Multi-OS networking

[CrucialCarl]

In my house we have:

4 pc's with XP Pro
1 with XP home
3 with win98SE
3 with 2000


Most of which are connected to a linksys switch, but 3 of them are connected on 1 hub.

They all have the same workgroup name "NET". The problem is that some machines can see other ones, some cannot. Sometimes you can browse the network shares, sometimes you cannot. I believe this has something to do with the 'Master Browser' list for the network, and disabling 'Computer Browser' service in XP/2K. All of the machines can ping each other, and can access the internet no problem. I have been using FTP to share files between the PC's but it would be easier to just use windows shared drives.

Can anybody break it down for me and explain what the problem is and what I should do to resolve it?

Thanks in advance


C

 

[owensdj]

Make sure that you have NetBIOS over TCP/IP enabled on all of the computers. You also need to log into all of the computers with a user name and password that exactly matches a user name/password that is in the user account list in every Windows 2000 or XP computer.

You need to reenable the Computer Browser service on all of those Win2K/XP computers.

 

[spidey07]

You'll definately need one or more computers be a master browser. Hopefully one that stays on all the time - preferralby one of the XP boxes. If a browser needs to be elected the most recent OS will (should) win.

Make sure netbios over TCP is enabled on all computers.

Make sure they are the same workgroup

Make sure they are all on the same IP subnet.

If all else fails load Netbeui on all computers.