Win98SE networking help please!

[Sharpy]

Ok here's the story so far. I had my 2 pc's on a Win2K <-> Win98 network but decided to change them both to Win98SE for better game support. The trouble is they can't see each other. For the last 2 days i've tried to get these *$@^ing machines working.
So i'm here on my knee's pleading for help.

I've searched everywhere and found tons of referances to the problem with 98SE and networking but no answers.

I'm useing 10Mbit NIC's with RJ45 CAT5 cable.
The cards and cable have been tested with the dos diagnostics and are working fine.

I have tried loads of step by step guides and all types of config's.(ie: TCP/IP, IPX/SPX,NetBEUI.)

Any help would be appreciated as i'm all out of idea's.

[Sharpy]

FYI - I cannot ping the computers either.

IP for PC No1 : 192.168.0.1
IP for PC No2 : 192.168.0.2
Subnet mask = 255.255.255.0

As i said in the above post the dos diag program send's and recieves packet's ok and this setup works fine if one PC has Win2K installed.

Could this be a NIC driver problem?
I've tried 2 different drivers but can't find the web site for Unex (makers of my cards) to find any updated ones.

[bobcat]

Are they in the same workgroup?

When you had TCP/IP installed did you ping the other machine via MSDOS window, even though it did not show up in Network Neighborhood?

Did you install the file/print sharing service?

Unfortunately, the last solution I have used to solve this in the past, is to install a clean OS.

[This message has been edited by bobcat (edited 06-02-2000).]

[psyklone]

check and see what your results are for a loopback ping (ping 127.0.0.1) on both machines. it sounds to me like you may need to just go in and remove the network protocols and then remove client for MS networking, reboot the machines and reinstall tcp/ip and client for microsoft networking. give them the ip's that you listed there as well as the subnet and make sure that they are in the same workgroup. go ahead and install (and configure) file/printer sharing while you're at it. that should do the trick.

[Sharpy]

Q1 : Yes I've rechecked the workgroup name.
Q2 : Yes. If i ping 192.168.0.1 from PC 1 it works (it's pinging itself) but change it to 2 and it fails. The same happens with PC 2.
Q3 : Yes file & printer sharing is enabled.

Both PC's where clean installed yesterday morning when i started this.

Anymore idea's are welcome.

[Sharpy]

psyklone - I just tested that loop back thing you mentioned and it was fine (4 sent, 4 recieved 0ms)

I've tried removing everything before with no luck http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif i even tried removing the NIC drivers from device manager but i'll try it again and pray harder this time i'll bbs with the results.

Thx again.(this is doing my head in http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif)

[psyklone]

then what are the chances you've got a funky cat5? i mean, if they pass a loopback and they can ping their own ip ... and everything else seems correct then it seems almost like a hardware issue here.

[Sharpy]

Still no luck http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif
I've done everything i can think of including running the diagnostic's again.

EEPROM = Pass
NIC Card = Pass
TX & RX = 150000 packets without any dropped.

If the CAT5 was dodgy then the dos test wouldn't work.(i know i unplugged it and it didn't)

Hmmmm i guess the only fix for this is to install Win2K again and put up with useless game support.

[Sharpy]

I've renstalled Win2k and it's now connecting to the other computer ok.

Thx for the suggestions though.

[Cooker]

You didn't say if you're using a hub or a crossover cable. If you don't have a hub you must use a crossover cable.