window 98 networking problem

[Shard O'Glase]

This week my dad asked me to hook up his DSL at his office. I went down and hooked it up to his main computer and it worked fine. He then says he needs his other computer to be connected to the main computer still since it prints thorugh it. Not having enough of the DSL cable to instal it on the box at the time I removed the DSL cable from the main computer and re-put in the direct cable that connected it and the other computer that needed to print things through the main computer.

Now the network appears to be gone on the main computer, while on the other computer it still recogneses that there should be a network its not connected to the mian computer since the main computer doesn't seem to have any network connections.

I've worked through the torubleshooting given on 98 still no fix, I've messed around with the network settings section as much as I could and still nothing. My next shot is to get the 50' of DSL cable(through cable I think the isntrucitons called it) I need and get both computers onto DSL, and hopefully returned to the network that way. If anyone has any suggestions at all I'd appreciate it.

 

[gariig]

Man, I hate to tell you what I usually did back in the 9x days..Format and reinstalled. I'm assuming that is not an option...so here goes

Try deselecting file and printer sharing and redoing it. Another option is if one of the computers is a XP computer to create a network startup disk and use that on the 98 machine. You could also just upgrade to 2000/XP.

My other suggestion is getting a router at your local Best Buy/Circuit City/CompUSA to connect them. It will share the DSL connection and put a limited "firewall" in front of the computers. I am assuming you are using ICS to share the DSL?

I just hate to say networking on 98(and 98se) was kind of slapped together hodge podge and is hard to get working.

Gariig

 

[Psionicist]

start -> run -> cmd
ping 127.0.0.1

Does it work? if so, TCP/IP is probably installed correctly. A good start.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

start -> run -> cmd
ping 127.0.0.1

Does it work? if so, TCP/IP is probably installed correctly. A good start.

Thanks for the help both of you, the ping thing worked on both computers. But I was able to get the network back when they both got onto DSL. Something must have gone wrong with the direct cable, once I got 2 sets of 50' of cable so they both could be on the DSL it just came back.

 

[reapersaurus]

I'm glad you got it working, cause I couldn't understand what your connections were like to suggest a possible fix.
Usually, if 2 computers need to be on DSL at the same time, you'd use a hub/router. Very easy to get, and well supported by your DSL provider.
You could also use 2 NIC's on one computer, with the 1st NIc going to the DSL, and the 2nd NIC going to the other computer that needs to print to it.
Wait - you're using Win 98 as a print server, that another computer is sending printjobs to?

I'm surprised that you had to do this 'install' - DSL providers are all over this, and it's pretty easy to get their help in installing this kind of thing, most of the time.