Windows95 and Windows98 systems do NOT see each other

Update:
Microsoft seems to have addressed some of these problems in the new
Windows98 SE version, the fix for the original Windows98 is now
available via the “Windows Update“/”Windows98 Update Download“:

In the newsgroups (like: microsoft.public.win98.networking), a lot of questions are posted on configuring Windows98 for Networking. I am listing below my experience with Windows98 and some answers/suggestions found in the newsgroups.
I like to compile a list, on which issue is the most common problem:


First, make sure that you follow the basic requirements to work with the Network Neighborhood:
Browsing the Network
Testing Connection using ‘NET DIAG’
Testing Connection using TCP/IP : Ping
Network card Diagnostics
Combo / Multi-Connector Board


Login to Microsoft Network

To be able to use the Network Neighborhood, you MUST login to the Network !
So, you need to get this login window, enter your name (and password, if you
have defined one), and then click on the OK-button.
( If you just press the ESC-key or click on the Cancel-button, then you are NOT
member of the network, and then Network Neighborhood will not display anything )

Default Protocol
When you have both Windows95 and Windows98 systems connected on the same network, they sometimes do NOT see each other in the Network Neighborhood, even if all other items are configured properly(same name for the workgroup, different names of the systems, File-and-Print Sharing installed, SOMETHING shared,….). This is often the case, when multiple protocols are installed.
First, check the basics in PC not shown in Network Neigborhood
Microsoft changed the behavior of default protocols on Windows98:

When installing a new network card or the
Dialup-Adapter, Windows98 installs as
default ONLY the TCP/IP protocol.
Now, I install for use on the LAN an
additional protocol, in this case : NetBEUI.
But now we should check something called:
Default protocol“, it is found in the
properties of the Protocol under the
tab:”Advanced“.
Check on ALL systems, which protocol
is set as Default protocol

 

When installing a new Network
card or Dialup-Adapter under
Windows95, it installs as
default the protocol NetBEUI
and IPX/SPX, if you need
TCP/IP, you have to add it
yourself.
Again: if you have multiple
protocols installed, check:
Which is set as Default ?

Solution:
select ONE protocol as Default Protocol: make sure, that this protocol
is installed on ALL systems and declared as Default Protocol.
(and please clean up: if you do NOT need the other protocols: Delete them !).


Interrupt Sharing:
I did not experience it myself, but have received messages, that some network drivers do not work properly when Sharing Interrupts and that the problems were solved by Disabling Interrupt sharing or by putting the PCI-network card into a different PCI-Slot.


Network Logon:
Make sure, that you have a Network Logon
(which may require to delete the REALMODE-entry in the Registry)
Without a Network-Logon, you are NOT part of the Network and cannot access any resource on other systems !
This could be the cause, if you have “One-Way Traffic”:
– Windows95 PC in the Windows98 Network-Neighborhood
– but: the Windows98 PC still cannot be seen by Windows95 PC


In the news-groups, I found a suggestion, which I like to list:
microsoft.public.win98.networking: Sept.19,98:Rory McGarity:
Here’s a paste of the most frequently seen solutions to 98 network visibility problems:

* IPX/SPX protocol added/enabled on all machines as Default protocol.
* Enabled NetBIOS support over IPX/SPX on all.



* Latest* NIC drivers from manufacturer (especially Realtek & 3Com)
* Your network client as “primary logon” (If Novell LAN, then go for Novell’s
latest clients 2.2 or 2.5 (or 3.0 if you have access to the “latest”)).

* Explicitly* chosen the IPX frame type (not “automatic”; I prefer Ethernet_II)
* Browse master “Enabled” for *only* one of each OS type, otherwise disabled on all others.
* File&Print Sharing explicitly “on”.
* Folders and/or Drives *explicitly* set to “shared”
* Unique identifications (no spaces, keep short)
* Same* workgroup name (no spaces, keep short) and even if they appear to be identical:
change the workgroup name on ALL Win95 and Win98 systems (this helped in a few cases)
* Unreported but actual NIC IRQ/memory range conflicts
– run NIC’s setup/diagnostics program from a DOS boot (not a DOSbox) to compare
to what Win thinks the IRQ resources are and then get them into agreement.

* Disable PnP OS in the 98 CMOS setup (seems rarest “blocker”, but this one does cure for some hardware) (details in another message below).
* All the machines on my LANs also have TCP/IP installed. None have NetBEUI installed
(unless one wants to “split the hair” regarding the relationships between NetBIOS support over IPX and NetBEUI)
————
Best Regards,
Rory McGarity in Tokyo, Japan


Newsgroup message posted by Art Wong on Jan.3,99:
The problem came down to the Award v4.51PG BIOS setting for PnP/PCI Configuration.
I built Win98 with the PnP OS Installed set to YES.
During boot up the NIC had IRQ 5. When Win98 took over it assigned it IRQ 11 using IRQ Steering. Only by using the RSET8029.EXE configuration and diagnostic program in DOS, I found communications occurred when the NIC had IRQ 5.
Win98 wouldn’t run if IRQ Steering was turned off. It also wouldn’t boot if I set PnP OS Installed to NO in the BIOS.
What worked for me was to reinstalled Win98 after a DOS boot with PnP OS set to NO, then disable IRQ Steering. Now the BIOS IRQ setting for the NIC matches the Win98 Resources described in Control Panel, System, Device Manager, Network Adapter.


Another suggestion made in the NewsGroup message:

Turn on (set to Yes) in Windows98 “LM Announce” in the Properties of the “File and Print Sharing (according to Microsoft’s Resource Kit, this should only be required for communication to ‘old’ LanManager (LM) Systems, but it seems to help also on communications between Windows95 and Windows98. But be aware: turning this on will cause additional Network traffic, when Windows98 is now sending out these broadcast messages to advertize its existance).


Conflict between AGP Video adapter and PCI slot 1
( copy of the Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q193938 )
CAUSE
This behavior can occur if a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) network adapter is being used on one of the computers on the network. If the network adapter is in PCI slot 1 and an Accelerated Graphic Port (AGP) video adapter is installed, a conflict between the network adapter and the AGP video adapter can occur and prevent you from browsing the network.
RESOLUTION
To resolve this behavior, use as many of the following steps as is necessary. After following each step, test to see if the behavior is resolved. If the behavior is not resolved, go to the next step until the behavior is resolved.

1. Verify that resources are being assigned automatically to the network adapter. To do so, follow these steps:
a. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
b. Double-click System
c. On the Device Manager tab, double-click the Network Adapters branch
to expand it, click your network adapter, and then click Properties.
d. On the Resources tab, click the Use Automatic Settings check box
to select it, click OK, and then click OK again.
2. Move the network adapter from slot 1 to another available PCI slot. For information about how to do so, refer to the documentation included with the computer or contact the computer’s manufacturer.
3. Disable PCI bus IRQ steering
4. In the computer’s basic input/output system (BIOS), change the shared interrupt request line (IRQ) to Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) so that it cannot be assigned by PCI bus IRQ steering. For information about how to change BIOS settings, refer to the documentation included with the computer or contact the computer’s manufacturer.
5. Verify that a resource conflict does not exist between the network adapter and another device in the computer.
NOTE: If there is a resource conflict between the network adapter and another device, it may not be apparent in Device Manager.

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