[Amelia]

ok, computer whizzes, i bought the XP computer (nice!) and am trying to set up the home network with my old Win98 machine. Been working on it since last night, and both computers are showing the network, but neither computer seems to "see" the other one.

The XP computer came with an ethernet card. My hubby bought a Netgear SB104 Network Starter Kit which came with 2 network cards & a hub. I put the network card in the old machine, it says it's working properly. Hooked up all the cables, plugged in the hub, and ran the network connection wizard. It said it worked.

The hub seems to be connecting to both computers, it has a light at each connection, the light is lit if the computers are turned on, off if the computers are turned off.

So why can't my computers see each other? What do I do next? (I'm gonna be going back to work looking like Sinead O'Connor if this keeps up!)

[Amelia]

Please see #243 above...Howlin, I know you don't know the answer, I just pinged you because you really need to get YOU a new computer too! :)

btw, perhaps I should mention I'm using a dialup connection for internet. No DSL or cable available here yet. :(

[kazoo]

Did you install File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks in Network Properties?

[Petronski]

Wow. I don't know what XP network setup is like, but some common mistakes I think happen in any windows system. Make sure all computers on the network have at least one Network Service and Network Protocol in common (use the network icon in the win98 control panel). Most commonly, NetBEUI and TCP/IP are setup on all computers, and each application selects the one it likes.

If a computer shows up on the network, but it's drives aren't available, and it's at least in win95/98, you must manually turn on 'sharing.' Open "My Computer" and right click on each drive icon, then select 'sharing.' If it's a home network with trust all around, just set all drives to Shared as...full. When you're through, a little hand should be show reaching out to each drive icon within 'my computer.'

[gcraig]

"So why can't my computers see each other?"

If you mean see each other via TCP/IP ping, it would seem impossible to route outbound via a common router if they were'nt able. I suspect you mean in the Network Neighborhood -- and in that case you need to load the NetBEUI protocol, and have both computers join the same workgroup. You can config that via a right click on the network neighborhood. Check the help files for more info.