I'm setting up my first network, a very simple setup with two systems hooked up via a crossover cable. But I'm running into trouble.

Both boxes are running Win98. When I click the Network Neighbourhood icon (on either system), any number of things can happen. Most commonly, I get the "Cannot browse network" error, but sometimes the local computer I'm on will show up in the NN box, but not the remote system. Screwing around with various things (rebooting the systems, unplugging and replugging the network cable, etc.) will eventually enable the connection, at which point everything runs fine until one of the systems is shut down, at which point I have to start all over again. Both systems have the Client for Microsoft Networking enabled, we enter our usernames and passwords on each system upon boot, but it doesn't seem to be doing any good.

I know this is pretty vague, but the simple fact is that there doesn't seem to be any consistent behaviour here. The errors (or just missing systems) appear to be random, as does the sudden appearance of the remote system on the network. Any thoughts as to what I'm doing wrong? I don't see why this has to be so complicated.

Thanks.