Bob
January 9th 04, 09:51 PM
Hi,
I'm thinking that this is a common problem, but I've attempted for two days
to fix it and I'm stumped. This problem started on Monday and I've had this
configuration working for about 6 months now. I have a DSL connection going
from my DSL modem to my Linksys Wireless BEFW11S4 V.2 router with 4 port
switch. It connects to the router's WAN port. I then have a cable connecting
Port 1 of the router to my desktop's D-Link DFE-538TX Ethernet card port.
Everything lights up fine on both ends.
My Toshiba laptop has a Linksys Instant Wireless Network PC Card V3.0 (WPC
11) inserted in the PCMCIA slot. The laptop also has a Realtek RTL8139/810x
Family Fast Ethernet NIC and a 1394 Net Adapter. I have all three enabled.
Both computers are running Windows XP Home Edition.
I have an excellent signal strength from one computer to the other, however
now I have an icon with an "X" through it, stating that I have "A network
cable is unplugged". I have also noticed that my laptop has been losing the
network connection periodically for the past month or so, but it would come
back very quickly, but with a low signal strength.
I read Steve Winograd's answer to this in an earlier posting and I am going
to post this and go through my answers to his post following (keeping in
mind that I am running a wireless network):
Don't take that message literally. It really means that XP can't
detect a live link to another device, such as a computer, hub, switch,
or router. That could be for any of these reasons. I suspect that #5
is the cause:
1. The network cable really is unplugged.
- No it is plugged in.
2. The network cable is defective.
- Tried two other cables, same problems exists.
3. It's plugged in, but there's nothing connected to the other end.
- Nope, everything plugged in.
4. It's plugged in and connected on both ends, but the device on the
other end isn't turned on.
- Checked through device manager and everything is enabled - all 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.
- N/A - Using a router.
6. The cable is connected to the uplink port on a hub, switch, or
router, instead of a regular port.
- Nope, see above for connections.
7. Some hubs, switches, and routers disable the port next to the
uplink port when the uplink port is in use.
- Not using the Uplink port.
8. The network card driver program isn't working right. Download and
install the latest XP-compatible driver from the manufacturer's web
site.
- Went to all the manufacturer's sites and I have the latest versions for
all hardware.
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
- I manually changed this on both network cards to the same value.. I now
have them at 100 Mps full.
10. The operating system is turning off the network card to save
power. Disable the power saving option in the network card's
properties.
- All power saving features are disabled.
11. 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.
- N/A.
12. You've disabled the radio on a wireless network adapter.
- Don't know as I don't know where to find this or what I should look for -
could this be my problem?????
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)
I apologize for this lengthy post, but I wanted to try to think of
everything. Does anyone have any ideas... could anyone shed some light on
#12 above? Should I uninstall and then reinstall everything and start over?
Thanks so much!
Bob.
========================================
I'm thinking that this is a common problem, but I've attempted for two days
to fix it and I'm stumped. This problem started on Monday and I've had this
configuration working for about 6 months now. I have a DSL connection going
from my DSL modem to my Linksys Wireless BEFW11S4 V.2 router with 4 port
switch. It connects to the router's WAN port. I then have a cable connecting
Port 1 of the router to my desktop's D-Link DFE-538TX Ethernet card port.
Everything lights up fine on both ends.
My Toshiba laptop has a Linksys Instant Wireless Network PC Card V3.0 (WPC
11) inserted in the PCMCIA slot. The laptop also has a Realtek RTL8139/810x
Family Fast Ethernet NIC and a 1394 Net Adapter. I have all three enabled.
Both computers are running Windows XP Home Edition.
I have an excellent signal strength from one computer to the other, however
now I have an icon with an "X" through it, stating that I have "A network
cable is unplugged". I have also noticed that my laptop has been losing the
network connection periodically for the past month or so, but it would come
back very quickly, but with a low signal strength.
I read Steve Winograd's answer to this in an earlier posting and I am going
to post this and go through my answers to his post following (keeping in
mind that I am running a wireless network):
Don't take that message literally. It really means that XP can't
detect a live link to another device, such as a computer, hub, switch,
or router. That could be for any of these reasons. I suspect that #5
is the cause:
1. The network cable really is unplugged.
- No it is plugged in.
2. The network cable is defective.
- Tried two other cables, same problems exists.
3. It's plugged in, but there's nothing connected to the other end.
- Nope, everything plugged in.
4. It's plugged in and connected on both ends, but the device on the
other end isn't turned on.
- Checked through device manager and everything is enabled - all 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.
- N/A - Using a router.
6. The cable is connected to the uplink port on a hub, switch, or
router, instead of a regular port.
- Nope, see above for connections.
7. Some hubs, switches, and routers disable the port next to the
uplink port when the uplink port is in use.
- Not using the Uplink port.
8. The network card driver program isn't working right. Download and
install the latest XP-compatible driver from the manufacturer's web
site.
- Went to all the manufacturer's sites and I have the latest versions for
all hardware.
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
- I manually changed this on both network cards to the same value.. I now
have them at 100 Mps full.
10. The operating system is turning off the network card to save
power. Disable the power saving option in the network card's
properties.
- All power saving features are disabled.
11. 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.
- N/A.
12. You've disabled the radio on a wireless network adapter.
- Don't know as I don't know where to find this or what I should look for -
could this be my problem?????
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)
I apologize for this lengthy post, but I wanted to try to think of
everything. Does anyone have any ideas... could anyone shed some light on
#12 above? Should I uninstall and then reinstall everything and start over?
Thanks so much!
Bob.
========================================