network access problems

[Debra]

I have had a trouble free peer network with 98 and
millennium systems connected for 3 years. I recently
added several XP laptops to this network because I
replaced several of the older laptops that were
previously connected. As each computer was purchased I
added it to the network without noticing any problems.
About a week ago I started to have problems connecting to
some of the shared recourses on the network and seeing
some of the older operating systems on the network. Now,
all the XP's can only see the XP's and only one of the
older desktop's running 98 can see the whole network
(including the XP's). Has anyone experienced similar
problems and what should I do to make all the systems
compatible with each other. I did try and reconfigure the
network using a network set up disk from one of the XP's
as a first step in problem solving this. All computers
have unique names and all have the same identified
workgroup name. It is like they want to belong to two
separate networks.

[Steve Winograd]

In article >, "Debra"
> wrote:
>I have had a trouble free peer network with 98 and
>millennium systems connected for 3 years. I recently
>added several XP laptops to this network because I
>replaced several of the older laptops that were
>previously connected. As each computer was purchased I
>added it to the network without noticing any problems.
>About a week ago I started to have problems connecting to
>some of the shared recourses on the network and seeing
>some of the older operating systems on the network. Now,
>all the XP's can only see the XP's and only one of the
>older desktop's running 98 can see the whole network
>(including the XP's). Has anyone experienced similar
>problems and what should I do to make all the systems
>compatible with each other. I did try and reconfigure the
>network using a network set up disk from one of the XP's
>as a first step in problem solving this. All computers
>have unique names and all have the same identified
>workgroup name. It is like they want to belong to two
>separate networks.

You might be able to access another computer, even if it doesn't
appear in My Network Places, by typing its name in the Start | Run
box, preceded by two backslashes. For example:

\\XPLaptop

Make sure that there's only one network protocol being used for File
and Printer Sharing. Using more than one can make a Windows network
unreliable, especially when XP is involved, and cause the type of
browsing problem that you're seeing.

If the network uses TCP/IP, remove IPX/SPX and NetBEUI from all
computers.

Another possible solution is to stop the Computer Browser service on
the XP computers, so that one of the ME computers is the master
browser, which is the computer that maintains the list of computers on
the network. To stop the Computer Browser service:

1. Right click My Computer, and click Manage.
2. Double click Services and Applications.
3. Double click Services.
4. Double click Computer Browser. If the Service status is Started,
click Stop.
5. Set the Startup type to Disabled.

For more tips, please see this site:

Adding Windows XP to an Existing Network
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/addxp.htm
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

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