home networking

[Guest]

This is my first time to try setting up a home network. I have two computers
running windows xp. I plugged them both into nic cards using a crossover
cable--but the lights do not blink on the nics and the network connections
window shows that the cable is unplugged on both computers. However, the
cable is plugged in and I know it is a good crossover cable.

Any ideas what is happening?

 

[Chuck]

This is my first time to try setting up a home network. I have two computers
running windows xp. I plugged them both into nic cards using a crossover
cable--but the lights do not blink on the nics and the network connections
window shows that the cable is unplugged on both computers. However, the
cable is plugged in and I know it is a good crossover cable.

Any ideas what is happening?

Choose any:
# Bad cable.
# Bad NIC.
# No traffic to make lights blink.

Try:
# Another cable.
# A third computer (substituting for each of the two). Or a switch, or NAT
router.
# Ping one computer from the other.
The lights are generally useful, but they're not the only diagnostic you can
use.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/connecting-two-computers-with.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/connecting-two-computers-with.html