upgraded network - now I can't connect to others

[b r a n d u i n]

Hi all! I work in a small-ish office with 9 employees, we have 15 computers
networked (pier to pier) and have DSL.
Here's my problem:
I upgraded our network over the weekend and put in a Linksys 10/100 16-port
workgroup switch to replace the old system (which was 1 3com 8-port hub and 2
Palm-Hub ether-h9+ hubs linked together). 12 of the computers hooked up fine with
no problems (all with Win98 or 95) but our 2 new ones with WinME will not hook
up. They worked fine on the old system but now they will not connect to the other
computers or DSL. Any ideas on this one? I have already tried the uninstall/re-
install of the network cards and run the "home-networking-wizard", added IPX/SPX,
NetBEUI, and TCP/IP protocols for both the dial-up and network adaptors.The other
1 computer that won't connect is still on Win95 but I think that one needs to be
thrown out in the street so I won't ask for help on that one. Please post or e-
mail to bra...@vicomm-inc.com with any helpful hints! Thanks!
Branduin

[Carey Holzman]

Can the WinME PCs ping the other PCs and visa-versa?

Carey

"b r a n d u i n" <bra...@vicomm-inc.com> wrote in message news:16ae01c0f28b$5ccae2b0$9ae62ecf@tkmsftngxa02...

[b r a n d u i n]

No, they can't. I tried asigning an IP address (our DSL does auto asigning) to
one of the WinMEs and pinging it from a working computer and it comes back
"request timed out" and I get host unreachable when trying to ping from the WinME.

[Carey Holzman]

It sounds as though the NIC on the WinME machines is the problem. Is the light on the back of the NIC lit up? What about on the switch, does the light on the switch, where the WinME plugs into the switch, light up?

Are you certain your cabling is good?

Any firewall software running? IF so, disable it until you get the network working.

Carey

"b r a n d u i n" <bra...@vicomm-inc.com> wrote in message news:614901c0f2b5$b816d3c0$b1e62ecf@tkmsftngxa04...

[Chris]

Hi there, I've got exactly the same problem. All my network works fine. A Win2000
machine acts as the servers, and multiple win95-98 as clients. I'm running
Wingate 4.3.0 also. Everything was working fine until I upgrade one of the
machines to WINME to evaluate the potential upgrade of the whole network.
The WinME machine simply doesn't get connected at all. I've tried everything,
EVERYTHING, including trying to change the IP routing from a DOS session (since
WINIPCFG is unable to find a DHCP server) using the Route Command. I know for a
fact that the NIC is working, at some point my firewall program detect an NAT
from the assigned IP 192.168.0.30 of the WINME, but still didn't work. What I
noticed though its that the Netmask remains on 255.255.0.0 no matter what I do.
I've even try deleting entries from the registry and input the hex address on the
proper field, but still the netmask doesn't change. The OS has been installed
clean, upgraded, formated and reinstalled, and the problems persist. Also the NIC
has been tested in several PCI bays, same results. My ISP techs just tell me that
they don't support WINME on LAN at all, and that they recomend WIN98 or 2k for
that matters. It's possible that such thing is true? Does anybody got any clue
about what its going on here?
Eagerly waiting for help, before skipping the whole WINME experience alltogheter.
Best regards,
Chris.

[Carey Holzman]

What make and model NIC are you using?

What happens when you click on My Network Places? Do you get an error? If not. when happens when you click Entire Network? Do you see an empty window or get an error?

There is no reason WinME will not connect to your network unless you have a hardware problem or a corrupted file.

Carey

"Chris" <Ato...@playadelcarmen.com> wrote in message news:19f001c0f305$0261be00$9ae62ecf@tkmsftngxa02...

[Chris]

Hi Carey.
Thanks for quick reply.
I got a generic Card, based on the realtek RTL8139(a) chipset.
On my network places I've got the 3 items, Add Wizard, Home Networking and the
Entire Network. While attempt to browse the entire network I've got a little bit
better, because now it actually shows the Workgroup, but only the WINME machine
there.

As you could have guessed, there is no ping response, incoming or outgoing. A net
view command on other machines actually shows the WINME PC, but when you try to
access it you got a NO network path reply.

I totally agree with you, there is no logical explanation for this behavior,
furthermore, I did bring my own WINME machine, same NIC, and it ... WORKS! lovely
at the first try, yet the other machine continues incomunicado.

I'm still clueless on the issue.
If you feel like, send me you MSNMSG handle or ICQ no.
to "ato...@playadelcarmen.com" and we can speed up the troubleshooting process.
This is not an isolated case. I've got al least another 4 situations like this
one on other offices. In three of them they couldn't wait, so we downgraded the
machines to 98 right away, but as you stated, there is no reason for this
behavior at all.

Best regards,
Chris.

Carey

.

[Carey Holzman]

How about swapping the NIC's? Have you tried that yet?

Carey

"Chris" <ato...@playadelcarmen.com> wrote in message news:7b7601c0f310$69fbcd70$19ef2ecf@tkmsftngxa01...

[b r a n d u i n]

I called a friend over and he got it working! After about 2 hours of messing with
cables and setting he found the problem.
The new workgroup switch can run 10/100. The WinME computer's network card can
also, but the old machines have the old cards still in them. He changed the
setting on the card and now they work just fine. (although they are running at 10
instead of 100 until I replace ALL the cards, which I plan on doing)
Chris, if you think this my be your problem also this is all you need to do:

To change the setting on the network adaptor -
right click on My Network Places
click properties
double click on the Realtek adaptor
click on the advanced tab
where is says link speed/duplex mode it will probably say "auto mode"
select 10 full mode from the drop down menu
click ok and click ok and will restart your computer

This may fix it for you, but I don't know that it will I'm just letting you know
what worked for mine. And thank you Carey for your prompt responses! I know where
to look first next time I run into trouble!

Branduin

[Carey Holzman]

Wow, those cards must really be old. Thanks for the update!

Carey

"b r a n d u i n" <bra...@vicomm-inc.com> wrote in message news:5f2e01c0f349$e6280b00$a4e62ecf@tkmsftngxa06...