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 has no problem to connect the router and the internet. The PC at the distant end is not able to see the router when it is running Win98, but it does connect to the router, and thus run internet normally when it is running RH7.2 Linux. 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. Could anyone help me to solve this problem? Thank you very much! James

James, Try taking the cable from the computer that is working and connect it to the one that is not. Also Start>Run and type winipcfg Is a default gateway listed on the computer that is not working? Try release all then renew all if no gateway is listed. Mesich

Hi Mesich, Thanks for the quick response. The distant end PC does see the router, and is connected to the internet normally when running Linux. This proves the cable connection has no problem. I had tried to switch side of two computers, and the problem persistent. The key issue seems to be why the it works with Linux but not Win98? James

James, Another easy check is Control Panel>Network Highlight your tcp/ip and select properties. Ensure obtain an ip address automatically is selected. Mesich

James, Also when you run winipcfg what is listed in the drop down menu for Ethernet Adapter? Mesich

I have a similar problem but don't have Linux, so didn't know it was possibly a Win 98 os problem. I'm running XP home on laptop, Win 98 on desktop, 50 foot cat 5 between into a Belkin Gateway/Router to Motorola Surfboard Cable modem. The laptop accesses the internet fine, the LAN light on the router lights up nice and pretty, but I can't ping the router nor can I access the network. One tech (I've talked to techs for my PCI on the w98 machine, for the Belkin, and the laptop) at HP said the problem is netbui, but loading netbui to the xp home machine changed nothing. Shall we gang up on somebody? After the suspicion of bad cable, I replaced, still the same. I will repost when I call Belkin tomorrow to confirm it isn't a cable problem (which you confirm). As you are using a Linksys and I a Belkin with the same problem, I'm assuming it's an XP home (are you using home or pro?) Win 98 problem. I can't even get winipcfg to release/renew at this point. I'll keep you posted. Please keep me posted.

Just reread first post -- our other similarity is a Motorola Modem. Is this worth investigating?