Direct Connect Two Computers

[Michael_593]

My Friend Is Wanting To Network Two Computers Together Through Direct Connect.
I Have Networked Mine At Home, So I Know I Have The Right Cable.
He Is Running Windows XP Home On Both Computers Networking Through NIC's.
When I Plug In The Cable In Each Computer The Stat Lights Do Not Come On,
And I Get The Red X Of Death On My Local Area Connection.
But They Work When We Direct Connect To His Cable Modem On Each Computer
One Comp At A Time. So I Know His NIC's are good.
I Am Using The Cable I Use At Home On His Computers To Direct Connect.
I Have Them Both Plugged Into Each Other And Its Like They Dont Want To See Each Other.
I Did Ipconfig And It Says Media Disconnected When They Are Connected To Each Other.

I Have Installed On Both Computers:
Client for Microsoft Networks
File and Print Sharing for Microsoft Networks
Internet Protocol(TCP/IP)

The Only Difference I Know Of Is At My House I Have WinXP Home & WinXP Pro Networked And He Has WinXP Home For Both.


I Have Changed Speed/Duplex Settings And None Work. I Gave Both Computers
IP Addresses:

I Set Both NIC's At 10/half. Im Still Getting Media Disconnected When I Do Ipconfig. So I Gave Both Comps An IP Address & Put Them On The Same Subnet:

Comp 1:
IP 192.168.0.1
SUBNET 255.255.0.0
GATEWAY Not Specified

Comp 2:
IP 192.168.0.2
SUBNET 255.255.0.0
GATEWAY Not Specified

I Did An Ipconfig And Still Got Media Disconnected. Then I Tried To Ping And The Request Timed Out. No Stat Lights Were Lit And I Still Have X on LAN. So I Changed All Settings Back.

I Have Internet Protocol(TCP/IP) Set To Obtain An IP Address Automatically
And DHCP Is Enabled On Both Computers.

I Disabled Media Sense For XP And Still Got Nothing. Not Really Sure This Would Help But Someone Told Me To Try It.


After Changing All Settings I Have Changed Them All Back.


*Also On Another Note Im Sure If I Get A Hub Then Everything Would Work Out But I Want To Figure Out The Problem & Why Its Not Working.

[Steven Chan_9]

Hi Michael,

What kind of cable did you use on direct connection for 2 computers? strait or cross-over?

You must use cross-over cable for direct connection.

regards,
Steven Chan

[Michael_593]

I Am Using The Cable That I Connected My Two Computers Together (Direct Connect) So Im Guesing That It Is A Crossover Cable.

[Roderik Hamers]

The problem lays on the type of cable used. If the cable connections works between the modem and your/his computer its an strait cable. This explains why the direct connect does not work, because the direct connect requires an cross-over cable.

[Michael_593]

OK But It Worked On The Direct Connection I Used At Home So Shouldnt That Mean Its A Crossover Cable.

[Antoniov.]

Michael,
can one of your home computer invert automatically the port like switches?

Antonio Vigliotti

[Michael_593]

I Dont Know How Can I Find Out

[Rick Garland · Accepted solution]

Do you have a null modem adaptor?

Use the null modem adaptor between the 2 computers and see if that works, with the striaght-through cable and the cross-over cable.

[Steven Chan_9]

Hi~

You can compare pin order of both ends by wire colors. If both ends of wires' color are in the same order, it must be the straight cable.

regards
Steven Chan

[Roderik Hamers]

By cross, wire 3 and 6 are switched on one end.

[Venkatesh_16]

Hi there Michael,

Temporarily disable the firewall protection on both computers, do an ipconfig and see if you continue to receive "Media disconnected" message.

HTH
Venkatesh

[Devesh Pant_1]

I strongly suspect the crossover cable.
Please get a new crossover cable since you have indicated that the status light is not on. That is the first indication of an issue.
I would first take care of this and then do the configuration of the NICs.

I am sure the drivers etc are fine for the ethernet adapters.

thanks
DP

[Michael_593]

Ok Ive Got Something That Might Confuse You.
The Cable That I Used Is Not A Crossover Cable I Finally Got Some Time A Read The Cable I Think It Said It Was A RJ45 Patch Cable. So Clearly By What Everyone Is Saying It Wouldnt Work If I Tried To Direct Connect The Computers. Now That Should Throw Up A Red Flag, Because That Same Cable Let Me Direct Connect My Two Computers At Home. How Can This Be.

By The Way He Now Has A Hub And Everything Is Working Just Fine. But I Would Still Like To Understand This Problem For Knowledge.

[Antoniov.]

Ok Ive Got Something That Might Confuse You.
The Cable That I Used Is Not A Crossover

As I posted, at your home you have a NIC able to cross signals.

Antonio Vigliotti

[Michael_593]

So You Can Direct Connect Two Computers As Long As Your NIC's Can Cross Signal. So In Conclusion I Had The Wrong Cable But The Right NIC's At Home. Guess I Just Bought Lucky.

Thanks
Everyone