Network help please
 

Am hoping that there is a network guru here that can help me with aproblem at work.

We have 7 pcs on a peer to peer network connected via an ADSL router and a network switch. The pcs are a mixture of Win98se, Win2k and XP.

One of the Win98 comps has stopped seeing the other pcs. It can get an internet connection and the other pcs can get onto it. I tried everything I can think of including disabling virus scanning, there is no seperate firewall.

Any help would be appreciated.

Re: Network help please
 

To make things easier I would personally get rid of the Windows 98 machines, I had no end of problems with pcs not seeing each other but working fine for the internet. In the end I just gave up trying to network a Windows 98 machine and either upgraded it or binned it.

Re: Network help please
 

I would love to do that but I have a computer-phobe MD who refuses to spend on anything computer related. Have had a real struggle over the years to get what we have.

Re: Network help please
 

When you say peer to peer I assume you mean a workgroup?

First - have you checked they all have IP addresses and can they ping other devices - router / other PC's etc?

Re: Network help please
 

Yes I mean a workgroup without a server. As I said above all the other pcs can access the fauly pc but it cannot see the others, but it can access the internet via the adsl router.

Re: Network help please
 

The fact that the Win98 PC can access the internet, and also the fact that other PC's can access it proves that everything IP address related is working.

When you go into the network configuration on Windows 98, what are you using as the "primary network logon" it must be set to "Client for Microsoft Networks", you must also actually logon at the login prompt, a common mistake is to bypass in using escape or cancel.

Re: Network help please
 

Yes I am using a Client for MicrosoftNetworks Login

Re: Network help please
 

Can you ping by IP address and it works and if you try pinging the DNS name it fails - correct? If so, it's a naming resolution issue...

Re: Network help please
 

I will try pinging when I go in tomorrow, but I think your right its prolly a naming resolution issue

Re: Network help please
 

If it is, you can try editing the hosts files and adding the ip address / name in there.

Re: Network help please
 

Joesnake I would put a case into him to get some money and upgrade, its going to be more cost efficient to the business if you spend a little as less time will be needed for maintance of old systems.

You need to explain to him simply how it all works and explain to him theres nothing to be affraid of and in fact it will help the business if you have equipment which is recent and up to date.

Anyway back to the problem, you dont have any firewall software on the machines do you as this could cause a problem?

Re: Network help please
 

[quote=Matthew;34203604]Joesnake I would put a case into him to get some money and upgrade, its going to be more cost efficient to the business if you spend a little as less time will be needed for maintance of old systems.
quote]

Mathew you have to understand that this guy is an idiot. He is actually suggesting that we get rid of all the computers and do things manually. He thinks its more effecient. The sooner Im out of there the better.

Back to the problem. I didnt believe this but when I got in this morning I tried pinging the router etc. Then I tried getting onto the network and it works.

Thanks for input guys.

Re: Network help please
 

Do you not get those dell flyers. They are doing a reasonable pc for less than £300 nowadays.

Re: Network help please
 

These days few businesses can survive without IT. To then attempt to survive with inefficient IT is a false economy. OK, Windows 98 PC with Office 97 type software, can still do a good job, especially if it's just simple wordprocessing stuff. But the accountants should have been writing off IT stuff after around 3-4 years, and as I believe businesses can offset a lot of their capital expenditure, I'd struggle to find a good reason not to upgrade.

Still if it's working now, maybe leave alone and just brace yourself for the next time.