I've finally networked my Win XP Home machine to Win 98SE machine - after much trial & error , a client-server based network is working, but I cannot print from the client. The XP machine is the host & has 2 NIC's. One is connected to broadband modem, the other is connected to Linsys Hub. The 98 machine is connected to the hub via NIC. Printer (HP 722C) is connected to LPT1 on the XP. I can share the internet connection & files. Print sharing is enabled. Printer is installed & working from the XP as local printer. Printer is installed as network printer on 98 machine. I can see the printer from the 98 machine, but when I try printing, I get an error "unable to communicate with network printer" then the printjob is cancelled. I've try different settings, etc, and am fresh out of ideas. Anyone can help?

Try connecting the printer to the Windows 98 machine. Install the printer driver. See if that works. I also have Windows XP and 98 machines with the printer connected to to XP machine. The printer was set up as a network printer on the Windows 98 machine. Printing stopped working on the 98 machine. I never got it working again until I did a complete reinstall of Windows 98. BTW, my XP machine has two NICs also. I thought about doing Internet sharing like you did but decided that was not the best approach. I ended up buying a Linksys router with a built-in 4-port switch. The advantage is each computer is independent of the other for Internet access. I still need the XP machine on for printing. I have an old print server that I got for free. I plugged one end into the Linksys switch and the other end into the printer. When I used it each computer could print without the other being on. I only stopped using it because sometimes a software glitch caused it to lock up. It was anoying to have to restart it. Someday I will pick up a better one.

I have a very similar problem. Win XP machine networked with an old Win 98 machine, via a Dlink router/switch, and a Lexmark Z53 hooked into the XP machine by USB. The setup works great for internet sharing, but so far cannot print from the Win 98 machine.

What networking protocols do you have installed to the 2 machines and what do you have NETBIOS bound to on the Win98 box? Here's a hint: Typically Win98 machines are set up "bound" to NETBEUI. However, Microsoft abandoned NETBEUI with the NT line so WinXP doesn't include or recognize this protocol anymore. Your Win98 box is probably talking to the printer on the WinXP machine in NETBEUI which it can't understand. Under Networking on the Win98 machine remove NETBEUI if it's installed and install IPX/SPX and bind to this. This is the Novell version and is pretty much the industry standard now. Make sure it's also installed to your WinXP box and bind to this. Your Win98 box should then be able to see the printer. You may have to set up an account on the WinXP box for your Win98 box, too.

Both XP & 98 machines had only TCP/IP as only bound protocol. (In addition to microsoft print & file sharing, client for MS network) NETBEUI had been deleted from the 98 machine. I tried adding IPX/SPX to both machines but no luck :(

I figured out the solution!!! You have to capture a printer port on the 98 machine manually - add printer wizard/ add port on property sheet did not work. How to do this? see http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;243075&Product=w98

JS, you found the solution indeed! I spend hours to get my HP880C (attached to a XP computer)working for the Win98SE computers in my network. XP tells you to install extra Win98 drivers to make the printer available for Win98 computers but refuses the HP drivers because they lack the "digital signature". The solution is in manually capturing a printer port. Thanks.