I have lost the networking functionality of my Windows 98SE PC. Is it the NIC? I have recently attempted to network my Vista laptop to my Win98SE desktop but without success. Please see my original post to FixYa, "Is it possible to connect my ASUS X58C laptop to a Win98SE pc?" for actions to date. I've decided to abandon that, but now I can't get my Win98SE PC back to how it was, that is, interworking with my Win98 laptop. Trying to get back to where I was, I've now uninstalled DSClient9x and removed the new registry entry LMCompatibility, Value 3, on the Win98SE machine. When I was attempting the Vista -Win98SE interworking, the last thing I did was to download a file (PCI_Install_98ME_5707_1119.zip) from Realtek to make sure my Win98SE NIC driver is up to date in case that was part of the problem. I downloaded on to my Vista machine copied to a disc and then copied this on to the Win98SE where I unzipped it and then ran setup.exe. This started an InstallShield Wizard for Realtek GbE & FE Ethernet PCI NIC Driver which I ran. Is this the correct driver for my Win98SE PC? I've reset all the network settings on both Win98 PCs and in their Network Neighbourhood windows, but only their own icon appears (after a delay). So they are not communicating and I suspect it is the Win98SE which has lost functionality but I don't know how to prove it and fix it. One more thing which might be relevant. When I loaded the dsclient9x and ran dsclient.exe, there was also a note saying something to the effect "if QFE patches are loaded it will be necessary to reload them after running dsclient.exe" But I don't know if my machine had these installed or what they are. Can anyone help me please. Thank you

Thank you drbrightirem for your reply confirming I have the correct driver and your suggestion regarding a virus. I am sorry for the delay in responding. I was not certain if the Fixya community would be responding to my request as it has been a little while since I posted my problem. In the meantime I have found a solution with the help of another forum and just in case the details might be of use to someone, here are some extracts of what I did.

I am trying to just network the two Win98 machines as it appears from other forums that interworking Win98SE to Vista will never work (although as I mentioned I did get it working in the Vista to Win98SE direction). So I have abandoned that and just want to get back to where I was, that is Win98SE interworking with Win98.

Eventually I concluded that after the Vista/Win98SE attempts I had been left with more than one problem.

First the Win98SE desktop.

I have reset (again) the Network settings in Control Panel and have bound the Realtek Network Adapter to the NetBEUI protocol only. I have removed all other bindings including those to the Dial-Up Adapter. The NetBEUI --->realtek properties shows bindings to Client for Microsoft Networks and File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks. At the end of those resettings when I clicked OK the following message box appeared

[Version Conflict
A file being copied is older than the file currently on your computer. It is recommended that you keep your existing file.
File name secur32.dll
Description Microsoft Win32 Security Services (Export
Your version 4.10.2226
Do you want to keep the file? yes no]

I clicked yes because I had read in the Microsoft article 239869 How to enable NTLM2 Authentication that certain files will remain after Active Directory Client Extension removal because they give enhanced security. See paste below
　
"When you install Active Directory Client Extensions on a computer that is running Windows 98, the system files that provide NTLM 2 support are also automatically installed. These files are Secur32.dll, Msnp32.dll, Vredir.vxd, and Vnetsup.vxd. If you remove Active Directory Client Extension, the NTLM 2 system files are not removed because the files provide both enhanced security functionality and security-related fixes".

I was then prompted to restart the pc

Second the Win98 laptop

I have reset (again) the Network settings in Control Panel and have bound the Realtek Network Adapter to the NetBEUI protocol only. I have removed all other bindings including those to the Dial-Up Adapter. The NetBEUI --->realtek properties shows bindings to Client for Microsoft Networks and File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks. At the end of those resettings when I clicked OK the following message box appeared

[Copying Files
The file "netbeui.vxd" on Windows 98 CD ROM can not be found
Insert Windows 98 CD ROM in the selected drive and click OK
Copy files from
C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\Q312339]

I don't have a Win98 CD ROM, only a Toshiba product recovery disc which would take me right back to day1 factory status if I used it. Also I don't know why the message window included a path to Q312339. I assume this might be an upgrade I loaded some (long) time in the past when this computer had dial-up internet access?

So to get past this I had to click Skip File. After system restart the icon for this computer did not appear in its Network Neighbourhood nor an icon for the Win98SE

So I suspect the NetBEUI is not working on this pc, no doubt due to this missing file. So I changed the network settings again so that only the TCP/IP protocol is bound to the NIC. After restart this computer's icon appeared again in its Network Neighbourhood window. I had one more try at changing the Win98SE to be TCP/IP only, but they still don't see each other.

Having thought about the above for a while, Success!

I copied the missing netbeui.vxd file via floppy from the Win98SE to the Win98 and then reset the network settings for NetBEUI on the Win98

Then I reset NetBEUI again on the Win98SE and when the message said do you want to keep the existing secur32.dll file I said NO and after reboot it all worked OK

So everthing was back how it was before my Vista/Win98SE attempts. But then I discovered another little funny

Win98SE to Win98 Networking Disconnection

Its working fine but when I was repositioning my computers today, I unplugged the ethernet crossover cable and when I plugged it in again the connection between the computers was lost. I discovered that the only way to re-establish the connection is by rebooting the Win98SE. Rebooting the Win98 would not re-establish the connection. After messing about a bit I found that the cable has to be unplugged for about 10seconds for the connection to be lost, that is if you plug it out and then in again within about 10seconds the connection stays up.

However after this 10 seconds when the link has been lost I think the Network Neighbourhood display of the Win98SE computer is a bit strange when the cable is out though.

Initially after the cable is unplugged the Win98 continues to show Entire Network, Advent Desktop (the Win98SE) and Toshibalaptop (itself, the Win98 laptop), but after a time when the window is refreshed, it only shows Entire Network and Toshibalaptop. That seems to be as expected (I think). This continues to be the case after the cable is plugged in again with the window being refreshed several times over a 10minute period.

However, the Win98SE only shows Entire Network and no entry for either computer when the cable has been unplugged. It seems strange that it does not continue to display itself in the window (as the Win98 machine does for itself). It continues to only show Entire Network and no computer name/icon when the cable has been plugged in again. I tried refreshing the window several times after replugging in the cable over a 10minute period but still nothing. The link is definitely down after replugging in the cable as I can't access the drives of either computer from the other. However as previously reported, a restart of the Win98SE machine re-establishes the link.

Since my last post I've found a solution although I don't really understand why.

In Control Panel, System, Device Manager, Network Adapters, Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Internet NIC, Properties, there is a tab for Power Management. There is an option "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power". This was checked. I unchecked it and rebooted and now after ethernet cable disconnection and reconnection, after a while, the link becomes re-established without the need for a computer re-start.

So I suppose the logic of the system is that if the link is lost it might as well turn the device off? Or is this a bug? A mystery but in any event, time to move on I think. As a point of interest there is no Power Management tab in the Properties of the NIC on the Win98 machine. Thank you drbrightirem for your reply confirming I have the correct driver and your suggestion regarding a virus. I am sorry for the delay in responding. I was not certain if the Fixya community would be responding to my request as it has been a little while since I posted my problem. In the meantime I have found a solution with the help of another forum and just in case the details might be of use to someone, here are some extracts of what I did. I am trying to just network the two Win98 machines as it appears from other forums that interworking Win98SE to Vista will never work (although as I mentioned I did get it working in the Vista to Win98SE direction). So I have abandoned that and just want to get back to where I was, that is Win98SE interworking with Win98. Eventually I concluded that after the Vista/Win98SE attempts I had been left with more than one problem. First the Win98SE desktop. I have reset (again) the Network settings in Control Panel and have bound the Realtek Network Adapter to the NetBEUI protocol only. I have removed all other bindings including those to the Dial-Up Adapter. The NetBEUI --->realtek properties shows bindings to Client for Microsoft Networks and File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks. At the end of those resettings when I clicked OK the following message box appeared [Version Conflict A file being copied is older than the file currently on your computer. It is recommended that you keep your existing file. File name secur32.dll Description Microsoft Win32 Security Services (Export Your version 4.10.2226 Do you want to keep the file? yes no] I clicked yes because I had read in the Microsoft article 239869 How to enable NTLM2 Authentication that certain files will remain after Active Directory Client Extension removal because they give enhanced security. See paste below 　 "When you install Active Directory Client Extensions on a computer that is running Windows 98, the system files that provide NTLM 2 support are also automatically installed. These files are Secur32.dll, Msnp32.dll, Vredir.vxd, and Vnetsup.vxd. If you remove Active Directory Client Extension, the NTLM 2 system files are not removed because the files provide both enhanced security functionality and security-related fixes". I was then prompted to restart the pc Second the Win98 laptop I have reset (again) the Network settings in Control Panel and have bound the Realtek Network Adapter to the NetBEUI protocol only. I have removed all other bindings including those to the Dial-Up Adapter. The NetBEUI --->realtek properties shows bindings to Client for Microsoft Networks and File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks. At the end of those resettings when I clicked OK the following message box appeared [Copying Files The file "netbeui.vxd" on Windows 98 CD ROM can not be found Insert Windows 98 CD ROM in the selected drive and click OK Copy files from C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\Q312339] I don't have a Win98 CD ROM, only a Toshiba product recovery disc which would take me right back to day1 factory status if I used it. Also I don't know why the message window included a path to Q312339. I assume this might be an upgrade I loaded some (long) time in the past when this computer had dial-up internet access? So to get past this I had to click Skip File. After system restart the icon for this computer did not appear in its Network Neighbourhood nor an icon for the Win98SE So I suspect the NetBEUI is not working on this pc, no doubt due to this missing file. So I changed the network settings again so that only the TCP/IP protocol is bound to the NIC. After restart this computer's icon appeared again in its Network Neighbourhood window. I had one more try at changing the Win98SE to be TCP/IP only, but they still don't see each other. Having thought about the above for a while, Success! I copied the missing netbeui.vxd file via floppy from the Win98SE to the Win98 and then reset the network settings for NetBEUI on the Win98 Then I reset NetBEUI again on the Win98SE and when the message said do you want to keep the existing secur32.dll file I said NO and after reboot it all worked OK So everthing was back how it was before my Vista/Win98SE attempts. But then I discovered another little funny Win98SE to Win98 Networking Disconnection Its working fine but when I was repositioning my computers today, I unplugged the ethernet crossover cable and when I plugged it in again the connection between the computers was lost. I discovered that the only way to re-establish the connection is by rebooting the Win98SE. Rebooting the Win98 would not re-establish the connection. After messing about a bit I found that the cable has to be unplugged for about 10seconds for the connection to be lost, that is if you plug it out and then in again within about 10seconds the connection stays up. However after this 10 seconds when the link has been lost I think the Network Neighbourhood display of the Win98SE computer is a bit strange when the cable is out though. Initially after the cable is unplugged the Win98 continues to show Entire Network, Advent Desktop (the Win98SE) and Toshibalaptop (itself, the Win98 laptop), but after a time when the window is refreshed, it only shows Entire Network and Toshibalaptop. That seems to be as expected (I think). This continues to be the case after the cable is plugged in again with the window being refreshed several times over a 10minute period. However, the Win98SE only shows Entire Network and no entry for either computer when the cable has been unplugged. It seems strange that it does not continue to display itself in the window (as the Win98 machine does for itself). It continues to only show Entire Network and no computer name/icon when the cable has been plugged in again. I tried refreshing the window several times after replugging in the cable over a 10minute period but still nothing. The link is definitely down after replugging in the cable as I can't access the drives of either computer from the other. However as previously reported, a restart of the Win98SE machine re-establishes the link. Since my last post I've found a solution although I don't really understand why. In Control Panel, System, Device Manager, Network Adapters, Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Internet NIC, Properties, there is a tab for Power Management. There is an option "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power". This was checked. I unchecked it and rebooted and now after ethernet cable disconnection and reconnection, after a while, the link becomes re-established without the need for a computer re-start. So I suppose the logic of the system is that if the link is lost it might as well turn the device off? Or is this a bug? A mystery but in any event, time to move on I think. As a point of interest there is no Power Management tab in the Properties of the NIC on the Win98 machine.