Network Mapping Failure Problem

I am running Windows XP SP2 Home, and am trying to set up a Direct Cable
Connection (DCC - parallel ports) network so as to easily transfer some files
from my old Win98SE computer. I can get the connection to work - I get a
'Connected' message on both computers - but when I try to map the Host
(Win98) computer drive (which I have set up for Sharing) I get an error msg
that states it cannot find it.
What am I doing wrong? Please reply to birr(remove
Thanks!

On Wed, 1 Dec 2004 22:29:02 -0800, Sandy the Shark Sandy the
wrote:

I am running Windows XP SP2 Home, and am trying to set up a Direct Cable
Connection (DCC - parallel ports) network so as to easily transfer some files
from my old Win98SE computer. I can get the connection to work - I get a
'Connected' message on both computers - but when I try to map the Host
(Win98) computer drive (which I have set up for Sharing) I get an error msg
that states it cannot find it.
What am I doing wrong? Please reply to birr(remove
Thanks!

Asked here, answered here. For everybody's benefit.

Possibly a browser (no not Internet Explorer) problem. Make sure the browser
service is running on the WinXP computer. Control Panel - Administrative Tools
- Services. Verify that the Computer Browser, and the TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper,
services both show with Status = Started. Disable the browser on the Win98
computer - Win98 and WinXP browsers don't work well together. Power both
computers off, then power the WinXP computer on, and finally the Win98 computer.
http://cms.simons-rock.edu/faq_by_subtopic/node138.html

The Microsoft Browstat program will show us what browsers you have in your
domain / workgroup, at any time.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305

You can download Browstat from either:
http://www.dynawell.com/reskit/microsoft/win2000/browstat.zip
http://rescomp.stanford.edu/staff/manual/rcc/tools/browstat.zip

Browstat is very small (40K), and needs no install. Just unzip the downloaded
file, copy browstat.exe to any folder in the Path, and run it from a command
window, by "browstat status". Make sure both computers give the same result.

For more information about the browser subsystem (very intricate), see:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188001
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winntas/deploy/prodspecs/ntbrowse.mspx

Also, look at registry key [HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa], value
restrictanonymous.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/default.asp?url=/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/regentry/46688.asp
http://www.jsifaq.com/subf/tip2600/rh2625.htm
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=246261
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=296403

The above articles refer to Windows 2000. Remember WinXP is NT V5.1, and Win2K
is NT V5.0.

Have you used the Registry Editor before? If not, it's a scary tool, but it's
pretty simple once you get used to it. Here are a couple articles that might
help:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/default.asp?url=/windowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/tools_regeditors.asp
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/registry

Just remember to backup the key (create a registry patch) for
[HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa] before making any changes, if
appropriate.

From the Annoyances article:
You can create a Registry patch by opening the Registry Editor, selecting a
branch, and choosing Export from the File menu. Then, specify a filename, and
press OK. You can then view the Registry patch file by opening it in Notepad
(right-click on it and select Edit). Again, just double-click on a Registry
patch file (or use Import in the Registry Editor's File menu) to apply it to the
registry.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.