[Ham-Computers] RE: Where do they go?

[Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)]

The Win98 to WinXP networking problems are somewhat common.  Here are a few
things to try...

* Make sure all the computers are in the same "Workgroup".

*  Make sure there is an account created on the WinXP system with a username
that matches the username of the person logged into Win98.  Yes, you *do*
logon to Win98, but if you didn't set a password (blank password), Win98
automatically logs you in and you just don't realize it.  You can retrieve
the Win98 username by clicking on the "Start" button.  Second to the bottom,
it should show "Log off username".  Create a user account on the WinXP
system with this same username with no password (or the same password on the
Win98 system if you're using one).

*  Make sure that the computernames assigned to each system are in
UPPERCASE.  I remember reading somewhere that Win9x can't handle lowercase
computernames.  Win9x sends it's name in uppercase, but Win2K/XP will send
it's computername as is (the way it is entered in the "computername" tab of
of "System Properties" control panel) regardless of case.


There are intricate details in Windows networking that will prevent even the
simplest thing from working.  For example, it might take up to 50 minutes
for a computer to show up if you try to "browse" for it.  You can access it
anytime if you know the computer name, but if you try to find it using the
Network explorer, it might not be there.  It all has to do with "Browse
masters", "browse lists", and "WINS" - beyond the scope of conversation
here.  WinXP now natively uses TCP/IP and DNS for networking, but it still
uses browse lists in "mixed" environments (environments with older Win9x
systems).


>>>  Can't seem to access this machine directly from her machine, so she
doesn't have direct access (perhaps because of my NTFS file system on this
one?)

As for FAT vs NTFS on a network share...it doesn't matter.  Networks in and
of themselves are a form of filesystem and the filesystem on the computer
share is "transparent".  As long as the computers are using the same network
protocol(s), then they can share files.  Think of the Internet...most
servers on the Internet are UNIX or Linux based...these OS' don't use FAT or
NTFS, but you can still access the files on them with a non-UNIX/Linux
system.  As long as you use the right protocols, it's not a problem.


>>> Where does that deleted file (or any other deleted files) from her
machine go?  

Files deleted on a network share are immediately deleted.  It's just as if
you typed "del filename" in DOS.  


>>> When she wants to print an Email that she's received, I have her save
the Email as a .eml document in her shared Documents folder.  I then open it
on this machine, print it and delete that saved Email.

Even though you're networked with ethernet, it sounds like you're still
using "sneakernet" <g>.  Once you're able "see" the WinXP system from the
Win98 system, you should then be able to print directly from the Win98
system.  On the XP system, open the Printers control panel, right-click on
the printer and select "Sharing...".  Give the printer a simple share name
(keep it short).  Also, if you want to make the drivers for this printer
available to other non-WinXP systems, click on the "additional drivers"
button and choose what drivers you want to make available (make sure you
have the drivers disk ready).  You don't have to do this, but it makes the
installation on the "other" end "diskless".  Then "browse" to the WinXP
system from the Win98 system and it should show a printer share.
Double-click on the printer and it will install itself.

Better yet, as mentioned earlier, if the printer has networking
capabilities, plug it in!  Then you can use "direct IP" printing and you
won't need to have the WinXP system powered on whenever you print from the
Win98 system.  Some setup is required on both systems - check the
documentation for the printer's networking setup.

73,

  - Aaron Hsu, NN6O