a network cable is unplugged

[Nic Guest]

firstly, we tried connecting two computers with a
crossover cable connected to both network cards. one pc
was running xp pro the other xp home. Neither pc would
accept that a network cable was plugged in. Then we
reformatted the pc with xp home and put xp pro on. still
the same problem. ok we thought, maybe it's the cable. so
we changed the cable. still the same problem.

let's try something diffrent we thought. so we bought a
wireless access point (not cheap)!! using a patch cable
to one of the pc's network cards, we still got the good
old message "a network cable is unplugged" so we tried it
on the other pc same problem. we tried a crossover cable
in stead of a patch cable, no luck. we tried changing
every set up in the network cards settings. no luck. i
took out all non essential drives and cards out of the pc
to see if it was a power problem, no luck. i checked the
bios and had a play around in there! no luck.

i have run dry of solutions i just want to know if there
is anything i am missing?!?! please help

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

firstly, we tried connecting two computers with a
crossover cable connected to both network cards. one pc
was running xp pro the other xp home. Neither pc would
accept that a network cable was plugged in. Then we
reformatted the pc with xp home and put xp pro on. still
the same problem. ok we thought, maybe it's the cable. so
we changed the cable. still the same problem.

let's try something diffrent we thought. so we bought a
wireless access point (not cheap)!! using a patch cable
to one of the pc's network cards, we still got the good
old message "a network cable is unplugged" so we tried it
on the other pc same problem. we tried a crossover cable
in stead of a patch cable, no luck. we tried changing
every set up in the network cards settings. no luck. i
took out all non essential drives and cards out of the pc
to see if it was a power problem, no luck. i checked the
bios and had a play around in there! no luck.

i have run dry of solutions i just want to know if there
is anything i am missing?!?! please help

The "unplugged" message means that XP can't detect a live link to
another device, such as a computer, hub, switch, or router, on the
other end of the cable. That could be for any of these reasons:

1. The network cable really is unplugged.

2. The network cable is defective.

3. It's plugged in, but there's nothing connected to the other end.

4. It's plugged in and connected on both ends, but the device on the
other end isn't turned on.

5. The cable is the wrong type. Connecting two computers directly,
without a hub, switch, or router, requires a crossover cable. A
regular cable won't work.

6. The cable is connected to the uplink port on a hub, switch, or
router, instead of a regular port.

7. Some hubs, switches, and routers disable the port next to the
uplink port when the uplink port is in use.

8. The network card driver program isn't working right. Download and
install the latest XP-compatible driver from the manufacturer's web
site.

9. The network card is configured to automatically sense speed and
duplex settings but isn't doing it correctly. Set those options
manually, as shown here:

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/networkcard.htm

10. The operating system is turning off the network card to save
power. Disable the power saving option in the network card's
properties, as shown here, even if you have a different network
adapter than mentioned in the article:

MSBBN: "A Network Cable Has Been Unplugged" Message Appears at
Seemingly Random Intervals
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;811595

11. You're using a phone line network adapter and there isn't a second
computer, with a similar adapter, running and connected to the same
phone line.

12. You've disabled the radio on a wireless network adapter.

13. The network card is defective.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

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