Crossover Cable with NETBEUI and with TCP/IP

Hi specsol,

Could be that the TCP/IP stack or winsock is corrupt on one of the computers, use this tool to reset it.
http://www.bu.edu/pcsc/internetaccess/winsock2fix.html

Also, check if you have any firewalls running, you might have to reconfigure it so you build a trusted zone.

Greetings,

LucF

Thanks LucF. There are no firewalls running, (no internet connections), both machines had a clean install of Windows 98 SE and I have removed and re-installed the TCP/IP on both machines. They behave as if the cable is not there -- if I remove it, both computers still give same results. Suspected the cable faulty, but it works fine with NETBEUI and no TCP/IP. So wanted to know if TCP/IP uses a different set of the cable wires from NETBEUI?

Specsol

specsol,
Nope they both use exactly the same cable, that's why I suspect a mistake in the tcp/ip stack.
What adresses have you used?

I have tried just about every combination. Currently, one machine is on "Get IP Adress automatically -- setting 169.254.179.92, wwith the other a fixed address set at 192.168.0.2. Previously tried thev addresses set at 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.0.2 This last gave (for one occasion) the 192.168.0.2 machine listing both machines in Network Neighbourhood but unable to reach the other while the 192.168.0.1 machine only saw itself. Thanks for the info about the cable use in NETBEUI & TCP/IP -- I was gradually coming to that conclusion myself. Will try your tool & see what happens

Specsol

Ok, good luck.

btw, the settings you posted above: 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.0.2 is the right one. Both with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0

The Win2Fix tool does not do the trick. In using the 192.168.0.1 & 192.168.0.2 I presume this implies setting both machines to have a fixed IP address. What should be the settings for DNS configuration? I had set DNS enabled with the Host as the machines own name but put 192.168.0.1 as the DNS search order. Also put 192.168.0.1 in the Gateway. Each machine had its own IP addess in the IP Address tab.

Specsol

As there are no internet connections, you don't have to fill in the DNS servers, so set it up not to use DNS.

I'm wondering why you can't ping the other computer... :(

So am I! That is what originally made me think the cable was to blame. Will set it to not use DNS on both machines

Specsol

Please doublecheck if you don't have any firewalls running. Zonealarm/Norton internet security/ whatever.

Definitely no firewalls, nothing installed. Also system is not stable. If I alter some parameters then go back to previous settings, the machines behave differently. Currently, with addresses 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.0.2 the 192.168/0/1 mamhine sees both machines in Netwoek Neighbourhood, cannot access 192.168.0.2 (gives message \\Mcl2 is not accessible, the computer or sharename could not be found) while the 192.168.0.2 machine cannot see anything (even itself) in Network Neighbourhood (message Unable to browse the network, when clicking on Entire Network). Previously with same settings as now, each could see itself but not the other. As regards the "Unable to browse the network" message, I am familiar with the Microsoft Knowledge  Base Article 193938 on this message. Been through with no result

Specsol

Further information. I got past the "Unable to browse the network" by removing and then replacing the TCP/IP. 192.168.0.2 now sees itself but not 192.168.0.1

Specsol

Network neighborhood requires the use of netbios namesin win9x machines.  are you attempting to ping by IP or NetBios names?  you can try adding the computers and IP addresses to the other computers lmhost file to resolve name to IP.

Thank you kabaam

I have tried both the IP addresses and the names, with & without LMHOST files to resolve the names. No joy in any case

specsol

from both machines
ping 192.168.0.1
ping 192.168.0.2
ipconfig /all

Do you have any type of antivirus running?  I have seen some that have a basic firewall service that blocks these type of comms.
check the workgroup names on both computers.  They need to be the same

No antivirus. Neither machine connects to anything except the other machine -- except even that does not happen!

specsol

I should add that I have now had the crossover cable tested and that is OK

specsol

I have now solved the problem. I had to remove the network adaptor (RealtekRTL8139/810X) from the Device Manager of both machines, remove the driver from Windows/system and the Information file from Windows/Inf/Other. Rebooting then autodetected the cards and installed drivers. System then worked.

My thanks to  LucF and Kabaam for their help

specsol

Hmm, a forrest through the trees thingy ;-)

Glad you solved your problem.

LucF

ditto, glad to hear that you now have you network working like it should.
If you would like a refund of your points, post a zero point question to the Community support Topic area.
Asking for a PAQ/refund as you solved the problem yourself.  Include a link to this question.
good luck,
CHAD