HowToFixComputers.com

T.R. · Guest

I tried to do a PNP network setup a year back which really scr**ed
everything up so bad that I had to do a complete restoration on one of
the machines. Since then, I have gone broadband which means some new
hardware has been added. I'm thinking I have all that I need to try
to network the two machines already setup and working with broadband
right now.

The two-machine setup I would like to network:
Desktop with 98SE
Laptop with XPHome
Both connected to a D-Link DI-604 router w/built-in firewall
Router connected to a Motorola SB5100 Cable Modem
Single printer running off 98SE Machine's USB Hub
Both machines hiding behind ZoneAlarm Pro 4.5.530 firewall

What I wish to do is some minor file transfers but really want to let
the Laptop have access to the printer.

Would someone be so kind as to walk this old slow minded fool
step-by-step through the process to make this possible if I already
have the right hardware (which I think I do).

Regards,
Thomas

You know what to do.....
spam_trap at adelphia dot net

Ben Myers · Guest

Thomas,

Make sure that the Windows 98SE computer has File and Printer Sharing enabled.
This may require some software from the 98SE CD, and a reboot.

Make sure that the workgroup names for both computers are absolutely identical.
The easiest way to do so is to make them all upper case characters. This may
require yet another reboot of the Windows 98SE computer. The DOS-based versions
of Windows are brain-dead enough to require rebooting for even the simplest
changes in the network setup.

Next, open the Printers folder, right-click the printer icon, click on sharing
and enable sharing. No reboot required this time.

Now go to the XP computer, install a printer and allow it to browse the network
for printers. Click your printer when found, install the drivers, print a test
page to be sure.

That's the quick summary... Ben Myers

On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 03:18:19 GMT, T.R. <x@y.z> wrote:

Ed Kirstein · Guest

There is a lot written on this subject and after trying all the suggestions,
there is one that is rarely mentioned. On the windows 98 machine, you must
have the login dialog come up during the start of windows. In windows 98,
it is possible to get rid of the login, but then the machine cannot access a
network, which is what you have now. Make sure you are logging in each time
you boot. It is not necessary to have a password. If you do not have a
login screen each time you boot up, let us know, I'm sure someone can guide
you to that information. Or you can do a google search and find it
yourself. Goodluck.
Ed

"T.R." <x@y.z> wrote in message
news:ms9qtvk2a4043u4odlf8me4mrif6vqa4qr@4ax.com...

Ben Myers · Guest

Ed, good point and a subtle one I had not thought about.

To continue your train of thought, with more or less step by step:

1. Set up the networking in Windows 98SE computer with "Client for Microsoft
Networks", if not done so already. You guessed it! Another request for your
trusty Win 98SE CD and another reboot.
2. Enter in a user name AND password when the login dialog box presents itself.
Then, and only then, are you all set to log onto your small network and share
your printer.

Without the "Client for Microsoft Networks" installed, the computer either
starts up with no login dialog box or a "Windows Login" as shown in the Network
item in Control Panel.

If you still have trouble logging your Win 98SE computer onto the network, do
Start->Search , and find all files named "*.pwl" (no quotes entered in the Named
field), delete them and restart the computer.

That ought to get you there... Ben Myers

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 23:38:11 -0500, "Ed Kirstein" <ekirstein_atcatskill.net>
wrote:

Chopperdad · Guest

I have almost the exact opposite problem. So long I had the printer hooked
up to the 98SE computer, I could print off of either computer via the
network. When I switched it over the weekend to the XP computer, the 98SE
would not print to it although it knew it was out there on the network. I
can interchanges files and that, but I can't print to the printer from the
98SE machine now, but the speed that the printer prints from the XP Home has
dramatic improved.

Ron

"Ed Kirstein" <ekirstein_atcatskill.net> wrote in message
news:vtqelfasj4lba@corp.supernews.com...

T.R. · Guest

Okay group, I really appreciate all the feedback. I'm going to try to
address everyone in this reply instead of a bunch of single replies.
Also, I have done nothing yet that has been suggested to me because I
want to make sure I get the full story and all questions answered
before I step in this pile of networking doodoo because last time I
tried, I had to do a complete restoration to the 98SE machine to get
back out of the mess created by trying to do this.

Ed Kirstein Writes:

T.R. · Guest

On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 21:03:14 GMT, T.R. <x@y.z> wrote:

Ben Myers · Guest

Thomas,

Yes, the "Enter Network Password" dialog box is the right one for networks in
general. So you are halfway there with your Windows 98 computer..

Next, I'm nearly 100% certain that a Windows 98SE machine MUST have a login
password to be networked properly with a Windows XP computer. I have a similar
situation with one of my clients who has a mix of Windows NT server, Windows
2000 and Windows 98SE computers. In order for all the peer-to-peer networking
to work correctly there, all computers require a password at login. To put it
another way, a user id without a password is not sufficient. So make up another
user name, log off of the Windows 98SE computer, and log in again with a user
name AND password.

Next, make sure the Windows 98SE computer has File and Printer Sharing
installed.

Now, as stated before, Start->Settings->Printers on the Win98SE computer, right
click the icon of your printer, enable sharing for it.

Next, go to the XPee computer, open up the Network Places icon, find the name of
your Windows 98SE computer, click its name, you ought to be able to see the
share name of the Windows 98SE printer.

If this all works, you are ready to install a printer driver on the XP computer.

.... Ben Myers

On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 21:03:14 GMT, T.R. <x@y.z> wrote:

T.R. · Guest

Okay Ben, before I go any further with what you have just given me,
lets first address how these two machines are going to "tie" together.
I am assuming they will network through the router, right?

If so, am I going to have trouble with the router's built in firewall.
Reason I am asking... Unlike my software firewall (ZoneAlarm), this
router firewall seems to be a mother to customize. Unlike ZoneAlarm,
I have to goto a web site to see how my router firewall is configured
and unlike ZoneAlarm, the router's firewall settings are not as simple
to adjust or understand. As a matter of fact, I haven't touched the
router's firewall settings since installing it because of its cryptic
type of language.

Regards,
Thomas

You know what to do.....
spam_trap at adelphia dot net

Ben Myers · Guest

Thomas,

Yes, straight Category 5 cables from each computer to the router. No crossover
cables, which look the same, but serve different purposes.

ZoneAlarm may well intervene during this process and ask you to allow one or the
other computer to grant access to a program which wants network access.

If D-Link router is like its competitors from Linksys, Netgear, and Belkin, you
are actually accessing the router's settings through your browser, which is
1000x easier than the way it was done in the past. Whether D-Link asks you to
use a special text URL or a numeric IP address (e.g. 192.168.2.1) is immaterial.
You are not going to a web site per se, just accessing the browser directly.
I've never used a D-Link router, but I cannot imagine that it would have default
settings to prohibit you from seeing and accessing one computer from the other.

.... Ben Myers

On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 23:50:01 GMT, T.R. <x@y.z> wrote:

PC Gladiator · Guest

You need to install "File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks".

Goto Control Panel, Network. Click Add button. Select Service, click Add
button. Select "File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks". Click
OK.

Back on the original Network popup, you should now see a "File and Print
sharing..." button. Click it and check the boxes to share files and
printers. Click OK.

There may a reboot in there somewhere but I can't remember. Also, it might
also ask for a CD, can't remember that either!

"T.R." <x@y.z> wrote in message
news:t4estv8qufdte68lim1g56hm7en05dmem2@4ax.com...

Ben Myers · Guest

Windows ALWAYS asks for the Windows CD. Windows ALWAYS reboots. At least this
is true for the Windows with DOS underpinnings. The NT flavors of Windows are
better. They only ask for a reboot sometimes... Ben Myers

On Tue, 16 Dec 2003 02:12:40 -0500, "PC Gladiator" <PC-Gladiator@Mail-Dump.com>
wrote:

PC Gladiator · Guest

Now that you mention it... It does seem like I spend half my life rebooting
and the other half looking for those *** CDs! ;-)

<ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers)> wrote in message
news:3fdf2d72.900400@news.charter.net...

T.R. · Guest

Okay folks, with advice from you kind people, here is what I have
achieved so far or already had up and running:

1. The 98SE Desktop Machine requires me to LogOn when booting.
However, I have not established a password because I hope to make all
this work with me just hitting [Enter] at the LogOn screen on bootup.

2. I have "file and printer sharing for M$ Networks" installed on the
98SE Desktop

3. I have File and Printer sharing turned on on the 98SE Desktop.

I am now told in this thread to make sure both machines have the same
exact workgroup names. I found where this was on the 98SE Desktop
(Control Panel/Network/Identification) but can’t find the same thing
on the XPHome Laptop. BTW, the 98SE Desktop Identification was set
to:
Computer Name: Computer
Workgroup: Workgroup
Computer Description: Gateway PC

Next I am told to goto the XP Laptop and open the "Network Places
Icon". Don’t seem to have this icon anywhere. Thought it would at
least be under [Control Panel/Network and Internet Connections] but it
wasn’t.

Regards,
Thomas

You know what to do.....
spam_trap at adelphia dot net

Ben Myers · Guest

First, each computer MUST have a login password for sharing of printers and/or
files on a network. That is a design requirement of the NT family of products
(including XP), and I know of no way to get around it on a 98SE computer.

To alleviate confusion, make sure that the workgroup names are identical and ALL
CAPITAL LETTERS. Why? Because some Windows releases (I forget exactly) assign
case-sensitive (mixed upper and lowe case) workgroup names, and others force the
names to all caps. And of course workgroup names MUST match exactly. A lower
case letter does not match its upper case friend. In my simplistic way of doing
things, I just make the names all caps.

Network Places are there somewhere. I'm not sitting at an XP computer right
now, and I do not have total recall yet for the navigation in all the Micro$oft
Windows operating systems (95, 95SE, 98, 98SE, ME, NT 4.0, 2000 Pro, 2000
Server, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server). Sorry... Ben Myers

On Wed, 17 Dec 2003 04:42:55 GMT, T.R. <x@y.z> wrote: