"Richard" wrote:

> Hi there
>
> I have an XP sp2 pc connected to my broadband cable via a USB port. I share
> that internet connection so that if i want to connect my laptop (also xp sp2)
> to the internet for a while i plug in the LAN cable from the pc to the
> laptop. And of course i can also copy files between the two. All is well
> there and has been for a couple of years.
>
> Now i have a new pc at home, as well as the original, and i wanted to do the
> same - just connect it to the other pc now and again to swap afew files and
> for internet access particularly for virus updates and Windows update.
> However when i plug the LAN cable from one pc to the other nothing happens -
> it just says 'Network Cable Unplugged' constantly and nothing is flashing. I
> installed XP SP1 at first. I've now installed SP2 and still no joy.
>
> I can connect a LAN cable from the laptop to the new pc and all is well, so
> there's no hardware problem. But not to the original pc?? It's really odd.
> there's just no connection at all, never mind sharing the internet! I haven't
> done anthing to the network settings so i'm completely at a loss as to why.
>
> I'm not sure if this has anything to do with it, but the pcs are both my own
> and on the 'WORKGROUP' workgroup. The laptop however is works and belongs to
> a domain. Though i would have expected the laptop to have had problems
> connecting, not the other way around!
>
> And both the original pc and the laptop are completely up to date with
> Windows updates, but of course the new one isn't as i can't connect it to the
> internet yet!
>
> I know one answer would be to stop messing around with temporary networking
> and go get a router, but this setup has been just fine and easy for so long i
> just wanted to do the same :-)
>
> I would greatly appreciate any help at all!
>
> Regards,
> Richard
>
>

>Hi there
>
>I have an XP sp2 pc connected to my broadband cable via a USB port. I share
>that internet connection so that if i want to connect my laptop (also xp sp2)
>to the internet for a while i plug in the LAN cable from the pc to the
>laptop. And of course i can also copy files between the two. All is well
>there and has been for a couple of years.
>
>Now i have a new pc at home, as well as the original, and i wanted to do the
>same - just connect it to the other pc now and again to swap afew files and
>for internet access particularly for virus updates and Windows update.
>However when i plug the LAN cable from one pc to the other nothing happens -
>it just says 'Network Cable Unplugged' constantly and nothing is flashing. I
>installed XP SP1 at first. I've now installed SP2 and still no joy.
>
>I can connect a LAN cable from the laptop to the new pc and all is well, so
>there's no hardware problem. But not to the original pc?? It's really odd.
>there's just no connection at all, never mind sharing the internet! I haven't
>done anthing to the network settings so i'm completely at a loss as to why.
>
>I'm not sure if this has anything to do with it, but the pcs are both my own
>and on the 'WORKGROUP' workgroup. The laptop however is works and belongs to
>a domain. Though i would have expected the laptop to have had problems
>connecting, not the other way around!
>
>And both the original pc and the laptop are completely up to date with
>Windows updates, but of course the new one isn't as i can't connect it to the
>internet yet!
>
>I know one answer would be to stop messing around with temporary networking
>and go get a router, but this setup has been just fine and easy for so long i
>just wanted to do the same :-)
>
>I would greatly appreciate any help at all!
>
>Regards,
>Richard

"Chuck" wrote:

> On Mon, 28 Aug 2006 15:47:02 -0700, Richard <Rich***@discussions.microsoft.com>
> wrote:
>
> >Hi there
> >
> >I have an XP sp2 pc connected to my broadband cable via a USB port. I share
> >that internet connection so that if i want to connect my laptop (also xp sp2)
> >to the internet for a while i plug in the LAN cable from the pc to the
> >laptop. And of course i can also copy files between the two. All is well
> >there and has been for a couple of years.
> >
> >Now i have a new pc at home, as well as the original, and i wanted to do the
> >same - just connect it to the other pc now and again to swap afew files and
> >for internet access particularly for virus updates and Windows update.
> >However when i plug the LAN cable from one pc to the other nothing happens -
> >it just says 'Network Cable Unplugged' constantly and nothing is flashing. I
> >installed XP SP1 at first. I've now installed SP2 and still no joy.
> >
> >I can connect a LAN cable from the laptop to the new pc and all is well, so
> >there's no hardware problem. But not to the original pc?? It's really odd.
> >there's just no connection at all, never mind sharing the internet! I haven't
> >done anthing to the network settings so i'm completely at a loss as to why.
> >
> >I'm not sure if this has anything to do with it, but the pcs are both my own
> >and on the 'WORKGROUP' workgroup. The laptop however is works and belongs to
> >a domain. Though i would have expected the laptop to have had problems
> >connecting, not the other way around!
> >
> >And both the original pc and the laptop are completely up to date with
> >Windows updates, but of course the new one isn't as i can't connect it to the
> >internet yet!
> >
> >I know one answer would be to stop messing around with temporary networking
> >and go get a router, but this setup has been just fine and easy for so long i
> >just wanted to do the same :-)
> >
> >I would greatly appreciate any help at all!
> >
> >Regards,
> >Richard
>
> Richard,
>
> Is the "LAN cable" a cross-over or straight-thru cable?  Most computer to
> computer connections require a cross-over cable; some computers have an
> auto-crossover port.  Maybe the laptop has one of those.
>
> If your broadband modem has an Ethernet port, you're right, a NAT router would
> be a better solution.  But only if it has an Ethernet port.
>
> Do you manually configure the IP settings on the laptop, or does the first
> computer provide those?
>
> --
> Cheers,
> Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
> Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
> My        email         is          AT         DOT
>    actual       address    pchuck       mvps        org.
>

>"Chuck" wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 28 Aug 2006 15:47:02 -0700, Richard <Rich***@discussions.microsoft.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >Hi there
>> >
>> >I have an XP sp2 pc connected to my broadband cable via a USB port. I share
>> >that internet connection so that if i want to connect my laptop (also xp sp2)
>> >to the internet for a while i plug in the LAN cable from the pc to the
>> >laptop. And of course i can also copy files between the two. All is well
>> >there and has been for a couple of years.
>> >
>> >Now i have a new pc at home, as well as the original, and i wanted to do the
>> >same - just connect it to the other pc now and again to swap afew files and
>> >for internet access particularly for virus updates and Windows update.
>> >However when i plug the LAN cable from one pc to the other nothing happens -
>> >it just says 'Network Cable Unplugged' constantly and nothing is flashing. I
>> >installed XP SP1 at first. I've now installed SP2 and still no joy.
>> >
>> >I can connect a LAN cable from the laptop to the new pc and all is well, so
>> >there's no hardware problem. But not to the original pc?? It's really odd.
>> >there's just no connection at all, never mind sharing the internet! I haven't
>> >done anthing to the network settings so i'm completely at a loss as to why.
>> >
>> >I'm not sure if this has anything to do with it, but the pcs are both my own
>> >and on the 'WORKGROUP' workgroup. The laptop however is works and belongs to
>> >a domain. Though i would have expected the laptop to have had problems
>> >connecting, not the other way around!
>> >
>> >And both the original pc and the laptop are completely up to date with
>> >Windows updates, but of course the new one isn't as i can't connect it to the
>> >internet yet!
>> >
>> >I know one answer would be to stop messing around with temporary networking
>> >and go get a router, but this setup has been just fine and easy for so long i
>> >just wanted to do the same :-)
>> >
>> >I would greatly appreciate any help at all!
>> >
>> >Regards,
>> >Richard
>>
>> Richard,
>>
>> Is the "LAN cable" a cross-over or straight-thru cable?  Most computer to
>> computer connections require a cross-over cable; some computers have an
>> auto-crossover port.  Maybe the laptop has one of those.
>>
>> If your broadband modem has an Ethernet port, you're right, a NAT router would
>> be a better solution.  But only if it has an Ethernet port.
>>
>> Do you manually configure the IP settings on the laptop, or does the first
>> computer provide those?

>Hi Chuck
>Thanks for the reply. I wasn't aware the laptop may be able to
>auto-crossover. That would explain how it is able to connect to both desktop
>pc's but they can't connect together. I had just assumed it was a crossover
>cable because it worked before, but it doesn't specifically say that it is.
>It has lots of wriiting on it - 'TYPE CM 24AWG 75°C  (UL) E188630 CSA LL81295
>FT4  ETL VERIFIED TIA/EIA-568-B. 2 CAT.5 Patch Cable UTP EVERNEW 5D26CD022' -
>nothing very meaningful to me! I'll go get one so i can be certain.
>
>I have manually configured an IP address on computer #1 (the one connected
>to the internet) because it's quicker - it would take a couple of minutes
>'Aquiring Network Address' until i did this. I've now put a manual IP on both
>computer #2 and the laptop, and the same subnet mask, but still no joy. The
>laptop is still able to connect to both easily.

"Chuck" wrote:

> On Tue, 29 Aug 2006 03:13:01 -0700, Richard <Rich***@discussions.microsoft.com>
> wrote:
>
> >"Chuck" wrote:
> >
> >> On Mon, 28 Aug 2006 15:47:02 -0700, Richard <Rich***@discussions.microsoft.com>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> >Hi there
> >> >
> >> >I have an XP sp2 pc connected to my broadband cable via a USB port. I share
> >> >that internet connection so that if i want to connect my laptop (also xp sp2)
> >> >to the internet for a while i plug in the LAN cable from the pc to the
> >> >laptop. And of course i can also copy files between the two. All is well
> >> >there and has been for a couple of years.
> >> >
> >> >Now i have a new pc at home, as well as the original, and i wanted to do the
> >> >same - just connect it to the other pc now and again to swap afew files and
> >> >for internet access particularly for virus updates and Windows update.
> >> >However when i plug the LAN cable from one pc to the other nothing happens -
> >> >it just says 'Network Cable Unplugged' constantly and nothing is flashing. I
> >> >installed XP SP1 at first. I've now installed SP2 and still no joy.
> >> >
> >> >I can connect a LAN cable from the laptop to the new pc and all is well, so
> >> >there's no hardware problem. But not to the original pc?? It's really odd.
> >> >there's just no connection at all, never mind sharing the internet! I haven't
> >> >done anthing to the network settings so i'm completely at a loss as to why.
> >> >
> >> >I'm not sure if this has anything to do with it, but the pcs are both my own
> >> >and on the 'WORKGROUP' workgroup. The laptop however is works and belongs to
> >> >a domain. Though i would have expected the laptop to have had problems
> >> >connecting, not the other way around!
> >> >
> >> >And both the original pc and the laptop are completely up to date with
> >> >Windows updates, but of course the new one isn't as i can't connect it to the
> >> >internet yet!
> >> >
> >> >I know one answer would be to stop messing around with temporary networking
> >> >and go get a router, but this setup has been just fine and easy for so long i
> >> >just wanted to do the same :-)
> >> >
> >> >I would greatly appreciate any help at all!
> >> >
> >> >Regards,
> >> >Richard
> >>
> >> Richard,
> >>
> >> Is the "LAN cable" a cross-over or straight-thru cable?  Most computer to
> >> computer connections require a cross-over cable; some computers have an
> >> auto-crossover port.  Maybe the laptop has one of those.
> >>
> >> If your broadband modem has an Ethernet port, you're right, a NAT router would
> >> be a better solution.  But only if it has an Ethernet port.
> >>
> >> Do you manually configure the IP settings on the laptop, or does the first
> >> computer provide those?
>
> >Hi Chuck
> >Thanks for the reply. I wasn't aware the laptop may be able to
> >auto-crossover. That would explain how it is able to connect to both desktop
> >pc's but they can't connect together. I had just assumed it was a crossover
> >cable because it worked before, but it doesn't specifically say that it is.
> >It has lots of wriiting on it - 'TYPE CM 24AWG 75°C  (UL) E188630 CSA LL81295
> >FT4  ETL VERIFIED TIA/EIA-568-B. 2 CAT.5 Patch Cable UTP EVERNEW 5D26CD022' -
> >nothing very meaningful to me! I'll go get one so i can be certain.
> >
> >I have manually configured an IP address on computer #1 (the one connected
> >to the internet) because it's quicker - it would take a couple of minutes
> >'Aquiring Network Address' until i did this. I've now put a manual IP on both
> >computer #2 and the laptop, and the same subnet mask, but still no joy. The
> >laptop is still able to connect to both easily.
>
> Richard,
>
> The label "Patch Cable" generally indicates straight-thru.  A crossover cable
> would probably be labeled "Crossover Patch Cable" or "Crossover Cable".  Many
> computers and switches / routers have a feature called "Auto-MDIX", which
> eliminates the need for a cross-over cable when connecting to a crossover port
> at the other end of the cable.
> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/08/what-is-crossover-cable-and-why-do-i.html>
> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/08/what-is-crossover-cable-and-why-do-i.html
>
> You should always have a cross-over cable or device handy, for diagnosing
> network problems.  Auto-MDIX is becoming more common, but don't count on it
> becoming universal.
>
> And as I write repeatedly, if you have a LAN with a DHCP server and a computer
> isn't getting a DHCP assignment, you have to fix the problem.  Don't just
> manually assign an address.
>
> --
> Cheers,
> Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
> Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
> My        email         is          AT         DOT
>    actual       address    pchuck       mvps        org.
>

>"Chuck" wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 29 Aug 2006 03:13:01 -0700, Richard <Rich***@discussions.microsoft.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >"Chuck" wrote:
>> >
>> >> On Mon, 28 Aug 2006 15:47:02 -0700, Richard <Rich***@discussions.microsoft.com>
>> >> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >Hi there
>> >> >
>> >> >I have an XP sp2 pc connected to my broadband cable via a USB port. I share
>> >> >that internet connection so that if i want to connect my laptop (also xp sp2)
>> >> >to the internet for a while i plug in the LAN cable from the pc to the
>> >> >laptop. And of course i can also copy files between the two. All is well
>> >> >there and has been for a couple of years.
>> >> >
>> >> >Now i have a new pc at home, as well as the original, and i wanted to do the
>> >> >same - just connect it to the other pc now and again to swap afew files and
>> >> >for internet access particularly for virus updates and Windows update.
>> >> >However when i plug the LAN cable from one pc to the other nothing happens -
>> >> >it just says 'Network Cable Unplugged' constantly and nothing is flashing. I
>> >> >installed XP SP1 at first. I've now installed SP2 and still no joy.
>> >> >
>> >> >I can connect a LAN cable from the laptop to the new pc and all is well, so
>> >> >there's no hardware problem. But not to the original pc?? It's really odd.
>> >> >there's just no connection at all, never mind sharing the internet! I haven't
>> >> >done anthing to the network settings so i'm completely at a loss as to why.
>> >> >
>> >> >I'm not sure if this has anything to do with it, but the pcs are both my own
>> >> >and on the 'WORKGROUP' workgroup. The laptop however is works and belongs to
>> >> >a domain. Though i would have expected the laptop to have had problems
>> >> >connecting, not the other way around!
>> >> >
>> >> >And both the original pc and the laptop are completely up to date with
>> >> >Windows updates, but of course the new one isn't as i can't connect it to the
>> >> >internet yet!
>> >> >
>> >> >I know one answer would be to stop messing around with temporary networking
>> >> >and go get a router, but this setup has been just fine and easy for so long i
>> >> >just wanted to do the same :-)
>> >> >
>> >> >I would greatly appreciate any help at all!
>> >> >
>> >> >Regards,
>> >> >Richard
>> >>
>> >> Richard,
>> >>
>> >> Is the "LAN cable" a cross-over or straight-thru cable?  Most computer to
>> >> computer connections require a cross-over cable; some computers have an
>> >> auto-crossover port.  Maybe the laptop has one of those.
>> >>
>> >> If your broadband modem has an Ethernet port, you're right, a NAT router would
>> >> be a better solution.  But only if it has an Ethernet port.
>> >>
>> >> Do you manually configure the IP settings on the laptop, or does the first
>> >> computer provide those?
>>
>> >Hi Chuck
>> >Thanks for the reply. I wasn't aware the laptop may be able to
>> >auto-crossover. That would explain how it is able to connect to both desktop
>> >pc's but they can't connect together. I had just assumed it was a crossover
>> >cable because it worked before, but it doesn't specifically say that it is.
>> >It has lots of wriiting on it - 'TYPE CM 24AWG 75°C  (UL) E188630 CSA LL81295
>> >FT4  ETL VERIFIED TIA/EIA-568-B. 2 CAT.5 Patch Cable UTP EVERNEW 5D26CD022' -
>> >nothing very meaningful to me! I'll go get one so i can be certain.
>> >
>> >I have manually configured an IP address on computer #1 (the one connected
>> >to the internet) because it's quicker - it would take a couple of minutes
>> >'Aquiring Network Address' until i did this. I've now put a manual IP on both
>> >computer #2 and the laptop, and the same subnet mask, but still no joy. The
>> >laptop is still able to connect to both easily.
>>
>> Richard,
>>
>> The label "Patch Cable" generally indicates straight-thru.  A crossover cable
>> would probably be labeled "Crossover Patch Cable" or "Crossover Cable".  Many
>> computers and switches / routers have a feature called "Auto-MDIX", which
>> eliminates the need for a cross-over cable when connecting to a crossover port
>> at the other end of the cable.
>> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/08/what-is-crossover-cable-and-why-do-i.html>
>> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/08/what-is-crossover-cable-and-why-do-i.html
>>
>> You should always have a cross-over cable or device handy, for diagnosing
>> network problems.  Auto-MDIX is becoming more common, but don't count on it
>> becoming universal.
>>
>> And as I write repeatedly, if you have a LAN with a DHCP server and a computer
>> isn't getting a DHCP assignment, you have to fix the problem.  Don't just
>> manually assign an address.

>Thanks again Chuck
>I now have a new cable and it works, so the old one wasn't a crossover cable
>after all.
>
>Cheers,
>Richard