Here goes: I have a small network of 3 machines, all connected to the web via a Linksys 4-port router. One machine is running Win2k, one running WinXP, the other Win98. All three surf the web fine, and are all picking up IP addresses correctly from the DHCP functionality of the router.

Problem abstract:

Win2k and WinXP can see each other via net neighborhood, obviously through MS F&P shares. Win98 machine, also in the same workgroup, with MS Client and F&P Sharing is not only unable to see the Win2k and WinXP machines, but can't ping them as well. The "working" machines ARE able to ping the Win98 machine, but can't see the share. The Win98 machine CAN ping FQDN's and IP's from the router and out to the ISP gateway and beyond. Now for the overload details:

1. The 98 machine is not plugged into the uplink; it's in a valid port on the router, and as stated, can surf the web, ping, tracert, etc.

2. Netbeui was installed on all machines, to no avail.

3. There is no blocking going on of ICMP through the router, obviously due to the ability to resolve outside the router.

4. All are 10Mb cards, different varieties, but all functional at 10Mb

5. ports have been switched, nic's have been switched, etc. to no avail.

6. I've surfed the crap out of microsoft.com, and have exhausted my version of Technet's matches. I have employed the user account setup as detailed by MS on Win2k/98 anomalies, to no avail.

7. Router is running current flash

8. Not an MTU issue, as web surfing is fine, and router would be filtering runts/giants prior to forwarding to the gateway.

9. Have tried host files, to no avail.

10. There are no access lists or anything set on the router; it is default "out of the box" implementation with DHCP enabled.

If you have any ideas, I'm less interested in solving the peer issue with an alternate protocol; I've worked with IP for 10+ years and I've never seen this. Any ideas, even obvious ones, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!

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I have to admit that I haven't really think too deep into this, but here is a couple suggestions.

After each step I would just ping to test to try to narrow down the problem.

I would take 1 of the xp/2k machine off the network.

I would remove all protocols, leaving only tcp/ip. maybe even remove/reinstall. (this is still default to have it acquire addy from dhcp)

I would configure static ip on the machines.

I would check if there is any proggy that's simply forgotten on the 98 machine. check if there is any personal firewall or even smaller app that may not show that make the ports hidden or purposely drop unsolicited pakcets.

I would put up net monitor or any other monitoring/sniffer on the machine to see if icmp packets are being drop somewhere.

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Have you tried enabling NetBios over TCP/IP on the 2000 and the XP machine?

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well, I kind of jumped the gun and accidentally fixed this, so now I'm not going to be able to know exactly what was wrong. I applied the XP Netsetup diskette to the 98 machine, and one of the overlayed files obviously was the fix. Thanks for the posts!

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