Network Connect Problem

22 Dec 2006 5:32 AM

Ben Ramsay

I have a laptop and a desktop and I ma trying to conect them together via a
LAN cable.

I have Windows XP Pro with SP2 on both system however when I connect the
cable The network Icon report me as disconnected. This state dose not change
even if I disconect the cable.

I have verified that the Network cards are wirking by connecting a Wireless
router to each system and it was detected without any problems.

The same cable, a 5e catagory cable, was used in both cases.

Any ideas ???????????

22 Dec 2006 6:21 AM

Jack (MVP-Networking).

Hi
The cable that connects a Computer to a Router, is not the same as a cable
that connect a computer to computer.
You need a crossover cable to connect computer to computer directly.
CAT5e Straight or Crossover, what should I use?
http://www.ezlan.net/faq.html#crossover
As an alternative, you connect both computer to the same Router they would
be connect one to the other.
Jack (MVP-Networking).

Show quoteHide quote

"Ben Ramsay" <benramsa***@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:OlgkSqYJHHA.4928@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>I have a laptop and a desktop and I ma trying to conect them together via a
>LAN cable.
>
> I have Windows XP Pro with SP2 on both system however when I connect the
> cable The network Icon report me as disconnected. This state dose not
> change even if I disconect the cable.
>
> I have verified that the Network cards are wirking by connecting a
> Wireless router to each system and it was detected without any problems.
>
> The same cable, a 5e catagory cable, was used in both cases.
>
> Any ideas ???????????
>

22 Dec 2006 6:33 AM

Steve Winograd [MVP]

In article <OlgkSqYJHHA.4***@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl>, "Ben Ramsay"
<benramsa***@optusnet.com.au> wrote:

>I have a laptop and a desktop and I ma trying to conect them together via a
>LAN cable.
>
>I have Windows XP Pro with SP2 on both system however when I connect the
>cable The network Icon report me as disconnected. This state dose not change
>even if I disconect the cable.
>
>I have verified that the Network cards are wirking by connecting a Wireless
>router to each system and it was detected without any problems.
>
>The same cable, a 5e catagory cable, was used in both cases.
>
>Any ideas ???????????

Connecting two computers directly to each other requires a crossover
CAT5 cable. A regular CAT5 cable won't work, and both computers will
report that the network connection is disconnected.

A regular cable works for connecting a computer to a hub, switch or
router.

--
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

26 Dec 2006 9:07 AM

Ben Ramsay

I thank the people for the input regarding their input, howver I am still
seeking information with regards to what type of network cable I need to
connect my laptop to my desktop.

I am currently using a catagory 5e patch cable, I can connect my computers
via a wirless router, but I want to conect them directly so that I can
access the net from my laptop via my desktop.

What do I need to do to achieve this or what type of network do I need.

26 Dec 2006 9:36 AM

Steve Winograd [MVP]

In article <uK5ph1MKHHA.5***@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl>, "Ben Ramsay"
<benramsa***@optusnet.com.au> wrote:

>I thank the people for the input regarding their input, howver I am still
>seeking information with regards to what type of network cable I need to
>connect my laptop to my desktop.
>
>I am currently using a catagory 5e patch cable, I can connect my computers
>via a wirless router, but I want to conect them directly so that I can
>access the net from my laptop via my desktop.
>
>What do I need to do to achieve this or what type of network do I need.

Connecting two computers directly to each other requires a crossover
Ethernet cable. A regular Ethernet cable won't work, and both
computers will say that a network cable is unplugged.

Since you have a wireless router, why do you want the laptop to access
the net via the desktop? A wireless router can share a DSL or cable
modem connection between the computers. Do you have a dial-up
Internet connection?

--
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

26 Dec 2006 2:29 PM

Nipi

My only guess is that you want to connect your laptop via your desktop
because you want your desktop to be directly connected, to avoid the
NAT trouble.
But, here's an idea, you can do this without connecting the laptop to
the desktop directly, you can make the laptop access the internet
through the desktop even if they are all connected to the router, using
the normal cables that you have now. How?
Plug your WAN cable in a LAN port in the router to make your WAN on the
same network with your home network, configure your desktop to use the
WAN IP and default gateway, and finally configure your router to use ur
desktop as default gateway

Show quoteHide quote

On Dec 26, 11:07 am, "Ben Ramsay" <benramsa***@optusnet.com.au> wrote:
> I thank the people for the input regarding their input, howver I am still
> seeking information with regards to what type of network cable I need to
> connect my laptop to my desktop.
>
> I am currently using a catagory 5e patch cable, I can connect my computers
> via a wirless router, but I want to conect them directly so that I can
> access the net from my laptop via my desktop.
>
> What do I need to do to achieve this or what type of network do I need.