Ethernet cable causing odd problems

[Doc]

I got a couple of computers hooked together via an ethernet crossover cable.
Works great, lightning fast file transfer as I was advised it would be.

However, I've noticed some symptoms that appear to be related to the
presence of the ethernet cable. One of the two computers takes a lot longer
to boot when they're both connected than when they're not. After lingering a
while at the "Welcome" two tone blue screen, it then brings up the desktop
background but hangs for some time while before the desktop icons finally
appear. This machine is running XP Home, the other XP Media Center.

Further, on the other computer, one attempt to bring up a video editing
program hung until I disconnected the cable, even though the other computer
wasn't running. Once the cable was disconnected, the video program popped
up, like a cork had been removed from a pipe.

Are these kinds of issues common? Any way to circumvent it other than
disconnecting the cable?

 

[thecreator]

Hi Doc,

Instead of using a Ethernet Cable between two computers, why not use a
Router to share information as well as connecting to the Internet?

The problem with your setup, both computers must be on. Windows senses
the Ethernet Cable and it is stuck in limbo waiting for a response, testing
all connections. If you want to keep your setup, then you must disconnect
the Ethernet Cable when not in use, or rewrite Windows to have it work the
way you want it to.

With a Router in use, only one computer needs to be on. And to share
files between two computers, use a program similar to Pure Magic's Network
Magic program.

http://www.networkmagic.com/download/

 

[John Jay Smith]

GREAT SCOTT!!!

This is the WORSE advise anyone could give!

 

[Falcon]

GREAT SCOTT!!!

This is the WORSE advise anyone could give!

Why? Admittedly, I can't see the point in a third party file or printer
sharing programme when Windows does it very nicely, but there are drawbacks
to using a cable. I didn't think anyone did that any more.
[...]

Have a look at this, Doc.

http://xrl.us/netwsetup (Link to www.microsoft.com)
http://xrl.us/pgmk (Link to www.microsoft.com)

 

[Kerry Brown]

I agree with Falcon. The advice other than the 3rd party software was sound.
Many on board NIC's have problems initialising the driver if a cable is
plugged in but nothing is active on the other end of the cable. Using a hub,
switch, or router with standard cables solves a lot of intermittent
problems.