Presario laptop and LAN problems 1

[Guest_imported]

Simple, quite frustrating problem. I am running a Presario701EA (WindowsXP Home edition)with a built in NIC Fast Ethernet Realtek RTL8139 Family and I can't connect to a LAN. I tried everything I could think of (I'm not an expert): driver, cable, settings are fine. Most of the time it keeps saying that the cable is unplugged. From one location it detects the LAN but it doesn't receive any bytes;in that case it seems to use a wrong IP address but it's not able to renew it. With a PCMCIA everything is fine.
What could it be?? Please also note that the first 2 times it actually worked.
Thanks,Simuk

 

[salserocito]

Have you updated the Presario to the latest SoftPAQ from Compaq? That will bring you up to the latest BIOS revision level.

Otherwise, it sounds like a flakey NIC to me. You proved that by using a PCMCIA NIC and it worked fine.

Good Luck.

 

[kevstar]

I agree with salserocito, the thing is I didn't think that windows XP home edition could connect to a Domain!

 

[Guest_imported]

Thanks to you both, your replies were really appreciated. I updated the BIOS as Salserocito suggested...still no joy.
Meanwhile I found out in the Presario Community that somebody else experienced the same problem.
I'll let you know the end of the story.
Thanks again, Simuk

 

[Guest_imported]

Got the solution!...Guys you won't believe this...The problem was the 1st pin in the RJ45 adaptor stuck in an up position!I took a needle,pull it down and now I'm writing connected at 100Mbps, with the icon happily flashing in the taskbar... Apparently it's quite common for this Presario series. So, for future reference, if somebody is thinking about throwing his brand new unit out of the window after trying all the cables on earth, updating the drivers and the BIOS...well switch on a good light and take a look at the socket...

I leave you with the best IT joke I've ever heard after the infamous search for the 'any' key...somebody in the Presario community forum gave me as a solution...the step-by-step instructions to hide the icon which said that the cable was unplugged, seriously!

Another thing, Kevstar of course was right, Windows XP home edition can only connect to a workgroup, but that's my case.
Thanks anyway, you're site is great, I mean it.
Regards,Simuk

 

[Guest_imported]

Well, I have a Compaq Presario 700 also, with the same problem. It detects the LAN when it wants...... I've tried EVERYTHING!! and I can't achieve a proper connection.

I'll take a look at the RJ45 connector..... perhaps a needle will solve the problem as with "simuk".

Thanks!

 

[Guest_imported]

Thanks a ton simuk, turns out I had the exact same problem.

 

[Guest_imported]

help!, i have somewhat the same problem..
both of my pcs are connected but it always says that my local area connection 2 cable is unplugged on the system tray...
what is this "RJ45 connector" you speak of?

my pc has win xp pro and the other win xp home...the drivers/devices are working find as i've checked them out in properties->configure but it just seems that it can't detect the crosslink cable thats plugged in!

 

[Guest_imported]

ok, figured out the RJ45 is the crossover cable...
btw, I have the same ehternet card as you guys (Realtek RTL8139)

is the RJ45 necessary to be compatible with the Realtek RTL8139? or can it use some other crossover cable...?

I'm kinda a newbie at computers so plz help me and explain more clearly.

any help is greatly appreciated

 

[TheOldMan346]

helpme88,

RJ45 is the generic term for the 8 conductor modular cable/connection. It is the most common network connection type used with NIC's and networking devices today.

In a straight-through cable, all the conductors are connected in the same way (to the same pins) at both ends. In a cross-over cable, some of the conductors are "crossed" (connected to different pins) at the ends. A straight-through is used to connect a computer to a hub, switch or other networking device. A cross-over cable is used to connect two computers together or to connect two networking devices together.

Are your computers connected to each other or to some other networking device like a hub or a switch.

Does that help?
The Old Man

 

[Guest_imported]

oh I see,
yeah my computers are connected to each other...both says "cable is unplugged" in the system tray...heres some more info:

My comp. is the main internet source...so I have 2 network cards on my computer. My main network card for internet is "SiS 900 PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter" and the 2nd one used to share the internet is "Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC"

on the other computer: in local area connection 1 it has a card called "WAN network driver", in local area connection 2 is has a "3Com 3C900B-TPO Ethernet Adapter (Generic)"...

I connected the cable from the Realtek adapter to the 3Com Adapter.
All adapters are working fine as I've checked their properties...but...it just can't seem to detect the crosslink cable

 

[TheOldMan346]

helpme88,

Try this:
- Go into the properties of each of the network adapters
- If the speed is set to "autodetect" change it to 10 Mbps/half duplex
- Save the config and see if the "unplugged" indication goes away

Were you attempting to share the internet connection? Have you installed Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) or a proxy server?
What are the IP addresses of the computers? How were they assigned?

I would check the adapters and verify that XP has detected the correct adapters. The description of the 3com card as "generic" sounds like it had trouble with the plug-and-play detection and settled on that generic driver. There is also a known problem with XP where certain adapters are detected incorrectly as Realtek. Also make sure that you've got the most current drivers approved by the NIC manufacturers for XP.

Hope that helps.
The Old Man

 

[Guest_imported]

The whole pin thing is right on. I have a Pesario 705US with the Realtek card. I had two pins stuck up, and once pulled down, seems to work fine.

 

[Guest_imported]

thakns, i have a presario 700, whit the same problem,....

 

[bigdog10]

simuk....you were absolutely right with the pin being in the up position. my compaq had your same problem...thanks

 

[MissDos]

Simuk:
You're wonderful! Your troubleshooting was dead on (by using a PCMCIA NIC...as I did with my Presario 700) you proved that your software/TCP stack, etc. were sound and it had to be hardware (or the hardware's driver). Your sharing the answer was a godsend! I had same problem, spent days t/s it and found your pin problem to be same on mine.
Been networking for a week now and happy as a clam!
Megathanks!!
D.

 

[Guest_imported]

I just bought a GigaByte motherboard (acctualy, two of them) with built-in Realtek 8100. Both machines XP, connected with crossover cable. Same headache.

All pins are in place, (as far as I can see), but computers connect randomly.
Sometimes it says "cable not plugged in",
sometimes it is terribly slow,
sometimes it blocks the whole machine (most of the time), sometimes it indicates it's OK, but it can't see the other computer,
and 2% of the time it acctualy works with full speed (!!!).
And the shared internet connection works fine.

Nightmare.

 

[josemanuelT]

Thanks to you , simuk, I have a Compaq Presario 700 also, and I have the same problem : the 1st pin in the RJ45 adaptor stuck is in bad position.

Thanks to all!

 

[TheOldMan346]

This appears to be more than just a fluke. Has anybody brought this to Compaq's attention?

The Old Man

 

[dkreimer]

Thanks for pointing out this defect. I spent an entire day trying to figure it why my Presario 700 with built in Realtec port wouldn't connect, including several futile calls to Compaq support. Eventually I noticed that one of my CAT5 cables would connect when all the others wouldn't, so I went hunting on Google for similar problems. After reading this thread, I discovered that pin 1 of the RJ45 jack was stuck in the down position. I used a bent paper clip to pull up the stuck pin, and now all of my CAT5 cables work.

The laptop is used by my child for school work while on the road, and reliability is a must. Compaq is going to get an earful from me. I'm going to try to get them to provide a PCMCIA NIC as a permanent workaround.

MANY THANKS!