Cable unplugged

[Colin]

I am trying to establish a peer to peer network between
two XP boxes using a crossover cable. I previously had
this set-up between an XP box and a 98 box and it worked
just fine. I just upgraded the 98 box to XP (everything
else the same) and now the upgraded XP box says the
network cable is unplugged (when it isn't). The other XP
box says the connection is fine, but I can't ping it.

[Steve Winograd]

In article >, "Colin"
> wrote:
>I am trying to establish a peer to peer network between
>two XP boxes using a crossover cable. I previously had
>this set-up between an XP box and a 98 box and it worked
>just fine. I just upgraded the 98 box to XP (everything
>else the same) and now the upgraded XP box says the
>network cable is unplugged (when it isn't). The other XP
>box says the connection is fine, but I can't ping it.

Don't take the "Network cable unplugged" message literally. It really
means that XP can't detect a live link to another device, such as a
computer, hub, switch, or router.

Make sure that the local area network connections are enabled on both
computers. If one computer's connection is enabled and the other one
is disabled, it would do exactly what you're seeing.

If that isn't the answer, please look at this list of other possible
reasons for the message. Since one XP computer says that it's OK and
the other doesn't, I think that the most likely ones are #8 and #9:

1. The network cable really is unplugged.

2. The network cable is defective.

3. It's plugged in, but there's nothing connected to the other end.

4. It's plugged in and connected on both ends, but the device on the
other end isn't turned on.

5. The cable is the wrong type. Connecting two computers directly,
without a hub, switch, or router, requires a crossover cable. A
regular cable won't work.

6. The cable is connected to the uplink port on a hub, switch, or
router, instead of a regular port.

7. Some hubs, switches, and routers disable the port next to the
uplink port when the uplink port is in use.

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

9. 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:

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/networkcard.htm

10. You're using a phone line network adapter and there isn't a second
computer, with a similar adapter, running and connected to the same
phone line.

11. You've disabled the radio on a wireless network adapter.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

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