Connecting Windows 95 to Windows 98

Hi. I am trying to set up a network connection between 2 Windows 95 and 98 PC's so that I can retrieve some files from Windows 95 OS.Ihave installed an ISA (Planet) in the Windows 95 PC and a PCI NIC (Netgear FA310) in the Windows 98 SE PC. I cannot seem to make a connection using a crossover cable. The PCI card is showing as installed on the Windows 98 System, however when I click on Network Neighbourhood I get an error message: 'Unable to browse network. Network not accessible' I have run a diagnostics on the card and the result showed as failed in Controller Internal Loopback Test (indicates faulty Ethernet Controller) and failed in Twister Layer Internal Loopback Test (indicates faulty physical layer controller). Please could somebody, anybody tell me what to do, to rectify this. Is this error to do with a faulty card(highly unlikely as this is the second one I have tried) ??? What protocols should have to implement a peer to peer network ???
Part 2 of this problem is that I cannot seem to get the ISA on the Windows 95 PC to function correctly. It seems to pass all diagnostics run on it.
I would be very grateful for any advise
Cheers.

1. RE: Connecting Windows 95 to Windows 98
lbyard Oct-24-01 07:20 PM
In response to message 0

The most likely cause of the problem is defective or improperly made crossover cable. Please look at http://duxcw.com/digest/Howto/network/net2pc/hardware.htm and http://duxcw.com/digest/Howto/network/cable/cable6.htm and verify that the cable is wired correctly. Most network adapters have Link LEDs. If the LEDs are not on solid after booting-up windows, the network is not going to work and the cable is probably the reason. If they are on solid it is not an absolute guarantee that the cable is good (http://duxcw.com/faq/network/link.htm). Diagnostic loopback tests will fail unless a loopback adapter is connected to the network adapter. A loopback plug does as its name implies: it connects a network adapter’s transmitter to its receiver. If possible, the cable should be tested on an existing network (http://duxcw.com/faq/network/catest.htm). It is usually best to start troubleshooting at the nuts ‘n bolts hardware level to be sure there is a network so a lot of time isn’t wasted trying to troubleshoot/configure software that requires operational hardware before it will work. Larry

2. RE: Connecting Windows 95 to Windows 98
johnram Oct-24-01 11:26 PM
In response to message 1

Thanks a lot for replying at speed to this question. I now understand why the loopback test was not working.
I am confident that the hardware side of things is correct and I have tested the crossover cable on another peer to peer network. I believe that the network problem has something to with IRQ. I have been advised that when creating a network using Windows 98 and 95 you need to set up IRQ from MS DOS for the network to function. (windows 2000 automatically sets up IRQ in MS DOS)I have checked the driver disk that came with my PCI Card, however there is no advise on setting this up. Please could you advise on how to set this function up as I am not familiar with this at all.
Thanks for your time.

3. RE: Connecting Windows 95 to Windows 98
lbyard Oct-25-01 03:58 PM
In response to message 2

>I have been advised that when creating a network using Windows 98 and 95 you need to set up IRQ from MS DOS for the network to function.
This is not exactly correct...
You may have to set the IRQ for the ISA network adapter from Windows in the Windows 95 computer if the board uses the Novell compatible driver. Windows may have erroneously set the IRQ to interrupt 3 when in fact it is configured for a different IRQ. Determine the actual IRQ form the documentation and any jumper settings or from the diagnostics program if the IRQ is set with firmware or software… Start, Settings, Control Panel, System (not Network), Device Manager, Network adapters, select the adapter, Properties, Resources… uncheck Use automatic settings, select the IRQ entry, Change Setting, and enter the correct interrupt. Larry