Win98SE Missing Network Neighborhood

[tman]

I recently put in a new HD on my older computer, and I fresh installed Win98SE. After installing the network card, there is no Network Neighborhood icon on the desktop. It was there before I put in a new HD. Tweak UI has the NN icon checked to be shown on the desktop, and I've got the MS client logon thing selected in CP>Network.

I need to get this compy back on my home network so I can get all my old files back on to it.

[Oz]

Is it available in Windows Explorer? Did you do a custom 98SE installation? Do you have the TCP/IP protocol installed?

[tman]

Doesn't show up in Windows explorer.

Installed from Dell Product Recovery Disk.

TCP/IP is installed.

It'll connect to the internet, just no network.

[Oz]

Copy all the files on your win98 CD to the c:\windows\options\cabs folder if you haven't already done so, and run setup from the same folder again.

[Plastic_Fork]

You need to install Client for Microsoft Networks in order for Win98SE to install Network Neighborhood. In your network settings, make sure your TCP/IP protocol along with Dialup Adapter are installed (so it doesn't freak out if you have a dialup modem and those aren't installed).

Honestly, you really don't need anything else except whatever your network card installs as far as protocols go. If you have Netware, IPX/SPX, NetBEUI, or any AOL protocols (if you don't use AOL), you can remove those.

Where it states "Primary Windows Logon" in the drop-down box below the protocol window, change it from "Windows Logon" to "Client for Microsoft Networks". Click OK and have your Win98SE CD handy (NOT a restore CD, but an actual Win98SE CD) to install the files you need. Be sure it copies from the CD itself, not the .cab files in an installation directory on your hard drive. Then reboot when it's done and it should be there after that.

If you already have Client for MS Networks selected in the drop down box before all this, change it to Windows Logon and reboot so that Windows removes it. Then go back and follow my instructions which will re-install Client for Microsoft Networks and that will put Network Neighborhood on the PC.

[tman]

That's my problem, when I do that, it asks for the disk. All I have is the product recovery disk, which apparently doens't have it on it (I've looked higha and low on it)

I think I'll upgrade it to win2000 and be done with it.

[Plastic_Fork]

The product recovery discs have the files you need, but it's in a proprietary format that Windows can't read directly. This is common with most computer manufacturers.

All you need is a Win98SE disc since you don't seem to have the .cab files on your computer (sometimes people put them there, but not usually PC companies like Dell, etc.). If you don't have one that's okay. If you know someone with a Win98SE CD, borrow that if you can. It doesn't ask for a registration number or anything like that. All it wants is the files on the disk.

If you can borrow one from someone it'll work just fine (unless it's scratched ). If you know someone that can burn one for you, that'll work too. It's not fussy - it just wants the files on the disc.

Upgrading to Win2k isn't something I'd recommend. Not upgrading anyway. If you decide to use Win2k, do it the correct way and format the drive and install from scratch. A Windows 2000 upgrade from Win98SE isn't the most stable of configurations. It'll run better and be more stable in the long run if you do a full reinstallation from scratch.