For
Windows 98/ME computers, right click the 'network neighborhood' icon on the
desktop. You will see a window with the title 'the following network components are installed.' The second
entry in the list should be your network adaptor. It will be fairly self-evident,
starting with a brand name (Dlink, 3COM, Realtek, SMC etc) and generally containing the words 'Ethernet
adaptor' or 'NIC' (Network Interface Card).
It's possible that the network card might not actually end up as the
second entry on the list, but look for the keywords mentioned above and you'll
be fine. It will always be near the top of the list anyhow. If you have two
network adaptors in one of your systems, you will have two adaptors present in
this window. If you have no idea which one is which, neither do we. Don't panic,
it doesn't actually matter right now.
Scroll down to the entry or entries (you should do this for each
individual network adaptor installed in your computer) marked TCP/IP ->
(yournetworkcardname) and select 'properties'. Ensure that the 'obtain an IP
address automatically' option is selected, then click ok.
Click the
button 'file and print sharing' then check the box entitled
'I want to be able to give others access to my files'. Press ok, then ok again.
Restart the computer.The next
step once the computer has restarted is to right click 'network
neighborhood' and select 'properties,' then the 'identification' tab.
Make a
note of each computer's name and workgroup as listed in the 'identification'
tab. If you wish to rename any of the computers, this is a good time to do it.
Having all the computers in the same workgroup name is not essential, but it
does reduce confusion. All Microsoft computers are members of the workgroup
'workgroup' by default.
If you have made any changes, restart the
computer.Perform the above steps for each 98/ME computer in your network-to-be.
Now select 'run' from the start menu and
type '\\{computername}' where computername is the name of one of the other
computers in your network. If all is as it should be, a window will open up
showing all shared resources on that computer, by default, the window should be
empty, but it does at lest indicate connectivity.
Test this
for all computers on the network, typing the names in you wrote down previously.
You have now either networked your computers together successfully, or are
staring at the screen in frustration. Please proceed to either the Sharing
Files section or the Troubleshooting section
respectively before pulling out your hair.
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