xp and win98

I'm having a problem with my cable connection and 2 computers. I have a cable modem with a netgear router and 4
computers, XP Pro , winme, and win98 the other connection
is random, but I never use it and xp at the same time. But the
problem is when I use Xp (ntfs) and win98 at the same time.
Xp will kick win98 off the internet, it never bothers ME.

All the machines are free of virus, trojen, spyware etc. any ideas? I'll be lurking in the archives looking for a similar
problem, thanks

 

Well, it's not the file system that's causing it ...

NTFS or FAT or whatever ... that's not the issue.

Starkman

 

Yeah filesystem doesnt matter, although I dont think thats what you meant anyway.

Have you tried putting the 98 and XP on different ports, and see what happens?

 

Could you list how the computers are wired to the router?
DHCP or static IP?
Enquiring minds want to know!

 

Hi,

>Xp will kick win98 off the internet, it never bothers ME.
Does it happen in reverse? That is, if the XP PC is on, and then the Windows 98 PC is started, does the XP PC lose its Internet connection?

If you're using the router as a DHCP server to assign IP addresses to your PCs, try this: Shut down all of the computers. Power the router off, wait for a few minutes and then power it back on. This will clear the router's DHCP table, and force it to assign new IP addresses as each PC configured as a DHCP client requests an address. Disconnect all of the PCs from the router (I'm assuming that the router is a combination switch/router) - if your cables aren't labelled then this is a good time to stop and do so

Leave the ME PC off for the moment, just to keep things simple.

Reconnect the Windows 98 PC to the router, turn it on and get its IP address via WINIPCFG (Start, Run, WINIPCFG). Write down all of the information displayed (Adapter Address (this is the MAC address), IP Address, Subnet mask and Default Gateway). Shut the 98 PC down and power it off. To be thorough, unplug it once again from the router.

Connect the Windows XP PC to the router, turn it on and get its IP address. The only way I know how to do this is via IPCONFIG at the command line (and if someone knows of a way to do it inside of Windows 2000 and XP, could you post it, please?!?): Start, Run, type CMD in the Open field and click OK. At the prompt type IPCONFIG/ALL | MORE and press Enter. Note the information listed: You want the Physical Address (this is another name for the MAC address), DHCP Enabled value (should be Yes), IP Address, Subnet Mask and Default Gateway.

What you're most concerned with at this point is whether or not the Windows XP and Windows 98 PC have unique IP addresses as a result of doing the above... but if they weren't I'd expect that you'd get an IP address conflict message when one came online after the other - it'd be a popup dialog stating that the PC with MAC address so-and-so conflicts with the one at MAC address such-and-such... but if you have administrative popups disabled, you'd not see it.

Of course, if both NICs had the same MAC address, then the DHCP server would have no choice except to hand out the same IP address to the second PC... and there'd be no conflict message either... and the second PC that came onto the wire would probably "dislodge" the first one... but the only way that I know to alter the MAC address is use a utility to do so... so I doubt that that is the problem (but compare the MAC addresses anyway).

To continue: If the PCs have the same IP address after you've done the above, one or both of them are using statically assigned IP addresses and you need to correct that, OR, the DHCP server is set up to only assign one IP address - but since you said that you never have a problem with the ME PC...

Might as well be thorough Shut down the Windows XP PC, disconnect it from the router, reconnect the ME PC to the router, turn it on and get its IP configuration using WINICPFG (I'm pretty sure that WINIPCFG is available - I've only used ME a few times, many years ago).

At this point, using this procedure, each of the PCs should have gotten a unique IP address. If they did, try reconnecting them all and booting them all up together and see if you still have the same problem. If you do, post a reply here and I'll dig further.

If they didn't, note which ones conflict and check their network adapter configurations to be sure that they aren't using statically assigned addresses. If they are, change them to DHCP and reboot.

Hope that helps! If it doesn't, post the results and we'll go from there.

Regards,

djlowe

 

Hey djlowe, you are dead on!!!! I just read your post and I'm checkin it out. Thanks.
I just checked winme it was using .0.2, win98 had 0.4, and XP had 0.4 too!! The same address! I haven't unplugged anything yet to reset, but I know now they will still use the same address.

The router is in my basement with winME, the 98 machine is on the main level and XP is upstairs in a bedroom. Not the best logistics for unplugging and rebooting all at once. I do have the cables marked going to the router so that part is easy..
Is there an easy way to change the ip address? If so I think I'd change the 98 machine.

thanks again,

 

Hi,

Hehe, sometimes I get lucky .

If you're using DHCP at all, you should generally use it for all PCs on your network except for those performing server duties, or at least ensure that the static IP addresses that you use don't fall within the ranges used by the DHCP server's DHCP address pool.

How to change it in Windows 98:

Start, Settings, Control Panel, Network, highlight TCP/IP, click Properties and switch to "Obtain an IP address automatically" if the option below it ("Specify an IP address") is currently selected and then click OK. If it isn't you don't need to change this PC, you need to change the Windows XP PC.

How to change it under Windows XP:

Well, I don't use Windows XP, but it should be similar enough to Windows 2000 so that these directions will work.

Start, Settings, Network and Dial-up Connections, right click Local Area Connection, select Properties from the menu. Left click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) then left click Properties. Change to "Obtain an IP address automatically" from "Use the following IP Address".

If you really want to keep it static - change the address to something that won't conflict with anything within the DHCP pool.

Since you stated that the last 2 octets of the address were "0.2" and "0.4", and there are 4 PCs total on the network, I'm going to make some assumptions about your network and suggest a safe IP address to use. You're probably using the reserved class C address range from 192.168.0.0 - 192.168.0.255. The subnet mask is probably 255.255.255.0 and the default gateway is probably 192.168.0.1

If that's the case, you can most likely put the PC at 192.168.0.254 without any problems.

Hope this helps!

Regards,

dj