Can someone answer questions regarding a home network using old Windows OS and a router?

Question

Okay, I have two separate old computers. They are:

(1) Compaq EVO D500 Pentium 4 CPU running @ 2.0GHz 1GB RAM on Windows 2000 Professional OS

and an older computer...

(2) HP Pavilion (I don't know the exaxt model number) Pentium 3 CPU @ around 700 MHz 1GB RAM running on Windows 98SE

And I have a spare extra router (with many ethernet connections) that I used to use for internet connections on another, separate computer then these ones mentioned

Now the questions regarding these items together

(A) Will these two computers recognize one another if I connect them to my ethernet router? Will there have to be certain settings I install in each OS for it to work? Do I have to setup something beforehand? If so, could you leave your best instructions on the subject.

(B) Will they be able to share, transfer, and play small, common files like JPEGs, AVIs, and MP3s ?

(C) Is there a special area in the two separate OS that I must go in order to view the connection? Is it my My Networks or something like that?

(D) Will Windows 98SE have troubles with network connections yet Windows 2000 Pro will be far more capable of running the small network created?

(E) If this network is possible, is there something I should know that I'm not aware of yet? Meaning, common mistakes that similar people have with such a setup? Any possible snags?

Answer 1

a) You may have to enable file and printer sharing beforehand (Start - Settings - Control Panel - Network Connections), and set up shared folders as appropriate (right click on folder in Windows Explorer and change properties). Make sure both machines are configured to use a compatible network protocol, e.g. TCP/IP with NetBIOS enabled, and make sure file and printer sharing is configured for this protocol.

b) Yes, should be no problem with this if configured correctly.

c) Network Neighborhood in W98, I think it may be My Network Places in W2000.

d) Windows 2000 and later are generally far better than earlier versions for networking, but you should have no problems if both are configured correctly.

Answer 2

A - They should recognize each other just fine. I have shared files from a Vista PC to a 98 machine. Microsoft makes things backwards compatible because when 2000 came out, it needed to be compatible with 98. Then when XP came out, it had to work with 2000, etc. The cycle keeps things working.

B - Small things like that should be no issue at all.

C - It will probably be called "My Network Places" on both machines, or something very similar. It should have the name of the other PC if everything is working correctly.

D - Windows 98 shouldnt have any network problems provided that you have the ethernet drivers properly installed. Even if it has an ancient network card, the router should be 10/100 compatible. 2000 may feel smoother because it was designed around the NT network technology, but both will do ok.

E - The biggest thing will be firewalls. The router probably has a firewall built in, and the PC's may have one installed as well. Next make sure that the file and printer sharing protocol is installed and turned on for both network cords.  Also be sure that the files are set to be shared on the network. One time I tried to access a PC for about 3 days (from 3 feet away nonetheless) only to realize that the files I was trying to share weren't set to be shared. I am not sure how you go about that on 98 or 2000 but I would imagine it is nothing too crazy.

Good luck if you need more help as away!