Home Network trouble

I am having the same problem as referenced here:
http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=50355&highlight=network+cable+unplugged

I have two seperate cat 5 "patch" cables i have tried. Is my problem the same? Do i have a straight through cable & need a crossover cable?

Both devices are working properly, just showing cable unplugged with either of the two cables i have plugged in.

 

Look at the connectors for your cable, you'll see that each wire is colour coded.

Bend the cable around until the two connectors are next to each other, facing the same way and you have a decent view of the wires.

If the colours are in the same order on both connectors you have a straight-through cable, if each connector the colours in a different order you have a cross-over cable.

Regardless of which cable types you have, if you are connecting two PC's directly (ie network card - cable - other network card) then you need a cross-over cable.

 

Excellent response from David. However, if a picture would help have a look at this:

http://www.jaysafe.co.uk/technical/rj45.asp

If both ends, look like the top image (wires in same order) then it is a straight through. If one end looks like the top image and the other looks like the bottom image, then it is a crossover.

 

very helpful & easy to understand guys, thanks. all cables i have are straight through cables. guess i'll be picking up a cross over cable this weekend.

 

still no worky

i bought a crossover cable last night. went through the steps to set up home network in XP. the main pc which connects to the internet is set up & has no connection issues. the secondary pc which will connect through the other, still shows "network cable is unplugged" though it is definitely plugged in.
in device manager, the network card shows as enabled & working with no errors. i also opened up the case to assure everything looked good.

where do i start to troublshoot? the windows trouble shooter has not helped. I have XP Pro. Let me know if there is any other pertinent info needed to trouble shoot.

thanks in advance, this problem is cutting out my ability to work from home & complete overtime duties -very bad

 

How did you connect your two computers?
How did your main computer connect to Internet ?

 

main pc connects through usb to cable modem

connected the two pc's by:
plugging crossover cable to main pc
plugging in crossover cable to 2nd pc
booting up
went to my network places/started the set up a home or small office network wizard/ completed process on main pc & created a disk for 2nd pc/
placed disk in 2nd pc/ followed steps as outlined by wizard/ it could not find a working connection/ taskbar shows red x over network icon & display network cable unplugged

rebooted & tried again. no luck.

 

Ok, now it is clear.

Before you use the wizard to setup the "home network" you have to set up IP addresses manually cause you don't have DHCP server.

Do you know how to setup the IP address for you computers ?

 

Sorry, I did not read carefully, if your computer says cable unplug, you have to check it first.

Did you see the light is on on the network card of your computers?

 

mostly, looking at the motherboard is like trying to find my way around the sea floor..... maybe i should post pics? can that be done?

i looked at the board, nothing was unplugged that i could see.


i set up a couple of pc's at work on the local network through trial & error. i do not remember exactly how/where i set up the ip's but i have done it before.

 

No, you don't have to post the picture.

You have a crossover cable, right. After you pulged it into both of your computers. Could you see the light from the network card of your computers?

If not, probably, your cable is not good, nor network cards have some problem.

 

i didn't really look at the main pc because it found the connection.

but definitely no light from the 2nd pc.... since, the device mgr says it's fine where do i start the trouble shoot?
can i get any network card & plug it in or do they mate with certain boards, os's?

 

It sounds strange, one crossover cable connect two PCs, If one says it find the connection, the other should find it too or both of them can't find connection.

Think about this:

In this case you mentioned, if your main computer said it found the connection, who did it connect to?

 

not sure. wish i was.

Main PC has the following:
Local Area Connection
Connected
Intel Pro/100 VE Network Conne

Local Area Connection 4
Connected
Motorolla Surfboard
They are both in the exceptions tab on windows firewall. Also running Zone Alarm.

2nd PC has the following:

Local Area Connection
Network cable unplugged
SIS 900 PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter
Running Zone alarm.
2nd PC is definitely plugged in externally. cable is brand new out of the box.

i do recall now where to set ip addresses.
thank you for the replies.

 

If i have this:
Local Area Connection
Network cable unplugged
SIS 900 PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter

I definitely HAVE a network card, correct?

I have a plug on the back of PC 2, obviously since the cable is plugged in. But the only 'card' i see beside RAM, is the modem....

 

yes, it is correct.

And I am also confused with your second question.

What do you mean "RAM" ? If you meant "RAM" as memory, it should be inside the computer, which can't be seen on the back of your PC 2.

 

I am looking inside the box

so i def have a network card & a good crossover cable..... i'm stumped & no one has a new direction for me to go in? should i buy a new network card?

 

Does your modem support LAN connection? if so, before you buy a new network card, why not try connect your PC 2 to your modem to do a test, I remember you have that straight forward cable.

 

i know even less about modems.... though i'd love to learn.

are you asking about the V90 fax modem inside PC2 or the external high speed modem i have PC1 connected to?

i asked the provider if i could hook up the network cable connection to 1 PC & the usb connection to the other (from the high speed modem) they said it only supported 1 connection at a time.

 

I meant the one your pc1 connected to.

You just do the test to see if you pc2's network is ok, not always connect to.

if the network card on you pc2 has problem, then buy a new one.

if not, then we go ahead to find out what is the culprit.