighborhood > Properties > File and Print Sharing > make sure both boxes are checked.

In XPpro it's R.click on My Network Places > Properties > R.click on Network Bridge > properties > Make sure that file and printer sharing for micro$oft networks is checked.

[wiltrot]

Did you use the Network Wizard to setup your network? That will take care of all the details for you.

[Paul Komski]

If you are not on a domain (just on a workgroup that is) you must enable the Guest Account (ControlPanel>>Users>>GuestAccount>>Enable) before Win9X can access the shares on the WinXP machine.

[Stubbs]

To all who answered my request, many thanks. Yes I did everything each of you mentioned to no avail.

What I do notice is that when I check my WIN XP computer as to what computers are connected, I do see the WIN 98 computer, but I still can't seem to get the printer to work. Perhaps I need to remove everything associated with networking etc. and start over again. I suspect I may have done so many different things that somewhere something is out of whack.

[slim]

Hi,

Sounds a similar problem to the follow post, which relates to the length of file/printer sharenames.

http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19079

Slim

[deddard]

There are many problems connecting XP with win 98, especially if you are using XP home. some of the problems lie with the services that are running, and how they are configured.
I had a similar problem getting machines to talk to each other, and it was resolved on this site:) here's the link:
win xp talking to win 98 (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17192)

One more thing about file sharing....If you want the 98 machine to see the xp files and folders then the XP folders MUST be stored on a FAT32 formatted partition.

[agentsyphon]

I would check out the length and type of printer name you are using. It cannot contain spaces, WIN98SE will not recognize it. I would read the post slim left you and it should solve your issue.

[malcore]

One more thing about file sharing....If you want the 98 machine to see the xp files and folders then the XP folders MUST be stored on a FAT32 formatted partition.

I thought 9x/ME machines could see "allowed" folders on NTFS across a network, but not an NTFS partition on a local drive.

Am I wrong here?

[deddard]

Win 98 Cannot read NTFS. Win 2K and NT can, but unfortunately, win 95 and 98 won't see anything.

[malcore]

I think you are incorrect deddard . I haven't done it myself, but everything I have read says Win9x/ME can see and access NTFS files over a network. It is only data which passes over the network. XP or 2000 will access it and "share" it with 9x/ME. You are correct that Win98 cannot "read" NTFS. 98 actually doesn't read from any formatted drive on a networked XP/2K machine. XP/2K will read it and say "I have a ABC.XYZ file that I can share" regardless of how the file was originally placed on the platter.

In fact NO Windows operating system "reads" from a networked computer, the networked computer that hosts the files reads them and shares the data.

Here's (http://www.experts-exchange.com/Developer/Operating_Systems/Q_20632336.html) one instance.

[Steve]

On my home network, I have my laptop set up with NTFS and it shares files with my Win98 machine, no problems.

[mjc]

There was another thread on a similar subject, in the last few weeks. and the NTFS/network question came up and was answered by either Paul or GH.....and basically what malcore is saying is the way it is. The networked machine doesn't care what file systems are elswhere on the network, because the host machine is doing all the work, not the client.

[deddard]

I stand corrected - always learning something new here!
I was just thinking back to my A+ study.
I suppose it makes sense - the host OS has to grab the data and distribute it before any other machine can get a hold of it. THanks for the correction - best to make the mistake here than in front of someone who needs a network putting together!

[Paul Komski]

Assuming network software and permissions setup correctly then no problems accessing Win2K/XP on NTFS on PC#1 from Win9x/ME on PC#2.

Recently had identical settings on PC#1, (which was dual-booting Win2K/WinXP), but it took me half a morning to discover why I couldn't access the WinXP OS which had identical network settings to the Win2K OS and which could be accessed on the same PC.

The solution was to enable the Guest Account on WinXP, which is why I suggested this as a possible resolution.

See Here (http://www.performit.co.uk/network/software_setup.htm) for how to set up the software on the different Windows OSes.

[malcore]

OOoHH! Nice link Paul.

Clear and simple, with pictures no less.:)

Should make this a sticky in the networking forums.

Thanks!

[ErnieK]

If anyone needs instructions for setting a second (or upto 4) network address onto one network card I have the instructions for doing so. Even has pictures with it :D

This is information garnered form various places on the net

Scenario:
Dual boot machine (XP & 98) with network going to second computer (98). Allows you to insert two addresses into registry for second computer.

Once I could understand what the instructions said, (remember my difficulty with the written word) it took me just a short while to setup and get working.