Home Network with crossover cable not quite working

I am trying to connect my laptop and home computer together through a crossover cable. I have done this once before but for some reason I am missing a step or something isn't set up just right. The two computers will detect the network cards but I can't see the other computer in Explorer or Network Places.....just the computer I am on. I have set up sharing on both computers. Both workgroups are the same name......re-set up through XP's Connection wizard. Everything says it should be working....but I can't access the second computer. The only wierd thing I have noticed is if I go into the status of the connection under support...both computers say "unavailable" for address type, IP Addres, etc. I wanted to delete all settings and just start over....but delete is greyed out .

I'm obviously missing something. Ideas?

Thanks in advance.

 

Assuming that both systems are running XP :

post the results of an Ipconfig /all from both PCs

 

Thanks for the help Andy.....

Both computers are running XP Pro. I have 3 computers. My main desktop and an older desktop I had running fine together. I wanted to take the old desktop off and replace it with my laptop. I have done everything the same way....I thought...but nothing. XP will tell me if the network cable is unplugged on either machine...acts like it is working...just shows nothing in explorer or my network places. From the results you asked for it is obvious I am missing something...probably simple. Thanks again for your help. Here are the results:

Desktop

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : jp1
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Mixed
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Network Bridge (Network Bridge) 2:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : MAC Bridge Miniport
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : E2-36-C2-83-3B-25
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration IP Address. . . : 169.254.199.159
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :


Laptop

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Laptop
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Mixed
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Network Bridge (Network Bridge) 6:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : MAC Bridge Miniport
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-FA-90-5D-56-8D
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

 

Code:

Autoconfiguration IP Address. . . : 169.254.199.159
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

Here is the problem / reason they can't 'see' each other. They are on totally different networks and that doesn't work if they are on the same wiring system.

The 169.254.199.159 IP address is assigned by the PC to itself and is what's called Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) and feel free to skip the link unless you like tech details. It's what a 2K or XP PC will assign itself if it is unable to find a device to assign addresses (DHCP Server) and you have it set to auto-assign the IP address information.

It works fine as long as all the PCs on your network also use addresses in the range defined by the subnet mask and also use the same subnet mask. Otherwise, no joy.

Your choices here are to
- leave that PC with it's current settings and force the other PC to also pick up an APIPA address
- leave that PC with it's current settings and manually set the other PC to the same network so subnet mask 255.255.0.0 and any IP you like that isn't in use and falls between 169.254.1.1 and 169.254.254.254
- set that PC to a fixed IP using subnet mask 255.255.255.0 and any IP address from 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.254.

The last option will give you slightly faster response between your PCs.

The blank default gateway indicates that neither PC is acting as an internet gateway device (so the other PC can find the internet) and that you aren't using a router/switch to connect via a broadband modem.

 

Thanks Newt.....that was it. It took a couple of tries to get everything to take but it is working like a charm. You taught me alot. I had some knowldege but your info really brought it home.

Thanks a million.

 

Glad you got it working. And thanks for posting the ipconfig info. Couldn't have solved it without that info.

 

Darn these pesky time differences !

I knew what the problem was going to be but, as I wasnt logged on at quarter to midnight my time, Newt beat me to it !

Seriously though I'm glad that you got sorted out (relatively) easily - hope this inspires you to hang around and help out where your expertise may prove invaluble to another reader. No-one knows everything !

 

LOL - AndyO, when you asked the question it pretty well meant you knew what the problem would be. You just gotta start staying up and online later.

I'd have left it for you but I happened to be trolling around just after he posted the info so thought I'd give it an answer. Not quite 7pm here so I had lots of time to kill before I could leave work at 11:30pm.

 

Andy......my Mom always told me it was the thought that counted.....so thanks for thinking about poor little ole me in South Carolina!!!!!

 

Newt: Staying up and online is not really an option, being a a paid computer geek by day means that too much time doing it by night at home turns me into a social zombie

JamesonProd: Always willing to help out no matter where you are (only ever visited New York and Nevada (bet you cant guess where !).