Primary reasons why Windows XP and Windows 98/ME networks have trouble sharing resources:

1. Make sure all computers are in the same workgroup and have unique names on the network

2. Make sure all firewalls are disabled while setting up the network. In particular make sure that WinXP's built-in firewall is disabled on the local area connection.

3. Make sure NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled on all computers.

4. Make sure File and Printer Sharing is bound to only one protocol, preferably TCP/IP.

5. Make sure drives and/or folders have been designated as shared.

6. If the Windows 98/ME computers have Client for Microsoft Networks as the primary network logon, make sure that the proper username and password are entered when these machines boot. If Windows logon is the primary network logon, make sure that either a null password is used or that the correct password is used when booting these computers. Hitting the cancel button at the password prompt may prevent network connectivity.

(Credit goes to Forum Regular volcano11 for developing this check list.)

In your case, take a look at #3 and #4 first. Multiple protocols bound to File and Printer Sharing can cause problems. Your capitalization question is not an issue

I have the same problem, but trying to network W95 and XP.  I completed all of the things in the posted list, and also a step by step installation guide I found for W95 and XP networks on the internet.  (including turning off the XP security)  The XP machine can see that it is on the established network (HOMENET), and can see the W95 machine, by name.  The W95 machine can see that it is on the network (HOMENET), and sees itself as being a part of that network, but cannot see the XP machine.  Both machines have identically named and passworded user accounts that are logged in.  Both are running TCPIP, and both can see the internet, browse, etc.  The drives on the W95 machine have been shared, but (I think) because the W95 machine does not recognize the XP network machine, I cannot access the W95 drives.  (I get a message about not having permission to access the W95 machine.)

Physical connection is both machines connected to a router/hub, which is connected to the internet via cable modem.  I did see in the XP networking instructions to put a second ethernet card into the XP machine, then place it between the cable modem and the router, and use the XP security vs. the router (hardware) security, but I am not sure that I like that option better.

Any ideas why my W95 machine is having a hard time looking across the network?  I have other options in mind, like move the drive to the XP machine to make a copy, use a crossover cable between the 2 ethernet cards, etc., but I am not sure why my network attempt won't work.  (Seemed easiest because I already had all of the hardware.)

ARL

The best way to connect everything is exactly how you have it.  If file sharing won't work connected through a router, the same things that are preventing it from working now, will prevent it from working if you use internet connection sharing (which you definetly do not want to do - that's why you have a router) or connecting them through a cross-over cable.  Are you absolutely sure that all firewalls are disabled?  Firewalls are the most common reason for the problems you are seeing.  The Windows XP firewall cannot be used at all if you want file and printer sharing to work.  Any third party firewalls must be configured properly in order for file and printer sharing to work.  Have you designated drives or folders as shared resources on both machines?

Steve

 

Even with the checklist, I am still having difficulty. 

I thought that it might be based on the fact that my laptop is from work and normally I log-in through Novell.  When the laptop starts-up, it prompts for either 1 - Docked/Network Connection or 2 - Non-network/modem.  I still get a login failure, when I start-up indicating that no server could be located to validate the user and some network objects may not be available.  I have tried both options and also tried to modify the Primary Network Login within the network properties but am still having no luck connecting the two. 

I don't have a hub but when I plug the twisted pair cable into the XP machine, I am getting a connection but still can't find the computer or folders.

Thanks Steve,

I looked again at all of my security, and found that I had not disabled the Norton Internet Security program running on my Windows 95 machine.  After killing that program, the connection finally worked.  Attention to detail is needed, and I missed that one.

ARL