Faulty network connection.

[Bill Shaker]

I have two PCs, one running Windows ME, and the other
Windows XP. Recently, I connected them together with
CrossOver cable, which I hoped would create a direct
connection between them. To say the least, it did not. I
have at best only been able to maintain steady packet
transfer between the two machines for about five minutes
(and then it stops altogether.) I have even taken the
step of installing the NetBEUI protocol in both my
machines, thinking that the problem was the protocol.
Yet, I have not been able to share files, resources, my
Internet connection, etc. Can anyone help me?

P.S. If there is an alternative (such as connecting the
two machines with USB cable, which I doubt is possible),
please let me know.

--Bill

 

[Bob Willard]

I have two PCs, one running Windows ME, and the other
Windows XP. Recently, I connected them together with
CrossOver cable, which I hoped would create a direct
connection between them. To say the least, it did not. I
have at best only been able to maintain steady packet
transfer between the two machines for about five minutes
(and then it stops altogether.) I have even taken the
step of installing the NetBEUI protocol in both my
machines, thinking that the problem was the protocol.
Yet, I have not been able to share files, resources, my
Internet connection, etc. Can anyone help me?

P.S. If there is an alternative (such as connecting the
two machines with USB cable, which I doubt is possible),
please let me know.

--Bill

If it works for a while and then croaks, that points at
hardware rather than software.

A crossover LAN cable between the NICs of two PCs is as good
as it gets. Possibly a flaky cable or a cable that is not
properly connected at one end; you might try adding something
to support the cable near each NIC.

There were reports of some NICs that did not work correctly with
crossover cables. Before swapping the NICs (one at a time, natch),
try this: change the attributes of both NICs from Auto to
10 Mb/s HDX; if that cures your problem, you can either run that
way forever of replace the NIC(s).