Cannot View Windows 95/98 File Share from Windows 2000

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This article was previously published under Q263648

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SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to use a Windows 2000-based computer to connect to a file share on a computer that is running Windows 95 or Windows 98, you may receive the following error message:

System error 51 has occurred.

The remote computer is not available.

Or, when you attempt to use a computer that is running Windows 95/Windows 98 to connect to a file share on a computer that is running Windows 2000, you may receive the following error message:

Error 53: The computer name specified in the network path cannot be located. Make sure you are specifying the computer name correctly or try again later when the remote computer is available.

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CAUSE

The Windows 2000-based computer does not have NetBIOS over TCP/IP enabled.

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RESOLUTION

To enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP:

Right-click My Network Places, and then click Properties.
Right-click the network adapter that is connected to the network that the computers running Windows 95/Windows 98 are using (usually Local Area Connection), and then click Properties.
Click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click Properties.
Click the Advanced button.
On the WINS tab, click Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP, and then click OK.
Click OK, and then click OK.
Right-click the network adapter that you modified in step 2, and then click Disable.
Right-click the network adapter that you modified in step 2, and then click Enable. This initializes the adapter with the new setting.