New to networking...REALLY need some guidance here:)

LAST EDITED ON May-14-02 AT 03:09 PM (EST)

Hello all:)

Recently I got a new comp and would like to network this computer with my old computer. I've been running into some trouble though. Mainly because I have no clue on how to proceed;) If you good people would help me out here I'd be extrememly grateful!
Ok, here's what I got...
Old comp:
-P3, 650mhz
-Windows 98
-Linksys Network card
New comp:
-P4, 1.7ghz
-Windows XP
-Netgear Network card
-Using a Netgear 4port Hub
These comps are side by side in my room. I bought a Netgear 4port Hub and the needed cables. I've already set the hub up and plugged the cables into the comps. Since I would like to expand this network throughout my house later on, I chose to get the hub rather than crossover cable. Also, I don't really care about setting the network up over the net. I'd be happy with just having an offline network.
Anyway, from here, I don't know what to do, heheh. The New comp booted up with the Netgear card just fine. The old comp booted up with the Linksys card and asked for the drivers. I put in the first driver floppy disk and then a prompt that looked similar to DOS came up. It asked some questions on whether I wanted to use File or directories or something. I answered with what I thought was right but I must have made a mistake cause it then stopped and wouldn't go any further.

My first question, then, is; How do I correctly install the Lynksys drivers? Also, should I just take out that card and install another Netgear card? In case you're wondering, there are two different network cards cause the Lynksys one was already laying around the house.
Second question; Once all the drivers are set up and good to go...then what? heheh. I mean, I really have no clue about how to network these two comps but am very eager to learn. If someone could give a step-by-step guide or sumfin, that would be awesome:)
I've been spending quite a bit of time trying to research this info but haven't found any situations that are identical to mine.
Well, thanks for taking the time to read this. And thanks in advance for any help you can give.
Have a great day!

-Trank

1. RE: New to networking...REALLY need some guidance here:)
lbyard May-15-02 11:15 AM
In response to message 0

Do Windows 98 first. Use http://duxcw.com/digest/Howto/network/net2pc/intro.htm. However, Windows XP has a problem with NetBEUI. Install TCP/IP and assign it an IP address of 192.168.0.2 and a subnetmask of 255.255.255.0. Then remove NetBEUI.
Linksys network adapter: http://duxcw.com/digest/Reviews/Network/linksys/lne100tx.htm
However, there are several versions of this board and the installation may vary. There is a link on that page to Linksys where you will find more info.
Windows XP. When the Linksys network adapter is installed and working XP should detect the network and automatically install the software. Come back if you need more help after doing this much. Larry

2. RE: New to networking...REALLY need some guidance here:)
Trankuility May-15-02 12:54 PM
In response to message 1

Wow. Thank you very mucho. I'm going to try this ASAP. I'll be back with an update to let ya know how it all went. Again, thank you!
-Trank

4. RE: New to networking...REALLY need some guidance here:)
Trankuility May-24-02 02:40 AM
In response to message 2

Okie dokie...I've tried and tried and tried again but I'm still stuck, hehe. Okay, here's what happened...
I just couldn't get the Linksys card to work. Even after getting the latest drivers I'd still get an error saying that the needed driver files couldn't be found. So I finally just took it back to the store and traded it in for another Netgear card. So now both comps have a Netgear ethernet card plugged into a Netgear 4 port Hub.
After following the directions in the link provided, I was able to get each computer to recognize itself but not each other, hence, I still do not have a network. Each comptuer shows up on it's own network connection but they can't see each other.
"Do Windows 98 first. Use http://duxcw.com/digest/Howto/network/net2pc/intro.htm. However, Windows XP has a problem with NetBEUI. Install TCP/IP and assign it an IP address of 192.168.0.2 and a subnetmask of 255.255.255.0. Then remove NetBEUI."
I dont' completely understand that part. Do you mean that I should install, then uninstall Netbeui, then install TCP/IP on the Win98 machine and ONLY the Win98 machine? Also, do I need to use TCP/IP on both machines? And if so, should I keep the TCP/IP designation the same for both machines or should I change a number on one of them?
And finally, when I try to set up a network connection on the XP machine, a wizard pops up giving options to choose from on how the network should be set up. After answering all the questions it says to get a floppy disk ready because it's going to save the setup on the disk so that I can run that setup on the other machine. I've done that several times now, each time starting from scratch and installing the XP setup disk on the 98 machine, but I still can't get the comps to talk to each other.
I've tried the "Find computer" option but that hasn't worked. The network cards and the Hub all show green lights.
Ughhhh! heheh. I'm befuddled and frustrated. hehe. I sure hope you can offer some more sage advice.
Again, thanks for reading and for any help you may be able to give. It's always appreciated!
-Trank

5. RE: New to networking...REALLY need some guidance here:)
lbyard May-24-02 10:32 AM
In response to message 4

>I dont' completely understand that part.
What I meant is that I have not been able to get Windows 9x/Me computers to work with Windows XP computers in Windows network if the NetBEUI protocol is installed on any of them. Use TCP/IP.
Verify that you have a working TCP/IP network before worrying about the higher-level Windows networking functions. Those green LEDs were a good first step as they indicate the hardware and cables are probably working OK. To see if TCP is working, open a DOS window on the 98 computer and type:
C:\>ping 192.168.0.1
Assuming 192.168.0.1 is the IP address (the subnetmask should be 255.255.255.0) of the Windows XP computer… You should see a response. If it times-out, you do not have a working TCP/IP network between the computers and nothing will work until you do (unless, possibly, the IPS/SPX protocol is installed on both computers).
Larry

6. RE: New to networking...REALLY need some guidance here:)
tockert Jun-02-02 10:23 AM
In response to message 5

A problem I ran into when I got that far, was the network cables causing interference in themselves. I had both computers in the same room, and each had a 25 foot cable hooked up. I had the excess cable looped and tied. Once I undid all that excess cable and ran it along the floor, then each computer could see the other computer. Things are working good with the lan now.