atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums VOIP Phones & IP PBX Networking XP-WIN 98 NETWORKING

I have a customer who is using a Win 98 machine as a "Server" and trying to use thier xp machines to access a folder on the 98 machine. It has been working up until yesterday but just quite. I know the Nic cards are good and all the XP macines can see each other but I am unable to "See" the win 98 "Server" under the network. I went in and made sure all computers are in the same workgroup, what am I missing?

I have had countless problems with trying to network Win 98 machines. I usually end up deleting and re-creating the workgroup several times before it all works right. I do the exact same thing several times. Sometimes it seems to work, sometimes it doesn't.
I would HIGHLY recommend upgrading to XP on the machine.

I agree Win98 really doesn't follow the rules. I think it only works when it wants to. You can set it up correctly 10 times and exactly the same and it may work 3 or 4 times. Just don't understand why. Win98 is wayy too unstable to be used as a server and should go to Win2K or XP for more reliablity, but I understand that sometimes that is not an option.

Good Luck

Have you tried doing a search using the server's ip address instead of the name?

I had this happen awhile back and a local network guy had me add a Protocol NetBEUI to the 98 machine. It worked when I did this and I have had the issue again.

I have the same deal,an XP and a 98 machine networked.Quite often they lose sight of each other although they can both print to the printer and access the internet through the router.Sometimes a reboot of the XP machine helps.When this problem occurs I can ping from 1 computer to another but they don't "see" each other.I'm also considering upgrading the 98 machine to XP to see if that will cure it.

Thanks guys, for what it's worth, it is working now. I went through yesterday and reset all computers to the same workgroup (only 5) and would'nt work. Did the same thing today and it works like a charm. I did have to replace thier 4-port DSL router due to lightening but I don't think that had anything to do with the XP to 98 issue. I just had the computers going with a small hub yesterday without the internet. Thanks again!

You might also try and get the 98 machine's IP address (start > run > winipcfg, make sure you get the ethernet adapter's IP) and use that as the machine name instead, so when accessing the folder, the routine would be:

Start > Run > \\192.168.0.6\myFolder

or make a shortcut to that...

That removes the windows naming convention from being a problem.

Better late than never...
Just for the record, I have a Win 98, Win2000, XP, and Mac OSX all on same net. Oh yea..I just had to try my old Win95 laptop-no problem; just no room on the little HD.
The only problem(s) I had was that the Win 98 had to be rebooted after changing the workgroup (standard procedure for old technology), and finally, the hub/router had to be rebooted.

No problems since.

AvayaNovice,
You are correct!That solved the problem for me,thanks!

On Windows 98 systems they are notorious for name resolution problems. (Name resolution = network name to IP address) In a workgroup environment often you will find this problem. The reason you will find this problem more often in a workgroup is there is no server operating DHCP. (Dynamic IP) So if there is no server operating the DHCP that leaves the router. (Linksys very common.) Routers can perform DNS forwarding(A form of name resolution)But rarely can they actually perform the resolution.
Enough of the explanation. Here's the fix.
In a small environment (less than 10 client pcs)with a couple of 98 machines and no server available where you are using mapped drives I typically will add an entry to the "c:\windows\hosts" file
ex. 192.168.1.10 Server
Then I run in the startup group a shorcut to a batch file that runs a mapped drive command
ex. net use f: \\server\share /y
This gets rid of the inconsistent performance of name resolution in mixed environments.

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BesTech IT Solutions
url=https://www.bestechit.com]BesTech.com[/url]
Cisco, Watchguard, Microsoft and Novell Servers

BT IT - you need some work on your signatures - have you a headache tonight?

BT IT, I forgot...what is the /y switch for?

/y is for stepping through a command. It will prompt you for an answer each step of the way.

BesTechIT
Welcome to the board.
FYI you answered a post thats just about a year ago. (which is ok, didn't know if you knew that)
to get your signature working correctly, try adding "[" before the URL=http

WOW, an IT guy that could not configure his signature correctly? Glad you in Florida and not in Texas. Welcome to the board anyhow.

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Voice and Data Cabling in DFW, [email protected]
https://www.dnrcomm.com

Actually as it turns out, that customer is moving his office this week. I will be onsite tomorrow and If they are still having issues with the "server" I'll give your suggestions a shot. Appreciate the info.

Hurricane Ivan has been GOOD for the re-install biz.

Well hope it helps.
BTW- DNR
I got my training in Dallas that's probably what's wrong with me.


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BesTech IT Solutions
BesTech.com
Cisco, Watchguard, Microsoft and Novell Servers

Must have been on the far south side of Big D, don't remember do ya?

Most of it was on Lockmoor Lane. But I'll never forget my TIME at LSU

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BesTech IT Solutions
BesTechIT.com
Cisco, Watchguard, Microsoft and Novell Servers