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September 19th, 2004 00:00
Unable to network Windows XP and Windows 98; possible need for Windows 98 service pack(s)
I tend to give more detail than is necessary, so I apologize in advance for the length of this monster; been fighting this problem for months. I have a new Dell 8300 with Windows XP Pro, and it's been great. Problem is with my old machine, an Acer with an early Pentium which had been upgraded to 64MB of RAM and Windows 98 and used to have internet access via dial-up. I decided to try to network the machines, using a new Netgear WGR614 router and broadband internet access via cable, and the Dell is working fine. The router has both NAT and SPI firewall, and I've disabled both ICF and ICS on the Dell and uninstalled the antivirus on the Acer.
I installed an ethernet card in the Acer (tried and removed a used card in an ISA slot, and currently have a new 10/100 card in a PCI slot but had to lose the phone modem to get the PCI slot.) Had a lot of trouble loading the driver for the 10/100 card, and a cousin who is a serious gearhead says I've done everything right and thinks there's something wrong with the Windows 98 (I thought I had downloaded all the Windows 98 fixes for the old machine--took about a century with the dial-up--but maybe it got hurt.) When I try to download the 98 Customer Service Pack CD to my Dell, planning to burn it to a CD and install it on the Acer, the Windows website won't let me at it because I'm using an XP machine.
One source of concern on the Dell: when I run the network setup wizard (several times) everything seems to run properly except that I get an error message "Spooler Sub-system App has encountered a problem and needs to close..."; when I respond to the dialog box, it disappears and I get the wizard's message that everything installed correctly, and so it seems. Haven't been able to find anything about this on MS website.
At this point, I don't have a clue whether the Service Pack would help the Acer, or whether that's the reason I had trouble with the ethernet driver, or whether it's dark at night. Any help would be appreciated, but even more than help, I'd like to know the how and why of the situation. Many thanks to anyone who can help.
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esquire
2 Intern
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2.5K Posts
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September 19th, 2004 02:00
Have you checked the adapter's IP address on the Acer? Does it resemble anything similar to that on the XP (should be in some kind of sequence)?
To check the IP on 98, go to Start > Run. Type and exceute WINIPCFG. Select your network adapter when the program launches. To check the IP on XP, go to Network Connections, double-click your Local Area Connection icon and click the Support tab on the next screen.
If everything checks out, you may want to consider adding the old NetBEUI protocol to both computers - it helps me getting XP and 98 to network together as a last resort every time. XP doesn't have NetBEUI support, but you can still install it by following these instructions: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=301041.
Good luck!
PS. I would reinstall the antivirus program on the Acer - it's not safe w/o it.
Message Edited by esquire on 09-19-2004 12:04 PM
jmwills
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12K Posts
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September 20th, 2004 11:00
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.)
Ascreenname
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September 20th, 2004 22:00
awaremess
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September 28th, 2004 16:00
I'm not very technical but as I'm ging to try to set up a similar network in the next couple of days I have done some research. I don't know yet as I haven't tried but it seems that there may be problems trying to network through a router using windows 98 first edition whearas the second edition doesn't have any problems. An upgrade to the latter may be necessary. Although one geek I talked to said that there are downloads and patches available but he didn't know which ones and that it was comlicated for Windows first ed.