Peer to Peer wlan problems

[Jake Oregano]

I hope someone can help with a couple of issues. I am currently trying to wirelessly network a windows XP machine and a WIN 98 machine. The 98 machine has an ORINOCO silver card, the XP has a built in Orinoco card. So far, I can 'see' the 98 machine on the XP machine, but can't access it (file sharing is on on both machines). I can not ping the 98 box. I get a time out.
The XP machine is configured as the ICS server, the 98 is supposed to be an ICS client.
I did run the net setup wizard on the 98 box. One problem is that the wizard will run before the machine is completely booted, after a reboot when it installs some files. It requires an active internet connection, but since the machine hasn't completed rebooting, I can't connect to the internet. If I cancel the wizard to complete booting and log on to the internet directly through the 98 box, I can't seem to find the temp exe to run the wizard again. If I choose to continue with the setup without the internet connection, everything installs fine, but then I don't have the ICS client gateway access that I need on the 98 client.
Regardless, I still can't see or access the XP on the 98 and I can't ping it either from the 98. BTW, I am using static IP addresses on both instead of automatic private IP addresses.
Any suggestions???

[Greenstead]

Well you don't need to use static IP addresses. Neither do you have to use the network wizard. I suggest on both PCs you set the TCP/IP properties to 'get an IP address automatically' and 'get DNS server automatically'. Then reboot both PCs (98 PC last). Also make sure you have the same SSID set in wireless properties.

[Jake Oregano]

Thanks for the info. In win 98 you can only enable DNS or disable DNS. If you enable it, it requires a host name. I set both machines to get IP addresses automatically. When I do that, the XP machine can no longer see the 98 machine. When I force IP addresses, the XP machine can at least 'see' the 98 machine. The SSID is the same on both machines.
I'll keep trying different things, but I appreciate your help.

[Greenstead]

If you are going to use manual addresses set the XP NIC to 192.168.0.1 subnet 255.255.255.0 and the 98 NIC to 192.168.0.2 subnet 255.255.255.0

Thats what you would get if they were set to get addresses automatically.

In addition set the 98 NIC default gateway to 192.168.0.1 subnet 255.255.255.0

Enable Netbios over TCP/IP on both PCs.

Have both PCs got the same workgroup name.

If that doesn't give you sharing try to ping each PC from the other and say what happens?

[Jake Oregano]

Thanks again for the reply. I have the IP addresses set to the ones you suggested already. The workgroup names are the same. Netbios is enabled. When I ping either machine I get a time out, eventhough the XP machine does show the 98 machine on the network, I can't get access to it. I am set up as a user on both machines with the same password. I have uninstalled and reinstalled the network card on the 98 machine twice. It has the latest drivers installed, and according to the led lights and device manager, is working properly, and transmitting. I disabled WEP encryption, and that had no bearing at all. So, I'm kinda stuck. I know the card in the 98 machine works, because it's a friend's card he used but no longer needs.
If you think of anything else I can try (besides upgrading 98 to say 2000 or XP) :), lemme know. Thanks again.

[Greenstead]

Other possible causes that come to mind:

- Disable all firewalls (especially XP's ICF). (May even need to uninstall and delete 3rd party firewalls).
- Ensure SSID is the same in both wireless card properties.
- Ensure both wireless cards are set to ad-hoc (peer-peer) mode.
- Set the channel number the same (though should not be necessary).