Local Area Connections Properties

I have been at this for a couple of weeks now. It all started when I tried to install a wireless USB wifi connector for gaming. Restoring system, network setup wizzard - I don't know how many times I did it. So I am sure something is screwed up in the registry.

Anyhow, have 1 XP home and 1 win98 connected to a Dlink 2130 router - hard wired. I previously used a Linksys BEFSR41 router. Internet through DSL modem. No problem with connecting to internet with both machines or both routers now.

The XP machine will see the 98 machine shared files and can copy from it. The XP machine will not see itself in My Network Places. The win98 machine will not see the XP machine either in My Network Places. I have shared the folders on the XP machine, installed file and print sharing on the XP machine. I have XP Firewall turned off, and McAfee Firewall disabled. All of this worked prior to me trying to add the wireless wifi connector I tried hooking back up the Linksys router just to see if the new Dlink was the problem, but still the same problem.

When I bring up the Local area connection properties, I have the following services install on the XP machine

Client fo MS Networks
File and print sharing for MS networks (grayed out)
Deterministic network enhancer (grayed out)
MS TCP/IP ver 6 (grayed out)
NWLink Netbios (grayed out)
NWLink IXP/SPX/Netbios compatable transport
Internet protocol TCP/IP

Also, the properties button is grayed out as noted above. Check mark in all of the boxes also.

I using a Broadcom 440X 10/100 integrated card in the XP machine

My next step before loading windows was going to be uninstalling all of these and re-installing.

What services do I really need to have installed to simply connect to internet and share files with my win 98 machine? I also have a VPN (Cisco) connection to my workplace which is always disabled unless I use it.

Any help much appreciated.

 

Found the problem. IT was in VPN, the stateful firewall always being on was checked. Unchecked it, all is sharing again. Pretty wierd how it stops machines from sharing.