Win98 XP Intermittent Problems PLS HELP!!!!

I am sorry for the frantic posting but I have tried everything i can think of and can't seem to resolve my problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Setup:
I have a Windows 98 laptop and a Windows XP laptop networked together wirelessly through a linksys access point.
I am using the Windows 98 machine as a print server for a HP Deskjet 5500

Problem:
The setup seems to work perfectly (file sharing and printing) between machines until the Windows 98 machine goes to sleep (ie the notebook is shut). When I repoen the Windows 98 machine I am no longer able to see it from my XP machine and am therefore no longer able to print or share files between the computers. If I reboot the Windows 98 machine then everything works again immediately.

The network help wizard seemed to think that I had duplicate computer names on the network. Could this be a virus becuase both computers have unique names and I have changed them just in case. I ran nbtstat -n but am not sure how to interpret the results.

I have:
- Checked that the TCP/IP network protocol is installed on all computers and that it is configured correctly.
Yes

Win98 Machine
IP Address: 192.168.1.101
Subnet: 255.255.255.0

WinXPpro Machine
IP Address: 192.168.1.102
Subnet: 255.255.255.0

- Checked that the computers are on the same workgroup.
MSHome

- Check if you can ping from one computer to the other.
Yes

- Checked that the wires are correctly connected, and any wireless devices are in range.
Yes

- Checked for firewall software. This needs to be disabled or configured for home networking. Also, if you are using Windows XP, check that Internet Connection Firewall is not enabled on the network connection.

No anti-virus or firewall s/w, ICF disabled

- Tried running the Windows XP Network Setup Wizard (if you have Windows XP). This may help solve your problems.

Does not seem to allow me to use it because I am using an
unsecure configuration

- Tried \\<computername>

\\<computername>is not accessible. The network path was not found

- Enabled Microsoft Client and File and Print Sharing on both machines

Yes

- Enabled guest account on XP machine

Yes

Below are the results of the nbtstat -n, don't know if they tell y'all anything.

Wireless Network Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.1.102] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Local Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
WINXP <00> UNIQUE Registered
MSHOME <00> GROUP Registered
MSHOME <1E> GROUP Registered
WINXP <20> UNIQUE Registered
MSHOME <1D> UNIQUE Registered
..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered
WIN98 <03> UNIQUE Registered
WINXP <03> UNIQUE Registered

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [0.0.0.0] Scope Id: []

No names in cache

Bluetooth Network:
Node IpAddress: [0.0.0.0] Scope Id: []

No names in cache

StudentVPN:
Node IpAddress: [10.0.1.141] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Local Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
WINXP <00> UNIQUE Registered
MSHOME <00> GROUP Registered
MSHOME <1E> GROUP Registered
WINXP <20> UNIQUE Registered
WIN98 <03> UNIQUE Registered
WINXP <03> UNIQUE Registered

Try this. After you open the Win98 machine, effectively "waking it up" do a Start > Run and enter WINIPCFG.

Then, select the network connection (basically NOT the PPP Adapter, if listed) and click the Renew All button. This will renew the DHCP info and should basically reconnect the computer to the network.

Try that and report the results back here.

Good Luck ~ Dave

That suggestion above does sound pretty sensible to me.

I can't remember in 98, but on XP, if you go to the power settings for your NIC card, you can prevent the computer from turning it off to save power. Try enabling this setting.

I ran WINIPCFG and renewed all for my wireless NIC. As you suspected I was able to get it to "reconnect" to the network so I am able to file share and print share again This is definitely easier than rebooting, however this is something my wife (the user of the second computer) would deem too complicated.

Is there a way to force the computer to automatically reconnet everytime it wakes up? It does not have a problem connecting to the Internet after waking up.

If I set the computer to not go to sleep when the notebook is closed will I risk overheating my machine since it cools through the keyboard?

Thanks again for the help, I certainly appreciate it.

I'm not sure if there is any way you can automate this. Perhaps you could write a batch file which you could easily run to renew the address. Does the WINIPCFG program come with any command line parameters? (sorry, I haven't got a 98 machine handy )

Create an icon on your Desktop. In the command box, enter "WINIPCFG /RENEW_ALL" (without quotes).

Your wife can then just double-click the icon after waking up the computer. You could even call it "WAKE UP" or something. I'm checking to see if there is a way to run it automatically when the computer wakes up. Stay tuned!

Hi Jonesie & all,

Just wondering if you found any way of 'automating' DHCP renewal? I'm in a similar situation ... my ISP cable connection just seems to drop occasionally. It's fixed with a winipcfg renew, but I need this to happen without me there. I wouldn't even mind getting it to renew say, hourly. But then I can't figure out how to use a batch file without ending up with a winipcfg window remaining open ... maybe that's not a problem?

[part 2]

Also now wondering ... My IP addy is technically dynamic, but in practice it only changes if I, or my ISP, makes some significant change. So, couldn't I avoid DHCP altogether, in network settings, by NOT obtaining an IP addy automatically, but instead specifying the one I usually get?

Thanks for any tips!

Not sure about how you would batch the process in 98/Me without the winipcfg staying up, but I can do it in 2000/XP quite easily.

But, I don't think you should set your IP address to a static one, if your ISP gives you out a dynamic one. You may set your IP to something, which they then try to hand out to another client, which could cause problems. Leave it at dynamic, or pay the extra and get a static address.