HELP: XP PRO/XP HOME PC-TO-PC NETWORK PROBLEMS

  • Thread starter Thread starter Toby D
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Toby D

Originally this ended up under a replay instead of a new posting. If you
happen to read both please post here. Thanks


I've got a desktop running XP Pro and the other running XP Home and I am
having horrible problems getting these two to talk to each other. I have
created a small home network but can't get them to talk. I keep getting
that same error "A network cable is unplugged". I am trying to connect PC
to PC and am very VERY frustrated. I have spent days trying to resolve
this. Here is what I know:

1. I know the crossover cable is adequately connected on both ends and that
the cable is not defective. I used this cable from both pcs to one other pc
that I am not trying to network and it made the connection.
2. I have verified that there is are no firewalls enabled on both ends.
3. I have assigned IP addresses to both machines per Microsoft's support
info. 192.168.1.100 on one machine and 192.158.1.101 on the other machine.
The subnet mask has been set to 255.255.255.0 and Default gateway 0.0.0.0
for both machines.
4. When going to My Network Places I can see my workgroup (i.e. MSHOME) but
I can't see my own computer on either computer.
5. I don't want to want to use NETBUI protocol because I am not familiar
with, it is not supported, and using the IP addresses is suppose to work.
Since both of my comptuers are XP why use it anyway?
6. My DNS and WINS stuff is not filled in (using XP defaults) so I assume
that is not causing me any problems.
7. I have made sure that everything is shared so that should not be an
issue.
8. The drivers and software seems to be running fine on each computer since
they have been able to connect with a different comptuer.

I'm stuck and have no idea what to do next. PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME!
 
"Toby D" said:
I've got a desktop running XP Pro and the other running XP Home and I am
having horrible problems getting these two to talk to each other. I have
created a small home network but can't get them to talk. I keep getting
that same error "A network cable is unplugged". I am trying to connect PC
to PC and am very VERY frustrated. I have spent days trying to resolve
this. Here is what I know:

1. I know the crossover cable is adequately connected on both ends and that
the cable is not defective. I used this cable from both pcs to one other pc
that I am not trying to network and it made the connection.
2. I have verified that there is are no firewalls enabled on both ends.
3. I have assigned IP addresses to both machines per Microsoft's support
info. 192.168.1.100 on one machine and 192.158.1.101 on the other machine.
The subnet mask has been set to 255.255.255.0 and Default gateway 0.0.0.0
for both machines.
4. When going to My Network Places I can see my workgroup (i.e. MSHOME) but
I can't see my own computer on either computer.
5. I don't want to want to use NETBUI protocol because I am not familiar
with, it is not supported, and using the IP addresses is suppose to work.
Since both of my comptuers are XP why use it anyway?
6. My DNS and WINS stuff is not filled in (using XP defaults) so I assume
that is not causing me any problems.
7. I have made sure that everything is shared so that should not be an
issue.
8. The drivers and software seems to be running fine on each computer since
they have been able to connect with a different comptuer.

I'm stuck and have no idea what to do next. PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME!
Click to expand...

The most likely reasons for the "unplugged" message are that the cable
really is unplugged, it's defective, or it's the wrong type. From
what you say in #1, those possibilities don't apply. #2-#8 are
irrelevant since Windows XP says that the network cable is unplugged.

Here are some other things to check on each computer:

1. The network card driver program isn't working right. Download and
install the latest XP-compatible driver from the manufacturer's web
site.

2. The network card is configured to automatically sense speed and
duplex settings but isn't doing it correctly. Set those options
manually, as shown here:

Windows XP Network Troubleshooting - Problems with Network Cards
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/networkcard.htm

3. The operating system is turning off the network card to save power.
Disable the power saving option in the network card's properties, as
shown here, even if you have a different network adapter than
mentioned in the article:

MSBBN: "A Network Cable Has Been Unplugged" Message Appears at
Seemingly Random Intervals
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;811595

If those tips don't help, then I strongly suspect that the cable has
become defective.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
FINALLY IT WORKS! For those of you having the same problem I had to change
my network adapter speed and duplex settings (see below for web site).
Ironically, the network card I purchased is a Microsoft network card (my
other computer with an Intel card has the auto setting and works). In any
event when I set it to use 10 Mb everything worked. Unfotunatley, I can not
set it to 100 Mb. Using full duplex didn't work for me either. I don't
know enough about networking to understand why.

As for 10 Mb vs 100 Mb, can I only communicate at 10 Mb from PC to PC? Is
there a reason why I can't use 100 Mb? I have even tried setting both
computers to the same speed to no avail.

Thanks
 
"TobyD" said:
FINALLY IT WORKS! For those of you having the same problem I had to change
my network adapter speed and duplex settings (see below for web site).
Ironically, the network card I purchased is a Microsoft network card (my
other computer with an Intel card has the auto setting and works). In any
event when I set it to use 10 Mb everything worked. Unfotunatley, I can not
set it to 100 Mb. Using full duplex didn't work for me either. I don't
know enough about networking to understand why.

As for 10 Mb vs 100 Mb, can I only communicate at 10 Mb from PC to PC? Is
there a reason why I can't use 100 Mb? I have even tried setting both
computers to the same speed to no avail.

Thanks
Click to expand...

You're welcome, Toby. I'm glad that my web page helped you solve the
problem. Thanks for letting the news group know the solution.

Are both network cards are capable of 100 Mb speed? If they are, but
the connection only works at 10 Mb, then it's likely that the
crossover cable is improperly wired. Here are the most likely
problems:

1. More than 1/2 inch of wire is untwisted at the end.

2. Improper wire pairing. Pins 1-2 must be from one twisted pair, and
pins 3-6 must be from another twisted pair.

Those problems can prevent a cable from working at the higher speed.

When you make explicit network card settings, make the same settings
on both computers. Don't use automatic settings on either of them.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
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