Network transfers from XP to 98 are slow??

Quick question:

I have 2 computers networked together through a router, all 100BaseT. One computer is running Windows 98 SE, the other is running Windows XP.

Whenever a file transfer is INITIATED from the XP system, the transfer is extrememly slow. However, if the same type of transfer is initated from the 98 machine, it's over twice as fast. For example, if I'm on the XP machine and send 1GB file to the 98 machine, the network utilization is less than 35%. If I'm on the 98 machine and request the same 1GB file, the network utilization jumps to over 60%. In both instances, the NICs are doing the same thing, the transfer is just originating from a different location.

Why is this? Obviously it's not a hardware problem, but rather some software setting in XP that is slowing the transfer down if initiated from that terminal.

I'd much appreciate any help with this issue, it's extrememly annoying. Whenever I have to transfer large files, I have to go over to the 98 machine just because it's faster there. wtf?!

all arp does is resolve a mac address to a known ip address. it does this only once. then it has to do it again when the arp table expires. if it were an arp issue there would be no transfer.

my computer is so fast, it completes an endless loop in less than 4 seconds!

I've had a similar issue that was fixed with an OS upgrade.

I ran into the same problem. exept I had 2 XP machines and a 98 machine. I had one XP machine upstairs, wired in wall (tested), and from either of the PCs (1 98, 1 XP)in the basement to the one upstairs was slow (like around .5% of a 10MB connection). What fixed my problem was reloading the XP machine upstairs. Never found the exact cuase but it fixed the problem.

"Quotes are for people that can't think for themselves"

If I read your post correctly you are getting faster Xfer times 'pulling' data from the XP box while on the Win98 box vs 'pushing' data from the XP box to the Win98 box. Correct?

This is typical of most computing environments and Windows architectures as well. Windows machines are inherently inefficient data transmitters, but pretty good data recievers in the way their network stacks are optimized.

However, if the Win98 box is twice as fast at 'pulling' data from the XP box as the XP is 'pulling' data from the Win98 box you've got some driver or hardware issues. There's no way a Win98 box given the same hardware should beat a NT/Win2K/XP network stack. My suggestion in this case is to make sure your XP box has the right drivers for the NIC card, and you might as well set your NIC cards to 100/half duplex. Either should help the problem.