Networking different OS trouble

[Darkfox3393]

Thank you all in advance for any help you provide. It will be greatly appreciated.

I am having troubles networking my computers in my house. I have a Linksys router that wirelessly connects to our internet. This router is connected to our main computer in the house, which runs on win98. All of the other computers are XP. Well, kind of. One computer had 98, but was upgraded to winxp.

I am going to refer to my my copmuter's as the following:
Main computer:Main computer
Computer UPGRADED to XP: copmuter 1
Computer with XP originally: computer 2

I am having trouble getting all of these computers accessable by eachother. All of the computers show up on the main computer, but when I try to access computer 2 by clicking on the icon, it has the error message:

"\\computername" is not accessible.

The Computer or sharename could not be found. Make sure you typed it correctly, and try again.

And yes I did make sure it was correct and they same message came up. Im stuck. I don't know what to try. I tried changing the name of computer 2 and it still didn't work. I need some help.

Sorry if this is all hard to understand. Just ask for me to clarify anything, I'll see what I can do. Thanks again!

[Fox]

I would check first to make sure that there isn't a firewall blocking LAN sharing.

[Darkfox3393]

I turned it off on the XP copmuter and it still had the same message. Is there one on the 98 I should turn off?

[Fox]

I don't think there's a firewall installed by default in 98.

Have you tried browsing the workgroup to see if the computers can at least identify each other with NetBIOS? In 98, just click on network neighborhood and it should show you the computer name of the one in XP.

I may be missing something key to the functionality of XP and 98 together, but it's been so long since I've dealt with that that I don't know if I have or not. Hopefully someone will chime in if I'm leaving something out.

[Darkfox3393]

Yes. The computer does show up in network neighborhood. It's jst figuring out that darn error message.

We've had this problem for a very long time. I'm finally taking action. I can't figure out anything.

[Fox]

Strange. I hate these weird errors.

Here a cached thread of someone who had a similar problem. Maybe some of the answers in there might help you...

[Darkfox3393]

Thanks. I'm looking in that forum and Im looking in links to other forums and everything. I seem to be making some progress. I'll keep looking. If you find a solution, please let me know. Thanks Fox!

[Darkfox3393]

Oh while I'm asking questions....Does anyone know how to Add a network user to an XP computer? or something like that? I looked elsewhere and it said to go to users and passwords in the control panel but it wasn't there. Only user accounts....Anyone know how to add a network user?

[johnwill]

Users are network users, they just have to have a network to connect to. What is your specific issue?

[Darkfox3393]

My second message wasn't really my main issue. I just need to network my computers. Read first post for details.

[johnwill]

Checklist for networking Windows Machines with TCP/IP
-----------------------------------------------------
- PCs which are not XP must have TCP/IP installed.
- Each PC must have a unique computer name.
- Each PC must have a network share defined.
- ALL NICS must be on the same subnet (e.g. IP 192.168.0.* subnet mask 255.255.255.0).
- XP PCs must have Netbios over TCP/IP enabled (only essential for XP to talk to W9X PCs).
- MS Client and file & printer sharing must be enabled on each machine.
- All NICs must have their node type = anything except p-node (peer to peer, or point-point).
* To check, open a command prompt and type IPCONFIG /ALL.
- XP's ICF firewall is permanently disabled. (Only necessary for pre XP SP2).
- All 3rd party firewalls are disabled, uninstalled and deleted (until connection is working).
- PCs have the same workgroup (helps, but not essential for XP/2K, necessary for 9X/ME).

Allow 15 mins after rebooting a PC for that PC to appear in the workgroup, or
for it to see all other PCs. Or you can search for the PC by its computer name.


Additional things to check if you still have problems:
-----------------------------------------------------
- Check your Services are Started on all PCs: Workstation, Server, TCP/IP Netbios helper, Computer Browser.
- XP gives access to its shares via the Net Guest Account. (Note, not the same as the local guest account in user accounts which should be off). Net Guest Account is enabled by default in XP, but to check it, open a command prompt and type: NET USER GUEST
Should return a line with 'Account active yes'.


Check XP Security policies:
--------------------------
- Access this computer from the network: add guest
- Deny logon locally: remove guest
- Network access:Sharing and security model... -> Guest only
- Deny access to this computer from the network-> check Guest is not here.

[Darkfox3393]

There! Ok hoe do I access the network security settings for Win XP?(see "Check XP security policies" in last post to see what I'm talking about.)

[johnwill]

If you have XP-Home, you don't have the network security settings.

[Darkfox3393]

Dang. So I guess the only complete solution is to just switch all computers to Xp. Ah well. It'll be done someitme. Thanks for your help though. I really appreciate it.