Hi, I have two PCs connected through NIC cards, about 50 feet cat5e cable with straight RJ-45 connectors, and a Linksys BEFSR41 router. The router is connected to the high speed internet (ComCast) via a Motorola modem. The PC close to the router end has no problem to connect the router and the internet. The PC at the distant end is able to see the router when it is running RH7.2 Linux, however, it can't see the router when it is running Win 98. The Linksys tech support persons told me that all the parameters of my Win98 network setting are correct, and they completely ran out of idea. I don't have any firewall or firewall like software installed on my Win98 system. I suspect that some kind of platform specific factors could be related to the problem. Could anyone help me on this issue? Thank you very much! James

Can the PC's ping each other? What protocols are you using?

Hi, The PC's can't pin each other when the distant one also runing Win98. But they see each other when the distant one runing Linux. TCP/IP is used. Thanks, James

it sounds like you have an invalid TCP/IP installation in Windows. If the box can ping the router and the other machine under Linux the physical connections are good. First try the obvious: Go into Networking Properties and remove & reinstall TCP/IP to see if that clears it up. Have the box set to allow the server to assign IP addresses, WINS resolution is disabled, and the server to resolve DNS names. Wipe out and retype the Workgroup name so it's EXACTLY like the Workgroup name on the other machine and remove the ScopeID if it's set. Make sure Windows has the correct NIC selected by removing and allowing the machine to reinstall the NIC's drivers. Check to see if it's working properly by pinging 127.0.0.1. Run winipcfg and see if Windows detects either the NIC or the router gateway. If this doesn't work, back up your registry and revert to the original registry that Windows set and saved when it was installed. Set up your software again and see if it works now. As a very last resort remove and reinstall Windows.