How to network Windows 95 and/or Windows 98 computers in a small network

Basic Instructions for connecting two or more Windows 95 or Windows 98
computers in a peer to peer network.

Installation of your 3Com Network Card is just one step in setting up your network.
The document below outlines some other components that are required in order
to share files between two (Microsoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows 98)
computers. These components are a part of your operating system. 3Com
provides this information as a courtesy to our customers. For specific support on
these components (i.e. clients, protocols, services) you should contact Microsoft
directly. You may also want to read the information provided in the Help files
installed on your system.

A. Accessing the Help files
B. Verify that the network driver is installed
C. The same protocol should be used on all machines
D. Verify that the same clients are installed
E. File and printer sharing should be enabled
F. What about computer name and workgroup name?
G. How can I verify that I can see the other computer?
H. How can I access files on the other computer?

A. Accessing the Help files
1. Click on the Start button
2. Click on the Help option
3. Click on the Index tab
4. In the first box, enter the topic on which you are searching for information

After each section below (B-F), you will need to Click on OK to accept the changes.
Windows may prompt you for the W95 or W98 cd-rom so that it can copy more files.
It may also prompt you to reboot. Do not restart until all of the changes below
are made.

B. Verify that the network driver is installed
1. Double-click on My Computer
2. Double-click on Control Panel
3. Double-click on the System icon
4. Click on the Device Manager tab
5. Click on the Network Adapter entry so that there is a Minus sign (-) in front of it
6. In the Network Adapter section the 3Com adapter should be listed
7. Verify that there is no RedX or Yellow Exclamation in front of the 3Com adapter
- if there is a RedX, yellow exclamation or if the 3Com card is not listed you may need
to reinstall the driver
a. go to the 3Com Knowledgebase at http://knowledgebase.3com.com
b. click on Network Interface cards
c. in the search window, enter your 3Com Product #(i.e. 3c905b) and your operating
system (W95/W98)
d. search for installation instructions or error messages
examples: 3c905b - windows 95 - install
3c359 - windows 98 - exclamation in device manager
3c900 - windows 98 - resource conflict
8. Then close the System Properties icon. Do NOT restart if prompted.
9. Double-click on My Computer
10. Double-click on Control Panel
11. Double-click on the Network icon
12. On the Configuration tab, make sure that the 3Com adapter is listed
- If it is not listed, then the driver is not properly installed. Go back to Step B.7.a.

C. Make sure the same protocol is in use
In order to communicate both machines must be using the same protocol.
Common protocols are netbeui, ipx/spx compatible protocol and tcp/ip.
Netbeui and ipx/spx compatible are the simplest protocols and require no configuration.
TCP/IP can be used but an IP address must be assigned.*

1. Double-click on My Computer
2. Double-click on Control Panel
3. Double-click on the Network icon
4. On the Configuration tab, determine what protocols are installed
5. If none are installed, add them by clicking on (this example is for the netbeui protocol)
a. Click on the Add button. Highlight Protocols. Then click on the Add button again.
b. Choose Microsoft as the manufacturer and Netbeui as the protocol
c. Click on OK to add this protocol to the configuration list
6. Back on the Configuration tab, verify that the protocol is listed
7. Verify that this same protocol is also installed on the other machine

*If you choose to use TCP/IP under W95 and you are not familiar with how to
configure TCP/IP then you will need to consult a reference book or a network
consultant for more help.

D. Install a Client
It is recommended that you install a client. There are ways around this but they are not
discussed in this document.
1. Double-click on My Computer
2. Double-click on Control Panel
3. Double-click on the Network icon
4. On the Configuration tab, determine what clients are installed
5. If none are installed, add them by clicking on (this example is for the Microsoft client)
a. Click on the Add button. Highlight Clients. Then click on the Add button again.
b. Choose Microsoft as the manufacturer and Client for Microsoft Networks as the client
c. Click on OK to add this client to the configuration list
6. Back on the Configuration tab, verify that the client is listed
7. Verify that this same client is also installed on the other machine
Each time you restart this computer you should get a Network login window which prompts you
for your username and password. Enter your password and click on OK. DO NOT CANCEL.
If you click Cancel on the login window you will not be able to browse Network Neighborhood.
If you do not want a password, enter a username and leave the password box empty, then
click on OK to login.

E. File and printer sharing (FP sharing) must be enabled if you want others to have
access to this computer
File and Printer sharing allows others to view the shared resources on this machine. It enables
this machine to be viewed in Network Neighborhood. It is required if other machines are going
to access this machine. It DOES NOT give others access to any folders until those folders are
explicitly shared.
1. Double-click on My Computer
2. Double-click on Control Panel
3. Double-click on the Network icon
4. On the Configuration tab, at the bottom of the list, File and Printer Sharing should be listed
5. If it is not, install it by clicking on
a. Click on the Add button. Highlight Services. Then click on the Add button again.
b. Choose Microsoft as the manufacturer and File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
as the service
c. Click on OK to add this service to the configuration list
6. Back on the Configuration tab, verify that file and printer sharing is listed
If File and Printer Sharing is not installed then other computers WILL NOT be able to see this
computer. This computer will also not be able to see itself in Network Neighborhood.

F. Setting up the Computer Name and Workgroup Name
When browsing for other computers in Network Neighborhood they will be listed by their Computer
Name under their Workgroup Name. All computers in the same Workgroup will appear on
the same window in Network Neighborhood. For this reason, it is recommended that you
put the computers all in the same workgroup.
1. Double-click on My Computer
2. Double-click on Control Panel
3. Double-click on the Network icon
4. Click on the Identification tab
5. Make sure a unique Computer Name is listed (change it if necessary)
6. Make sure the Workgroup name is the same as the other computers
7. The Computer Description is not important in most cases

After completing the items in Steps B-F, Click on OK to close the Network Properties screen.
W95/W98 may need to copy files. Click on YES to restart when prompted. After rebooting
you should get a prompt to Enter Network Password. Enter your username and password.
Click on OK. Do Not Cancel.

When finished the Configuration Tab should look similar to one of the columns below:

G. How can I verify that I can see the other computer?
One way is to use Find Computer.........
1. Check cable and hub
a. If you are only connecting two computers together and NOT using a hub or switch,
then you need to have a "Category 5, CROSSOVER cable". This cable is different
then the regular cable which is used with hubs.
b. If you are using a hub or switch, then you need regular "Category 5, Straight thru cable"
c. Verify that the back of your network cards have link lights. If they do not try using
a different cable or a different port on the hub.
2. Use Find Computer to locate the other machine
a. Click on Start...Find....Computer
b. In the Name field enter this computer's name and then click on Find Now
(verify that it can find itself first)
c. Now enter the other computer's name in the Name field and click on Find Now
(the other computer should be located and it's location should be Network Neighborhood)

Another way is to use Network Neighborhood.......
1. Double-click on the Network Neighborhood icon
2. At a minimum you should see the Entire Network icon
3. If this computer has File and Printer Sharing enabled then you should see this Computer's Name
listed below Entire Network
4. If the other computer has File and Printer Sharing Sharing enabled AND is in the same Workgroup Name
as this computer it should also be listed below Entire Network
5. If the other computer has File and Printer Sharing Sharing enabled BUT is in a different Workgroup Name
(i.e. WKGRP2) it will be listed under Entire Network....WKGRP2.

G. How can I access files on the other computer?
You can only access files which are Shared, so first, the other computer has to share them.
1. How to Share files
At the second computer
a. Double-click on My Computer icon
b. Highlight the hard drive (i.e. C: drive)
c. In the Menu choose File....Sharing
d. On the Sharing tab, click on the Shared As button
e. Then choose Full as the Access type
f. Click on OK to save settings
g. Now the hard drive should have a Blue hand beneath it
Now back at the first computer
2. Double-click on Network Neighborhood icon
a. Double-click on the Computer Name of the computer in Step 1 above
b. Below it you should see the shared hard drive listed
c. Double-click on the hard drive and you will see all the files on the second computer displayed
3. Repeat Step 1 on the first computer so that the second computer can access it

H. How can I copy files
One way to make it easier is to Map a Network Drive to the other computer
1. Double-click on the Network Neighborhood icon
2. Double-click on the other Computer's Name
3. Highlight the Shared drive (i.e. C folder)
4. In the Menu, choose File....Map Network Drive
5. The first available drive letter will be listed in the first box (i.e. F:)
6. Put a check in the Reconnect At Logon box
7. Click on OK
8. Double-click on My Computer icon
9. Now the drive listed in Step 5 (i.e. F:) will refer to the shared files on the other computer
10. Double-click on the driver letter (i.e. F:) and the files on the other computer will be displayed
11. To copy files, highlight the file you want to copy
12. In the menu, choose Edit....Copy
13. Highlight the location you want to copy the files to (i.e. C: drive)
14. In the menu, choose Edit.....Paste