SirBishopX,
Let me make sure I understand all the details:
- TCP/IP protocol is loaded on both machines
- Each machine now has a unique name
- Both machines have exactly the same workgroup name
- Both machines ARE able to access the internet
- The Win98 machine can ping both itself and the WinXP machine
- The WinXP machine CAN ping itself but can NOT ping the Win98 machine. The ping times out.
- XP's Internet Connection Firewall is turned OFF
If the above is all correct, it would seem that the basic networking components are all correct and working. If not, you would not be able to access the internet. You would also not be able to ping in EITHER direction from one of the machines. So something is either blocking the ICMP ping traffic going out from the XP box or blocking the incoming response to the ping.
I know you verified that XP's ICF is off but are you absolutely certain there are no other security programs running. All the symptoms point to this. Programs that could be used are:
ZoneAlarm [Pro version or free version]
Norton Personal Firewall
BlackIce Defender
Sygate Personal Firewall
McAfee Internet Security
or any on the list here
If you are running any of these, you will need to either disable it or adjust the settings to include the Win98 machine in the "trusted" address group. Chances are that if pings are being blocked, NetBIOS is also but try this. On the XP machine, open a command prompt and type the folowing without the quotes
"net user guest /active:yes"
Then try to map a drive on the XP box from the 98 box.
The Old Man