Win98/Win2k networking questions

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David Murphy - 18 Sep 2005 08:04 GMT

First of all, I've read through knowledge base article Q258717, as well as a
few other documents and howtos out there. I have a couple of questions for
the experts.

What I'm doing:
I'm trying to arrange File and Printer Sharing between two PCs: a Windows
98SE laptop connected wirelessly to a broadband router, and a Windows 2000
Pro desktop wired to the same router. Both PCs are configured with unique
static IPs and both access the internet connection on the other side of the
router just fine. They both have TCP/IP and NetBEUI installed. They're both
in the same workgroup with unique hostnames.

First question: the Win98 laptop is set up in single-user mode. Is it
possible to share with Win2kPro in that mode? If so, what is the account
username to set up on the Win2k PC? (I assume the password is blank by
default.)

Second question: am I going to have to configure another user on the Win98
machine anyway to allow the Win2k machine to find its resources, or is it
only Win2k that cares so much?

I tinkered with it a bit... the best I was able to manage was to get the
Win2k PC to acknowledge the existence of the Win98, but it couldn't browse
its resources. The Win98 PC could see and browse itself, but couldn't even
see the Win2k PC. If someone has the answers to these questions, hopefully
that'll guide me a bit.

Thanks,

David Murphy

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CJT - 18 Sep 2005 08:52 GMT

> First of all, I've read through knowledge base article Q258717, as well as a
> few other documents and howtos out there. I have a couple of questions for
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
>
> David Murphy

I have those two networking ok here. The problems most people have are,
I think, a result of either (1) not having the identical user/password
set up on both, or (2) name service problems (I just went ahead and set
up a WINS service using Samba on a Solaris box that sits on my network
to serve up files, anyway); that "browse master" stuff will drive you
nuts if you let it.

The (1) problem will get you denials of access, the (2) problem will
keep "Network Neighborhood" and the like from "seeing" peer machines
by name.

I've got Linux, Solaris, W98SE, and W2K all talking to one another --
sometimes even a Mac joins in. Get the basics right and they're all
reasonably compliant with standards, so they _can_ get along.

ping is your friend; other than that, you must have some understanding
of name services

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Steve Winograd [MVP] - 18 Sep 2005 14:11 GMT

>First of all, I've read through knowledge base article Q258717, as well as a
>few other documents and howtos out there. I have a couple of questions for
>the experts.

My sympathies: I think that article is poorly written, confusing, and
contains bad information.

>What I'm doing:
>I'm trying to arrange File and Printer Sharing between two PCs: a Windows
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>router just fine. They both have TCP/IP and NetBEUI installed. They're both
>in the same workgroup with unique hostnames.

Using more than one protocol can cause networking problems.
Un-install NetBEUI from both computers, and use TCP/IP as the only
protocol. Nothing in Windows networking requires NetBEUI.

>First question: the Win98 laptop is set up in single-user mode. Is it
>possible to share with Win2kPro in that mode?

Yes.

>If so, what is the account username to set up on the Win2k PC?
>(I assume the password is blank by default.)

Don't set up a new user account on Win2k. On Win98, click Start | Log
Off, then log on with the same user name and password that you already
use on Win2k.

>I tinkered with it a bit... the best I was able to manage was to get the
>Win2k PC to acknowledge the existence of the Win98, but it couldn't browse
>its resources. The Win98 PC could see and browse itself, but couldn't even
>see the Win2k PC. If someone has the answers to these questions, hopefully
>that'll guide me a bit.

What exactly happened when Win2k tried to browse Win98?

If there's a firewall program (Norton, McAfee, ZoneAlarm, PCCillin) on
either computer, configure the firewall to allow access on the local
area network.

>Thanks,
>
>David Murphy

You're welcome.

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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

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David Murphy - 18 Sep 2005 17:06 GMT

<snip>

> >If so, what is the account username to set up on the Win2k PC?
> >(I assume the password is blank by default.)
>
> Don't set up a new user account on Win2k. On Win98, click Start | Log
> Off, then log on with the same user name and password that you already
> use on Win2k.

That makes sense. Another question... I tried installing TweakUI on the
laptop to get it to automatically log in when it boots, but shortly
thereafter the laptop started spontaneously rebooting while Windows was
loading, so I got rid of that. Is that something that can be done manually
with registry settings?

> >I tinkered with it a bit... the best I was able to manage was to get the
> >Win2k PC to acknowledge the existence of the Win98, but it couldn't browse
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> What exactly happened when Win2k tried to browse Win98?

"\\Laptop is not accessible.
The network path was not found."

(This was upon double-clicking the laptop's icon in the "Computers Near Me"
window)

> If there's a firewall program (Norton, McAfee, ZoneAlarm, PCCillin) on
> either computer, configure the firewall to allow access on the local
> area network.

Yeah, I disabled it temporarily on the laptop (as part of the above boot
issues), but I was a bit out of sorts last night after having dealt with
several unexpected problems, so I missed a few obvious things like pinging
the computers from each other. I'll take the info you've given me so far and
tinker some more when I get a chance next.

Thanks again,

David Murphy

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CJT - 18 Sep 2005 18:45 GMT

> <snip>
>
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> (This was upon double-clicking the laptop's icon in the "Computers Near Me"
> window)

As Steve suggested, lose the Netbeui.

>>If there's a firewall program (Norton, McAfee, ZoneAlarm, PCCillin) on
>>either computer, configure the firewall to allow access on the local
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> David Murphy

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David Murphy - 18 Sep 2005 20:02 GMT

Ok, I'm at it again. More info to follow. To recap:

> What I'm doing:
> I'm trying to arrange File and Printer Sharing between two PCs: a Windows
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> router just fine. They both have TCP/IP and NetBEUI installed. They're both
> in the same workgroup with unique hostnames.

I've uninstalled NetBEUI from both machines, so TCP/IP is now the only
protocol installed. The Win98 username and password exist on the Win2kPro
machine. Firewalls are disabled (for now).

Laptop:
Computer Name: Laptop
Workgroup: WORKGROUP
IP: 192.168.2.10 (static)
Netmask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway/DNS: 192.168.2.1 (router)
File and Printer Sharing installed and enabled.

Desktop:
Computer Name: Desktop
Workgroup: WORKGROUP
IP: 192.168.2.11 (static)
Netmask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway/DNS: 192.168.2.1 (router)
File and Printer Sharing installed and enabled.

On the laptop (Win98SE) I can:
- Ping the desktop
- See/browse itself on Network Neighborhood

But I cannot:
- See the desktop at all in NN

On the desktop (Win2kPro) I can:
- Ping the laptop
- See/browse itself on Computers Near Me
- See the laptop on Computers Near Me

But I cannot:
- Browse the laptop ("\\Laptop is not accessible. The network path was not
found.")

Now, my router is a Netgear 4-port with Wireless (WGR614 v5). If I open up
its interface and look at the Attached Devices, both PCs are listed with
their IP and hardware addresses. However, while the desktop's name shows up
in the "Device Name" column, the laptop's is missing (shows as double dash,
which I assume means null). The laptop's name (in the Identification tab of
the Network control, as well as in WinIPCfg) is definitely set, so this may
be unrelated, but I thought I'd note it.

I think I've reached the end of my own troubleshooting knowledge here. What
am I missing?

David Murphy

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David Murphy - 18 Sep 2005 20:37 GMT

Oops... sorry, forgot something:

NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled on the desktop, and appears to be enabled on
the laptop (option is checked but grayed out (not changeable)).

David Murphy

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CJT - 19 Sep 2005 06:25 GMT

> Ok, I'm at it again. More info to follow. To recap:
>
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
> But I cannot:
> - See the desktop at all in NN

Sometimes it takes a while.

Check the "Browse Master" settings in "File and print sharing"
properties. There's sometimes a bit of black art involved.
A Google on "browse master" "network neighborhood" might help.

Also check the WINS settings in TCP/IP Properties -- you're
probably using DHCP for WINS resolution, which makes the failure
of the DHCP server to detect the laptop's hostname critical. I'm
afraid that's a function of the negotiation between the laptop and
your particular router's DHCP server, so I can't offer much advice
except to make sure you've got the current firmware in the WGR614
and perhaps have a look around Netgear's Web site for others who
have had similar problems.

> On the desktop (Win2kPro) I can:
> - Ping the laptop
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> - Browse the laptop ("\\Laptop is not accessible. The network path was not
> found.")

Can you browse it as \\192.168.2.10 ? (probably)

If so, you could probably add it to the hosts file (not very satisfying,
I know).

FWIW, I generally bypass name resolution issues by setting up a Samba
WINS server on the machine I use for a file server, but I realize that
solution isn't for everyone -- some need to tough it out with the stuff
that comes standard with Windows (my condolences).

> Now, my router is a Netgear 4-port with Wireless (WGR614 v5). If I open up
> its interface and look at the Attached Devices, both PCs are listed with
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> the Network control, as well as in WinIPCfg) is definitely set, so this may
> be unrelated, but I thought I'd note it.

Well you might. As noted above, I think that's key.

> I think I've reached the end of my own troubleshooting knowledge here. What
> am I missing?
>
> David Murphy

Hope That Helps.

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