Connecting Two WinXP PCs with crossover cable

G

Guest

I hate to post this because I've got more important things to do. But,
anyways, I wanted to transfer some large files(about 3GB) from my laptop to
my desktop, and I attempted to use a crossover cable to do the job, but
unsuccessful.

I could ping the laptop, via both the laptop's computer name and its IP
address, on the desktop, but I cannot ping the desktop, via either the
desktop's computer name or its IP address, on the laptop!

I did some search on line regarding the problem of asymmetrial pinging; one
answer suggested that it was due to the firewall setup or rather mis-setup on
the comps. In my case, indeed, on both my laptop and desktop, I have Zone
Alarm(free, latest version) set up. BUT, here is the point--the firewall is
turned OFF! So is WinXP's firewall! I only turn on the Zone Alarm firewall
when I am about to be online! Or is the simple fact that ZA being installed
on the comps is enough to create some network connection problem between two
computers? Sorry, am not an expert on this!

Here are the specs that are relevant to my situation here:

1. Crossover cable is the brand new Zip-Linq, cat5e, gigabit ready crossover
cable just bought at Fry's. So there should not be any question about the
cable.

2. Both nics are fine--I did the self loop test on both machines with the
address of 127.0.0.1, and the report says there is no packet loss.

3. The NIC on the laptop is a Netgear 410TX(10/100 Mbps, PCMCIA form factor)
with WinXP driver, and the NIC on the desktop is the onboard Ethernet port of
Asus A8N-E(Gigabit capable, but backwards compatible with 10/100Mbs). The
ethernet driver for the onboard ethernet port is 6.65 for WinXP 32bit. The
Asus A8N-E board is based on the Nforce 4 Ultra chipset. And, BTW, the
"notorious" Nvidia firewall is NOT installed, let alone turned on!

4. In Systray on both the laptop and the desktop, the network icons report a
100MB connection speed. There is changing(increasing) Tx data but NO Rx data.

5. Both the laptop and the desktop use WinXP Home SP2.

6. Manually assigned static IP addresses for the laptop and the desktop:
Laptop: 192.168.1.40 Subnet: 255.255.255.0
Desktop: 192.168.1.50 Subnet: 255.255.255.0

7. The asymmetrical problem of pinging--able to ping laptop on the desktop
but unable to ping desktop on the laptop--has ALSO occurred, after I have
established a wireless connection between the two comps. So does this
suggest that something on my LAPTOP is DEFINITELY causing the problem? In
addition to the Zone Alarm firewall(free, latest version) installed on my
laptop, I also have LavasaSoft Adware, Spybot Search and Destroy, and
Microsoft AntiSpyware installed. But, once again, all these programs are
turned OFF! They are NOT running when I was attempting the crossover or the
wireless connection between the two PCs! Or, as I've said before, is the
simple fact these programs installed on my comp is reason ENOUGH to cause
this networking problem I am describing here?

Kind of ticked me off, though, as I was expecting a smooth connection, and
I've done this before, connecting two PCs with a crossover cable, although
not on these two PCs.

Anyone cares to drop me a hint!

Many thanks in advance!
 
S

Steve Winograd [MVP]

I hate to post this because I've got more important things to do. But,
anyways, I wanted to transfer some large files(about 3GB) from my laptop to
my desktop, and I attempted to use a crossover cable to do the job, but
unsuccessful.

I could ping the laptop, via both the laptop's computer name and its IP
address, on the desktop, but I cannot ping the desktop, via either the
desktop's computer name or its IP address, on the laptop!

I did some search on line regarding the problem of asymmetrial pinging; one
answer suggested that it was due to the firewall setup or rather mis-setup on
the comps. In my case, indeed, on both my laptop and desktop, I have Zone
Alarm(free, latest version) set up. BUT, here is the point--the firewall is
turned OFF! So is WinXP's firewall! I only turn on the Zone Alarm firewall
when I am about to be online! Or is the simple fact that ZA being installed
on the comps is enough to create some network connection problem between two
computers? Sorry, am not an expert on this!

Here are the specs that are relevant to my situation here:

1. Crossover cable is the brand new Zip-Linq, cat5e, gigabit ready crossover
cable just bought at Fry's. So there should not be any question about the
cable.

2. Both nics are fine--I did the self loop test on both machines with the
address of 127.0.0.1, and the report says there is no packet loss.

3. The NIC on the laptop is a Netgear 410TX(10/100 Mbps, PCMCIA form factor)
with WinXP driver, and the NIC on the desktop is the onboard Ethernet port of
Asus A8N-E(Gigabit capable, but backwards compatible with 10/100Mbs). The
ethernet driver for the onboard ethernet port is 6.65 for WinXP 32bit. The
Asus A8N-E board is based on the Nforce 4 Ultra chipset. And, BTW, the
"notorious" Nvidia firewall is NOT installed, let alone turned on!

4. In Systray on both the laptop and the desktop, the network icons report a
100MB connection speed. There is changing(increasing) Tx data but NO Rx data.

5. Both the laptop and the desktop use WinXP Home SP2.

6. Manually assigned static IP addresses for the laptop and the desktop:
Laptop: 192.168.1.40 Subnet: 255.255.255.0
Desktop: 192.168.1.50 Subnet: 255.255.255.0

7. The asymmetrical problem of pinging--able to ping laptop on the desktop
but unable to ping desktop on the laptop--has ALSO occurred, after I have
established a wireless connection between the two comps. So does this
suggest that something on my LAPTOP is DEFINITELY causing the problem? In
addition to the Zone Alarm firewall(free, latest version) installed on my
laptop, I also have LavasaSoft Adware, Spybot Search and Destroy, and
Microsoft AntiSpyware installed. But, once again, all these programs are
turned OFF! They are NOT running when I was attempting the crossover or the
wireless connection between the two PCs! Or, as I've said before, is the
simple fact these programs installed on my comp is reason ENOUGH to cause
this networking problem I am describing here?

Kind of ticked me off, though, as I was expecting a smooth connection, and
I've done this before, connecting two PCs with a crossover cable, although
not on these two PCs.

Anyone cares to drop me a hint!

Many thanks in advance!

Don't just disable ZoneAlarm on the desktop. Un-install ZoneAlarm.
Then, go to Start | Run | Msconfig | Startup and disable (un-check)
any ZoneAlarm remnants.

If that doesn't fix the problem, run this command on both computers to
fix obscure TCP/IP problems, then reboot them both:

netsh winsock reset catalog

You're smart to always enable a firewall before connecting to the
Internet. Either ZoneAlarm or Windows Firewall will protect the
computer. Properly configured, either firewall can be stay enabled
all the time while allowing file and printer sharing between your
computers.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
G

Guest

Thanks for the reply. Will try your suggestion.

Steve Winograd said:
Don't just disable ZoneAlarm on the desktop. Un-install ZoneAlarm.
Then, go to Start | Run | Msconfig | Startup and disable (un-check)
any ZoneAlarm remnants.

If that doesn't fix the problem, run this command on both computers to
fix obscure TCP/IP problems, then reboot them both:

netsh winsock reset catalog

You're smart to always enable a firewall before connecting to the
Internet. Either ZoneAlarm or Windows Firewall will protect the
computer. Properly configured, either firewall can be stay enabled
all the time while allowing file and printer sharing between your
computers.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
G

Guest

Steve Winograd said:
Don't just disable ZoneAlarm on the desktop. Un-install ZoneAlarm.
Then, go to Start | Run | Msconfig | Startup and disable (un-check)
any ZoneAlarm remnants.

If that doesn't fix the problem, run this command on both computers to
fix obscure TCP/IP problems, then reboot them both:

netsh winsock reset catalog

You're smart to always enable a firewall before connecting to the
Internet. Either ZoneAlarm or Windows Firewall will protect the
computer. Properly configured, either firewall can be stay enabled
all the time while allowing file and printer sharing between your
computers.

Tried your suggestion, but no go!
First, uninstalled ZA from both my desktop and laptop, but unable to ping my
desktop from the laptop while able to ping my laptop from my desktop.

Second, tried the command script you suggested, powered down the two PCs,
but no go as well. Able to ping the laptop from the desktop, but unable to
ping the desktop from the laptop.

Also, tried another suggesttion made to my by a gentleman, offline. I
manually set the duplex speed instead of using auto sensing, but no go,
either. I forced the 100BaseT half duplex and full duplex on both the
desktop and the laptop, but unable to make them ping each other and transfer
the files.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks again.
 

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