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Getting Windows 98 se to network

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by isrick

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I have 3 Pentum 100 systems the only difference is the mem 16,24 and 32 ine each sys. The issue is on a clean load the two with low mem will not get on a network, They can see them selfs on the network and one of there computer names show up, have checked the drivers one has a new nic, it is peer to peer and uses netbeui, the same sys had win98st and worked fine. Can any one shed some light?

22 replies

by deadly ernest

The most likely problem is that you do not have sufficient memory to allow full operation of the o/s and the services for full network capability. The system is not loadding the services it cannot run properly.

Boost the RAM to 32MB for all machines and you should be OK. Higher if possible.

by guruofdos

A computer will only see itself on the network unless it has a shared folder, drive or printer, then the others can see it!

by isrick

The shares was on to see it self , the fix though is the the main board chip set is not win98se campatable so there is no fix thank you

by hal 9000

As to share something in Win Nightmare 8 you just go into the My Computer right click on the disk/folder/printer and the on the drop down menu chose share. You have the option of share all, read only or setting paswords. When this is set up taking into acount that the Network drivers are installed then the computer should see itself and anything else on the network.

Go into the control pannel and click on networks {at least I think that's what it is as it's been so long ago} and make sure that you have selected Microsoft networking, then File & print sharing and make sure that your network card is installed properly with TCP/IP. If the TCP/IP is not set up then click on add then protocols and then Microsoft and scroll down to TCP/IP andclick on that. You will be required to place the Win 98 disk in the computer and it will probably ask to reboot. You may also get a massage to tell you that TCP/IP is selected for Internet connection and would you like Windows to close this down click on yes and then Windows will reboot. Then you can go about setting up sharing on what ever drives/folders/printers that you want. Of course you will have to do this on every computer on the network and if you are using an RJ45 lead between 2 computers then it will have to be a cross over lead or the thing won't work but if it is running through a router there should be no problems.

by karthik.iyer

hi

i faced a similar pbm with win 98. the problem got solved by having a single user login name in all the machines.

y dont u try it n c whether it works for u.

karthik iyer

by isrick

It is a ALI m5818 b1

Is the only markings I could find it dose have a intell pci chip set

thanks

by isrick

that last ID was for the bios clock, This and the other one are FuguTech model M507 boards

Found this through the Bios Id's

by hal 9000

First open the control panel and then click on Windows Setup, pay particular attention to the comunications section and make sure everything in this one section is selected. It might not hurt to install some of the other bits and pieces while your already there, it will require the Win CD to load these new drivers and then reboot. You will have to do this on every computer.

Next are you using RJ45 cable through a router or 50 ohm coaxial? If its the coaxial you need T pieces at every computer with a terminator at each end and the coax in between so with a 3 station network you should have on the first station 1 terminator, 1 T peice then the coax going to the next computer. At the second computer you should have the coax coming in to the T piece and then leaving again to the last computer. At the 3 computer you should have the T piece with one side connected to the coax and the terminator on the other side. If you have any more T pieces connected without coax coming into each side the the network will not work so install a terminator on any spare/unused T pieces. This system will only alow 10 MBS transfer and has long since been disposed of but for a home network it works just fine. If all the coax connections are all right get a multimeter and check the coax leads as it is not unknown for one or more to fail you want to check for no breaks in the lines that is you should get little to no restinance along the centre pins or the outside connectors of the BNC plugs, at the same time check to make sure that there is no contact between the inner and outer lines. If there is replace that bit of coax.

Now its time to set up the computers first go into the control pannel and click on the network icon and make sure that the Network cards are correctly installed with the proper language between all computers Eg TCP/IP, NEUBIOS or whatever.

by hal 9000

The computers that can see themselves in My Network Neighbourhood probably have the right networking protocols already installed so leave them alone. Concentrate on the ones that can't see themselves. If all the computers can see themselves then theproblem is probably in the connection between them if its coax then one of the leads is probably damaged and if your using RJ45 then its likely to be the router as if you had one faulty lead the other computers should see each other.

Hope this has been of some help

by hal 9000

Now when you have checked that all the computers have the poroper network protocols installed then close that window and open the network window. below the installed network devices and protocols you will find a window that says Client for MS Networks change this with the dropdown arrow to Windows Logon. Then next one down click on file & Printer sharing when the box comes up make sure both items are ticked the click on apply you'll need the Win CD again for this and probably a reboot as well.When all this is done open My Computer and RIGHT CLICK on one of the drives {A being the best one to try out with} and then go down the dropdown list until you come to SHARING click on this and then set your options Namly to share the drive and weather you want it as a read only drive or an open drive where its contents can be changed when this is done click on apply. You may get a message somewhere along the line if a computer is connected to the internet through some sought of modem that TCP/IP connection is available online and do you want windows to disable this option click on yes and the computer will reboot. Once all the computers are setup then click on Network Neighbourhood & see what happens if only one computer is listed then click on that one and see what is available. Hopefully any drives/folders/files or printers that you selected should show up as being available. If every computer shows itself without the others then go to the last entry on this subject and let me knowif you are continuning to have troubles.

by hal 9000

If a computer can see itself on a network but when you click on it and there is nothing then you have not set up anything to share and in some cases you may have set the Workgroups name to different names in which case you will have to ckick on Entire Network and that will show all Workgroups on the network. If a computer can see itseld and then shows nothing when open you have to set up something to share on that computer like a drive or folder or file or printer. If you have managed to put the computers on different workgroups then you will have to go into the control pannel and then Networks and change the Workgroup Name this is on the second tab at the top of the open screen {I think it may also require a reboot as well but I'm not that sure as I havent worked with 98 Networks for quite some time now.}

Anyway if you still experience problems lets know what they are and just maybe I'll be able to work out a solution for you.

by isrick

Thank you for the very informative step by step for the network setup. Just so you know I am MSCE certified, the two systems I am talking about get on the hetwork just fine with windows 98 st but after you install win 98 se they are slow responding to the network places they show up them selfs as the only computer in there workgroup but will not see eny other computers

Hope this helps the best I can come up with is the MB or BIOS the MB is is a FuguTech M507

Thaanks for the responce

by hal 9000

Changing the Network Protocol over to TCP/IP it performs better anyway and is faster with 98SE. Also 98 SE will not allow a computer with a modem to share the contents of the network over the internet unless you override it and prevent it from disconecting the Modem proticol from the same network protocol as the network. This should fix your problem and if possible up the mem as much as possible but you are probably limited in just how far you can go anyway. Remember that Windows 98 whatever will not work with more than 512MB of ram as it simply won't boot. 512 MB is its upper limit but saying that you also must understand that 16 Meg is far too small for 98 SE anyway. It just might pay you to return to the original 98 version and put in all the patches particuarly the Y2K ones as 98 while claing to be Y2K complinent wasn't but it did use less system resources than the latter version.

by mazmann_98

hi there just read your bit about the ram on win98se, my system runs with 765Meg give or take. It boots up fine, have wireless network running from it. Used cat5 before but to many wires....to four machines around the house.

by hal 9000

But on every computer I have ever tried anything above 512 Meg Windows 98 SE wont boot or install. But having said that I have never tried to load Windows 98 onto a new P4 M'Board that utilises HD RAM that could make a difference but as a general rule 512 Meg is the upper limit that Windows 98 can work with as it fails to properly handle amounts of memory above this point on every M'Board that I have ever run across, and that is what MS claim as well or at least what they where telling us at their last Partners Briefing however that could be a ruse to sell XP or 2000 as it could concievbly run on some of the newer M'Boards that use RDRAM and can use large amounts into the bargin. Like the Tyan Dual Processor M'Board that can take up to 12 GB of Ram but then again as Windows 98 wont work 2 CPUs why would you try it?

by hal 9000

Flash the BIOS to the latest version this may help as only yesterday I got in a computer for repair with an Intel M'Board and when I checked the BIOS it must have been the original one as the new one that I flashed it to was about 12 versions latterFrom memory it had ver 4 and I installed ver 16. It at least worked better after that modification.

by isrick

Well day 20 we got the bios flashed to the latest that I could find from 1999, This did not emprove the network at all still the same

Does some one know where I can buy a Windows 98st adition this does work on this system and I want one

Thanks for the help guys

by hal 9000

Pirate relms & as a M$ partner I should report you HA HA but seriously if you don't have access to at least one copy of the original 98 or 95 with an upgrade to 98 then your in a bit of a fix. I'd try the flee markets or computer markets its about your only chance unless you know someone who you can beg/steal/borrow a copy from and even then you run the risk of M$ Storm Troopers Comming in and hitting you over the head very hard with an expensive Law Suit. They won't be concerned that their OS don't work with your hardware there only interested in the money.

However if your friendly with an IT guy or a real computer store not one of the mass market ones that sell HP, Dell or similar then you just might be able to borrow an old copy of one of these versions of 98 otherwise I think your up the creek in a barbed wire canoe without a paddle. But seriously as a M$ Partner when you bought the computers you should have got the original disks, Manuals, Licence agreement ect so you could try approching the seller and asking for these as they are under a legal obligation to supply them. And if you have no joy there then Ring up M$ and ask for an old copy and when they refuse tell them you will use Linux instead as its better anyway thatjust might bring a sasisfactory responce from that Giant of an origanisation as presently they are parinoid about Linux. It would help by telling them they you are learning to be a system administrator and if they won't help you you will just have to go the Linux route and then all your customers will be recomended Linux as a real alternative to the M$ second rate OS's.

Hope you have some luck if you where in AU I'd lend you a copy just to get you out of this fix but since your in the US thats out of the question as the M$ product is different in different countries.

by isrick

I just got this job and the reson I had to go to SE was that they did not have the disk and this was the only legeal copys of 98 that I could find so as to being a M$ partner so am I and that is what started this whole mess to start with

thank you

by hal 9000

But I understand your problems. If you'd like to send me an e-mail with your address I post a copy of the AU version of 98 over.

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