Networking Win98se on home computers?

Let me expleain what Iv'e got and what I've done.

I have 2 home built computers.
Here is the config for first one.
ASUS P4pe mobo(onboard nic)
P4 266ghz
512K Ram
80 Gig HD
3.5 Gig HD
Rosewill 16x DVD +/- RW
Win98se OS

Config for #2
Intel CA810 mobo(also onboard nic)
Celeron 433Mhz processor
264K Ram
3.5 Gig HD
Cd-rom
Win98se OS

Both have the latest updates for drivers and OS

I've been trying to network them two different ways and neither one seems to work.

1st way was by crossover cat5e cable.
Protocols - TCP/IP and netbeui on both same config w/ip addresses set
Client for microsoft networks on both
File and print sharing on both
files shared on both.

at this time they should be able to detect each other, but don't(tried 4 different cables, 2 new, 2 homemade)
Yes my ethernet controllers/drivers are in place and up to date
Workgroups are the same on both

2nd way Direct Cable connection
Purchased LPT to RJ45 cat5e cable adapters plugged them in(3 different cat5e cables even tried the crossovers)
One Host at LPT port, one Guest at LPT port

Still no communication

Checked BIOS on both to make sure all ports were enabled and compatible

Still no communication


There has to be something I'm missing, I've read and gone step by step through 4 different tutorials(including microsofts) and still can't figure out why they aren't communicating.

These ports have never been used before so they shouldn't have anything wrong with them.

If anyone out there has any ideas, could you please let me know?

If I open Network Neighborhood on either computer it shows that computer in the list, but not the other one. Can't find them in search either.


2nd way

 

is the speed both nics 10/100 ?

 

Yes.

 

if you havent done so already try this

put 192.0.0.1 on one computer and 192.0.0.2 on the other and use 255.255.255.0 on both subnets and try the crossover cable.

if it doesnt work try turning the crossover cable around.(plugging the end you had in comp1 in comp2)

i had a crossover made for me and it only worked one way

 

I've got the IP's at 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.0.2.
That should be ok right?
Iv'e already got the subnet at 255.255.255.0
Hold on and let met try the cable thing

 

Ok turning the cables around didn't work.

 

Are you running firewalls, if so may have to change some settings?
I havent run 98 for while, but I do remember having problem networking when I did, turned out to be my firewall.
Reading your post brought back memory's.

 

I thought of that, and made sure all that was off even my anti-virus. Still didn't work. I'm beginning to think there may be a physical problem with the ports. It just doesn't make sense that both the nic and LPT ports would be bad though.

Nope, I really think there's some little thing that I'm just not seeing. Some setting somewhere. Might not even be in the networking stuff.

Problem is I've never done this before. I KNOW it shouldn't be this hard.

 

I think I'm gonna give it up. I'm gonna up to XP Pro in a couple of weeks anyways(WOO HOO! It's Tax Season!!!!)(It's nice to have 3 kids)(sorta).

 

This is a bit late in the game and may sound too simple to overlook but didn't see that you mention anything about these 2 PCs being in the same 'Workgroup', is that configured correctly?
Also have you tried 'Windows Logon' instead of 'Client for MS Network?

I would try pinning each machine to see if you can even get thru that way, that would tell you if your network is configured correctly then you might have some HW problems.
ping 127.0.0.1 this will check on Host and TCP/IP protocol to be working or not
ping the IP address of the PC's own configured IP address, this would check on the NIC, then try pinning the other machine is previous steps were successful...I hope I didn't miss something over repeated someone else?

 

Yes, workgroup is set the same on both pc's.

I'll have to try changing to "windows Logon" to see if that works.

No, I haven't tried pinging. I didn't know you could, and I don't know how. Could you give me some help on that one?

 

Look Here:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/98/all/reskit/en-us/part3/wrkc14.mspx
& Here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;192534
&:
http://www.pcguidebook.com/homenetwork.asp

 

Just to let all know. It turned out I had a bad NIC on one the intel board. I didn't know this til I got a pci nic and put it in each pc one at a time to try and network them. Finally got it networked at least to a point. Couldn't get the Internet share to work turned out there was a bunch of missing files I needed. But that's all over now, because I put WinXP Pro on the Asus and everything is great now.

Thanks all for the help!!