Solved
Windows 98 trouble accessing Windows 2000 resources
Posted on 2002-03-09
I have a network of 5 computers. Computer A is a Novell server (about to be retired, but needed a short time longer). Computer B is a Win98 laptop. Computers C, D, and E are all Win2k Pro desktops. The four workstations all see the Novell server without trouble. The three Win2k machines see the Win98 laptop and it's resources without trouble (albeit slower than when seeing each other). But, the Win98 laptop sees only one of the Win2k machines resources without trouble. The Win98 laptop does see the other two Win2k machines in network neighborhood but sees their resources only about 1 out of 10 tries. Because of this problem, the laptop boots without seeing the Win2k's mapped shared printer about 90% of the time, giving the "Network name cannot be found" message when double clicking on the Win2k's computer name in network neighborhood . I've changed the laptop NIC, changed the patch cable, changed the hub, updated the laptop NIC driver, reloaded all the laptop networking components, reinstalled service pack 2 on the Win2k machines, checked for virus, installed all critical updates to all computers, rebooted computers and hub many times --- all to no avail. The Win98 laptop keeps seeing the Win2k machines in network neighborhood, but just won't attach to their resources about 90% of the time. All the Win2k machines continue to see each other and each other's resources without trouble. Microsoft simply said to reload service pack 2 --- which didn't help. One interesting note: All four workstations use to be Win98 until I wiped and loaded Win2k on three of them. Back when they were all Win98, we had no resource connection problems at all. Now that three have Win2k, the Win98 guy has trouble. Any ideas?