small ethernet

[westeng]

I have a small ethernet network (3 computers). One is Win 95 (I use some DOS software that works fine, no need to update). One is win 98 and one is win xp. The win 95 communicates with the win 98 but not the win xp. The win 98 communicates with both. I would like to upgrade the win 98 but I am afraid I will lose communication with the win 95. It seems like it is a protocol compatibility problem (the win 95 and 98 use appear to only work together with netBEUI but I can't figure out how to get the win xp to use it). Is there a way to do this? Alternately, is it possible to run old DOS (early 90's) software under win xp?

[Midknyte]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q301041

you should really get off of win95. MS dropped support for that years ago. NetBEUI is a very chatty protocol, which is why MS dumped it from XP's default list.

[Ol'Tunzafun]

Not that long ago, I successfully networked Win95 with 2 XP Pro units. If you want a complete TCP/IP network, it is necessary to install the Winsock2 upgrade in the Win95 machine. This Win95 machine now shares files with the XP machines, prints to a network (IP port) printer and has high speed internet access.
It never ceases to amaze me how fast Win95 can be with only 64MB SDRAM.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows95/downloads/contents/WUAdminTools/S_WUNetworkingTools/W95Sockets2/Default.asp


If it is going to have internet access you should also install IE5.01SP2
http://browsers.evolt.org/?ie/32bit/5.01_SP2
Among other security issues, this will allow you to run contemporary AV apps like AVG.