File Sharing Using a Router or Modem/Router
Computers running Windows can share resources such as files and printers by creating or joining a simple network. This article will show you how to set up and configure file sharing on a home network (peer-to-peer) using TCP/IP. The article covers configuring both Windows XP and Windows 98 clients.
This article does not cover setting up a home network through hubs or switches where one computer is acting as an Internet Connection Sharing server. It is for routers only.
Getting
Started
Your network must be in one of these two configurations for this article. Each computer must have a network card and have no direct connection to a DSL or Cable Modem:
WARNING
If you only have a modem and a hub sitting between your computers and the Internet, DO NOT enable file sharing without a software firewall. Enabling file sharing in this configuration can expose your entire system to the outside world. If you have this type of configuration, you must install and configure a sturdy firewall on all machines. The Windows XP firewall will prevent traffic coming in, but it will not stop broadcasts going out. If you intend to install Windows 98 clients you will most certainly need a robust firewall. Visit the Firewalls & Virus Checkers page on this site.
Assumption
This article assumes that you have run the Network Setup Wizard and each of your computers can connect to the Internet.
Update Your System
Visit the windowsupdate site and download all updates and patches for your operating system. This applies to both XP and 98 users.
Configuring Windows XP
Clients
Repeat this procedure for every XP client on your network:
Select “Network Connections” from the “Settings” item on the “Start” menu:
Right-click your LAN connection and select “Properties” from the pop-up menu:
You should get a screen similar to the one below. The exact contents depend entirely on your system. "File and Printer Sharing" and “Client for Microsoft Networks" should both be installed. If they are not installed, click the "Install…” button and install them now.
Click the “Advanced” tab and turn off the Internet Connection Firewall.
On the “General” tab, select "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and click Properties.
If you have not made any changes to cater for static IP addresses, the screen will look like this:
Click the “Advanced” button and select the “WINS” tab:
In the "NetBios Setting" frame, click the "Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP" button.
Click OK to apply the settings. That’s it. All done.
Configuring Windows 98
Clients
Repeat this procedure for every Windows 98 client on your network:
Right –click the “Network Neighbourhood” icon on the Windows 98 desktop and select “Properties.”
You should get a screen similar to he one below:
"File and Printer Sharing" and "Client for Microsoft Networks" must both be installed. If they are not, click the "Add” button and install them now then reboot.
"Client for Microsoft Networks” should be the Primary Network Logon so that Windows XP can authenticate your users. You must create a user and password for each Windows 98 machine, this is discussed at the end of this article.
Note: The diagram above shows that the “IPX/SPX-compatible protocol” is installed. You do not need to add the protocol unless you have applications that require it, such as network games.
Click the "File and Print Sharing” button:
Select one or both options on the "File and Print Sharing.” If you only intend to share files from this Windows 98 machine, there is no need to enable printer sharing. Click “OK” when done.
On the Network window, click on “TCP/IP" and click Properties:
Go to the “Bindings” tab and make sure that TCP/IP is bound to "File and Printer Sharing" and "Client for Microsoft Networks", that is, both checkboxes are selected:
Finally, select the “NetBIOS” tab and ensure you have a checkmark like this:
Click OK to apply the settings.
On the Windows XP machine, create a user account for each Windows 98 client. If security is not a major concern and you have more than one Windows 98 client, you can create a default account such as "W98User". The accounts on the Windows 98 machines must match those you have created on Windows XP otherwise users will not be able to authenticate and log on.
That’s it. All done.
How to Install NetBEUI on Windows XP
Only apply the changes documented in this article if you have issues that are not resolved by following the basic steps outlined in the rest of this article.
Microsoft has discontinued support for the NetBIOS Extended User Interface (NetBEUI) network protocol in Windows XP. This article describes the process for manually installing the unsupported NetBEUI protocol on a computer running Windows XP. The NetBEUI files will need to be manually copied from the Windows XP CD-ROM before NetBEUI will show up in the list of installable network protocols.
~~AAJakeleg posted in alt.os.windows-xp with an issue relating to a network of XP Pro Windows 98 machines. Files and mappings were accessible but one of the Windows 98 machines did not appear in the Network Neighborhood on any of the XP computers, whilst it did show up on the other Windows 98 machines. The XP systems could still access files through a search, but not via Network Neighborhood. Ralph Wade Phillips suggested installing NetBEUI, which immediately fixed the issue.
Revision Date: 29
Nov 2003