Media Disconnected Problem: connecting 2 computers together

[JennyNet]

Hi,

Media Disconnected Problem:
I decided to network my two computers both running windows xp w. service pack 2 together. My newer computer is an HP Pentium 4 dual core 3.2ghz machine with 1 gb ram. It came with an Intel Pr 100VE network adapter. My other computer Pentium III 1ghz with 384mb ram has a Hiro 10/100 PCI fast Ethernet card.

I connected the two together with a 100ft UTP cat 5e Cable.
I have tried using the default automatic settings, but they both show “Network Cable is unplugged “ IP config show ‘media disconnected’ on both computers.

The only indication of a connection is when I disconnect from the dial up connection on the computer with the Hiro card the computer with the Intel card will pop up ‘A network cable is unplugged error’.

I cannot see anything on windows network at all. I tried manually setting the Ips on tcpip settings. I used 192 168168168 on one and 192.168.168.100 on the other. Left the others to default. Still same problem. Both computers show Network Cable is unplugged.

Doing IP config displays this:
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::5445:5245:444f%4
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

Please help me, as I have been going around in circles for days.
Microsoft had an article wehre there was a known bug where it doesn't pick up the media sensing from network cards when trying to connect two computers together. there workaround was to insert a registry key called disablemediasense. However this did not work.

Please advise me..

 

[jneiberger]

You need to be using a crossover cable, not a standard straight-through cable.

 

[cyberspace]

Yup, you have simply used the wrong cable!

'When all else fails.......read the manual'

 

[JennyNet]

Hello,
the 100ft UTP cat 5e Cable. is a crossover twisted pair cable. Why would you think that I used a standard thru cable.
According to tiger direct, they list the UTP cat 5 e as a twisted pair crossover cable.
Any advice.

 

[jneiberger]

Why would you think that I used a standard thru cable." ??

Because people do this all the time and you didn't mention that you had verified that you were using a crossover cable.

Have you tried a different cable, or have you verified that the cable you're using is good?

 

[JennyNet]

Ok, my questions is this, then. Is the 100ft UTP cat 5e a cross over cable?
This is the link to the cable that i ordered.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=244959&sku=C184-24702

can you tell me then , if that is not a cross over cable.
I was under the impression that utp cat 5e was cross over and that it can connect 2 computers together.

Let me know if that link that i gave is a regular cable or a the correct cable to connect 2 computers together.

Sorry if my info is muddled. it's just that my brother did the research for network and now i am left hanging with things that don't work and he has no answers. So i am sort of starting from scratch.

 

[jneiberger]

That is not a crossover cable, that is a straight-through cable. You would use that cable to connect a PC to a network hub or switch but, as you've found, will not work to connect PCs back-to-back. You need a cable that takes the output wires on one side and crosses them over to the input wires on the other side, hence the name "crossover".

Looking at that same cable supplier, I didn't see a 100 ft crossover cable, but they have them in 25 ft lengths:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=531848&CatId=758

HTH,
John

 

[JennyNet]

Thanks so much for your help and insight.

I guess my brother ordered the wrong cable. It doesn't seem that the cross over cables at, tigerdirect, have 100ft.

Perhaps, I should invest in a hub and other patch cable as I already wasted my money.

What would you say is more reliable, connecting 2 computers togheter via cross cable or connecting 2 computers via a hub.

I plan to run a video editing program, of the computer and take video (avi files) off the other networked computer.
This could be quite a strain on the network, but would like to know what your opinion is?

 

[jneiberger]

I wouldn't use a hub at all, if you can avoid it. If you only need to connect these two computers then it would be most reliable to use a crossover cable. However, if you foresee ever needing to connect these two computers to any additional devices then you should buy a cheap Fast Ethernet switch. They're inexpensive and will make things easier for you in the long run.

 

[JennyNet]

I've read somewhere, that connecting via cross cable via 2 computers is good forfile sharing. Some people have had problems with some sort of media sensing error.
Have you heard of these obstacles.
Also is using a hub slower, and more of a hassle with the configurations? is that whyyou recommend cross over?

 

[jneiberger]

A hub is old technology and will be much slower than a switch. A crossover cable will provide the fastest possible connection but you probably wouldn't notice the difference between using a switch and using a crossover cable.

I'm not aware of these media sensing errors. As long as you are using good NICs with updated drivers and good cables then you shouldn't have a problem.

 

[JennyNet]

Thanks for your help and your advice.

 

[jneiberger]

You're welcome!