Workgroup is not accessible - XP and W98SE

Question

After a week of troubleshooting, I'm stumped. I am trying to network my XP machine with a W98SE machine. I've gone through the network setup wizard on the XP machine and made the floppy disk to set up the W98SE machine. When I click on View Workgroup Computers, I get the error msg.: 'Workgroup is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have asccess permissions. The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available.' What's doubly confounding about this is that just three weeks earlier, I had this same XP machine successfully connected to a different W98SE machine to transfer files from it to the XP machine. I moved what I needed, then disconnected the other W98SE machine and hooked up my other W98SE machine. Went through the network setup procedure and got the above error message. I've read the 'READ BEFORE POSTING' information and tried various things, to no avail (disabled firewall, enabled NetBios over TCP/IP, etc., etc., etc.) I followed the steps in the MS Knowledge Base Article - 318030, which seems to address my exact problem, but that didn't work either (that was basically just to enable NetBios over TCP/IP and make sure Computer Browser service was enabled). I am connecting the two machines via a Belkin router, the same as I did the first time when the systems could see each other. I've exhausted every measure I know to take, short of wiping out both hard drives and starting with fresh installs. I sure don't want to do that if it's not necessary.

wallmg · Answer

I don't know what happened, but I went to close out my 'View Workgroups' window and, lo and behold, there were my computers! I guess the last thing I attempted worked but just took several minutes to get activated. I don't remember what the last thing was that I tried. But I know I had tried it before because I've tried everything at least twice. Anyway, sorry for the unnecessary post.

jmwills · Answer

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.)

RickWinger · Answer

I am working with the same issue (XP/W98 networking).

So far, this is what I have that works:

- An XP Home desktop with a Linksys router and Internet access (Comcast cable).

- A Windows 98 desktop with Internet access (Ethernet cable) but no file or printer sharing.

I have run the network wizard on the XP desktop, created a set up disk, and run it on the W98 desktop. But so far, they don't see each other.

So, (assuming the steps in this list will cure my ailment) how do I:

1. Determine which is the primary network logon? And

2. Remove, or designate one or the other, to get it right?

Thanks,

Rick

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

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