VANITY: Computer Networking Problems

[Air Assault]

My wife and I are trying to network our computers. We're both running Windows XP, we have the ethernet cable plugged in to both systems but the Local Area Connection Icon says a network cable is unplugged. Whats up with that? The connection wizard wouldn't complete the process either. It said we were unplugged or missing hardware.

I thought all we had to do was plug in the cables and the wizard thing would hook us up. I'm wondering if we need a network hub or if there is something really simple that I'm missing?

If anybody can help to steer me in the right direction I'd appreciate it.

[Keith in Iowa]

Are you using a network hub? Or are you plugging the cable directly between computers?

If you're not using a hub, and using a cable between computers, you need to use what is called a "Cross-over" cable.

[mikenola]

Are you plugging the machines directly into each other?

If so you'll need a special ethernet cable, a crossover cable.

Otherwise get yourself a hub. Or you can get a broadband router and share your internet connection (if you have one)

[Drumbo]

"I'm wondering if we need a network hub . . ."

Bingo!

[xrp]

If you want to connect two computers directly together, the best way to do it is to get a switch or hub. Both Netgear and Linksys make easy to setup router/switches. Both computers are assigned a unique IP address and walla, you're set.

[Nat Turner]

a hub would make it easier but you have to ALLOW each machine to share a directory (drive mapping) or a drive to make it work

[FReepaholic]

If you're connecting directly between two PC's you'll need a crossover cable.

Otherwise you need a hub or switch. Plug your PC into the hub and the other one into the hub.

Hope this helps.

[TomGuy]

Try some of the suggestions/instructions at START button, Help and Support. Type in 'local area network' or similar.

[xrp]

This will help you, too.

How home networking works

[grimalkin]

You should purchase a hub. They're not very expensive if that's a consideration.

[coffmg]

If you are using a single cable between the two puter then you need to get a second cable along with a cross over hub before the system will work.

Advice, if you are planning several system LAN you will want to do a hub thingy. But the simple thing is a wireless so you needn't add more hardware with each addition.

[Quix]

Do you have network IC cards installed in both computers?

If my understanding is correct, you probably need those.

[Rabid Dog]

You probably need what's called a cross-over cable. A hub or a switch or a router have a special input jack (usually right next to and in parallel with input #1) which simply has the receive and transmit lines flipped. If you are going computer to computer, you need to buy or make a cross-over cable. I've also heard them called a flip-flop or computer to computer network cable.

You will also need to make sure that your sharing and permissions are set properly. XP permissions can be baffling. Make sure that each user is logged on with administrative priveledges on their respective machines.

[Viking2002]

If they were wired peer-to-peer, they wouldn't communicate at all. It sounds like there's an extra NIC set up but not active. I'd blow away all of the network settings, uninstall the NICs, and rerun the hardware and network setup managers again.

[SamAdams76]

New Year's Eve is a bad time to be networking your computers.

Get the champagne on ice, crack open the shrimp, tune in Dick Clark (or whoever) and celebrate the New Year!

P.S. You are going to need a hub or a router.

[snooker]

You need a hub as others suggested, but might I suggest a router instead. The hub will do the job, but a router will allow you to connect a modem to the output and protect the internal network from the internet.

A router shouldn't cost more than $75. If you are using a cable modem you definitely want the router.

Linksys is what I recommend and use.

[Cultural Jihad]

Everyone who uses a network hub should go in and change the password from the factory default. Otherwise it would be possible for hackers to log into your hub and make alterations.

[Cultural Jihad]

Err, I meant to say 'router' rather than 'hub.'

[Air Assault]

We are plugging the cables directly between computers with a category 5 "straight" cable. If we purchase a "cross-over" cable would that help?

[freedumb2003]

You can get a hub in the local Kmart for 10-20 bucks.

But you can get a nice wireless network for both machines for about $80 with all the instructions in the box.

Router's a pretty good idea, too -- but a little more complicated to setup.

If all else fails, try cross-coupling the Heisenberg Circuits and shunt them through the Warp coil matrix. Remember to dampen the emitter array or you'll destroy all life in the Universe (safety first!).