Network Adapter not connected, says Network Wizard, but...

[Guest]

Hello,

I've been struggling to set up a network, just my laptop connected to my
desktop, via a CAT5 crossover cable. Both computers indicated that the cable
was unplugged, but I managed to get the laptop to finally show "connected".
The laptop is connected to the internet via a dial-up connection, no routers
or hubs.

I have done the same sort of stuff to the desktop, but to no avail. When
doing the Network Connection Wizard, I am told that the Network Adapter is
not connected. My Network Adapter is a built-in SiS 900 PCI Fast Ethernet
Adapter. When I check the status of this device, I am told it is working
fine! I have uninstalled the driver and reinstalled the driver. My computer
also tells me that I have the latest driver installed. I have also tried
"rollback".

So, what's the problem? Is the device working, installed, or what?

Thanks,

Chris B.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Hello,

I've been struggling to set up a network, just my laptop connected to my
desktop, via a CAT5 crossover cable. Both computers indicated that the cable
was unplugged, but I managed to get the laptop to finally show "connected".
The laptop is connected to the internet via a dial-up connection, no routers
or hubs.

I have done the same sort of stuff to the desktop, but to no avail. When
doing the Network Connection Wizard, I am told that the Network Adapter is
not connected. My Network Adapter is a built-in SiS 900 PCI Fast Ethernet
Adapter. When I check the status of this device, I am told it is working
fine! I have uninstalled the driver and reinstalled the driver. My computer
also tells me that I have the latest driver installed. I have also tried
"rollback".

So, what's the problem? Is the device working, installed, or what?

Thanks,

Chris B.

Windows XP creates a local area connection for each network adapter
installed on the computer. In the desktop's Network Connections
folder, what local area connections does it show? It's common to have
one for an Ethernet adapter and one for an IEEE 1394 (FireWire)
adapter, and the 1394 connection is usually disconnected.

Is the Network Setup Wizard specifically saying that the connection
that uses the SiS Ethernet adapter is disconnected? If not, there's
no problem. Tell it to ignore the disconnected connection.

If the Wizard says that the SiS connection is disconnected, and you're
sure that it's connected, then set up the network manually, without
using the Network Setup Wizard. To set up the desktop to use the
laptop's shared Internet connection make these settings in the
desktop's TCP/IP properties:

IP Address: 192.168.0.x (1<x<255)
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1
DNS Server = 192.168.0.1 or your ISP's DNS server
--
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

 

[Guest]

Thank you Steve,

My Network Connections shows two LAN's, one being the Microsoft Loopback
Adapter, which is disabled, and the other is the SiS Ethernet Adapter, which
has the red 'X' on it. My computer does not have 'WI-FI'. On the bottom
left of that window, under 'Details', it says, "Network cable unplugged".

In the 'Network Setup Wizard', it says that it is the SiS Ethernet Adapter
that is not connected. If I continue anyway, the same results apply.

I have manually entered the TCP/IP properties as you suggested, though my
laptop only displays the IP address and Subnet Mask. This however, has made
no difference. Should I add the Default Gateway and DNS Server info to my
laptop?

Do I know if my SiS Ethernet Adapter is really connected or not? No, I
don't. The RJ45 connector socket is a small metal box that is affixed to the
motherboard. How can I tell if it is really connected or not?

Thanks again,

Chris B.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Thank you Steve,

My Network Connections shows two LAN's, one being the Microsoft Loopback
Adapter, which is disabled, and the other is the SiS Ethernet Adapter, which
has the red 'X' on it. My computer does not have 'WI-FI'. On the bottom
left of that window, under 'Details', it says, "Network cable unplugged".

In the 'Network Setup Wizard', it says that it is the SiS Ethernet Adapter
that is not connected. If I continue anyway, the same results apply.

I have manually entered the TCP/IP properties as you suggested, though my
laptop only displays the IP address and Subnet Mask. This however, has made
no difference. Should I add the Default Gateway and DNS Server info to my
laptop?

Do I know if my SiS Ethernet Adapter is really connected or not? No, I
don't. The RJ45 connector socket is a small metal box that is affixed to the
motherboard. How can I tell if it is really connected or not?

Thanks again,

Chris B.

You're welcome, Chris. When I asked if the SiS Ethernet adapter is
really connected, I just meant to make sure that the crossover cable
is plugged into the jack and that the other end of the cable is
plugged into the laptop.

Go to Device Manager (Start > Run > devmgmt.msc), un-install the SiS
adapter, and reboot to re-install it. Then see if it works.

If it doesn't, the SiS adapter might be defective. In that case,
install another Ethernet adapter and use it to connect to the laptop.
--
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

 

[Guest]

Hello again,

My cable is good. I had it checked out before I bought it, and I can swap
end for end and the computers are unphased. If I unplug the cable from the
desktop, the laptop informs me of this. I have installed and reinstalled the
Ethernet Adapter, and it makes no difference. Under 'properties' I am told
the device is working fine.

I think you are advising me to get a PCI Ethernet Card and install it in a
PCI slot.
Another Idea I had was to get a USB PC to PC cable, but I don't know if that
requires an Network Adapter or not.

I'd like to have a poke around on the motherboard, to see if I can get the
Network Adapter to work, but I really need a schematic circuit diagram as
well as a component layout diagram. Does anyone out there know where I can
obtain such information? The motherboard is a K7SOM+ with Socket A support
for AMD K7 processors. I think it is made by ECS. It is installed in a
'Great Quality' GQ6064. I am interested in the hardware side of things, and
would also like details of my Network Adapter.

Regards to all,

Chris B.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Hello again,

My cable is good. I had it checked out before I bought it, and I can swap
end for end and the computers are unphased. If I unplug the cable from the
desktop, the laptop informs me of this. I have installed and reinstalled the
Ethernet Adapter, and it makes no difference. Under 'properties' I am told
the device is working fine.

I think you are advising me to get a PCI Ethernet Card and install it in a
PCI slot.
Another Idea I had was to get a USB PC to PC cable, but I don't know if that
requires an Network Adapter or not.

I'd like to have a poke around on the motherboard, to see if I can get the
Network Adapter to work, but I really need a schematic circuit diagram as
well as a component layout diagram. Does anyone out there know where I can
obtain such information? The motherboard is a K7SOM+ with Socket A support
for AMD K7 processors. I think it is made by ECS. It is installed in a
'Great Quality' GQ6064. I am interested in the hardware side of things, and
would also like details of my Network Adapter.

Regards to all,

Chris B.

Yes, I suggested installing a PCI Ethernet card in a PCI slot.

Another possibility is to get a USB Ethernet adapter, which doesn't
require opening the computer or using a PCI slot. It plugs into a USB
jack and connects to a standard Ethernet cable. Here are some
examples:

http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=0&pid=133
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=104991

I'd avoid a USB PC to PC cable. Windows doesn't support those devices
natively, and some of them require you to use their software instead
of Windows built-in networking to access the network.
--
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

 

[Guest]

IHi, Steve,

Thank you for the info about USB Ethernet Adapters, but I am not yet
prepared to abandon the ship!
I think my SiS 900 network adapter may be OK, because when I try the Network
Setup Wizard on my laptop, and the desktop is turned off, I am informed that
my network adapter is not connected. This coincides with the 'Network cable
unplugged'. When I start up the desktop, the laptop will show the
'Connected' info, and then when I run the Network Setup Wizard, there is no
mention of any hardware disconnection.
Thus, I tend to believe the desktop when I query the properties of the
network adapter, and I am informed that the device is working properly. So,
it seems that while the device may be OK, there is some disconnection
somewhere.

I did a 'Network Diagnostics' on both computers, and of course I received
lots of stuff that seems like Greek to me, but I noticed that the SiS 900 on
the laptop received a 'passed', and so did the IP Address, which also
provided some 'pinging' feedback. The desktop did not 'grade' the SiS 900 or
the IP Address, nor did it provide any 'pinging' details. Most of the
diagnostic test returned the same values and status except where the laptop
provided numbers for the IPSubnet and TcpWindowSize, the desktop only said
'empty'. The MACAddress and SettingID had different values on the respective
computers.
One other thing is revealed: With the laptop, the device that 'passed' was
identified as [00000001] SiS 900-Based PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter, but it also
had details for a [00000013] SiS 900 PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter
The desktop has two: a [00000001] SiS 900 Fast Ethernet Adapter, and a
[00000010] SiS Fast Ethernet Adapter.
Is a '900-Based' compatible with a '900'?

I am living in hope that there may be one minor little overlooked box
somewhere that just needs to be 'clicked'.

Thanks so much for your help.

Sincerely,

Chris B.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

IHi, Steve,

Thank you for the info about USB Ethernet Adapters, but I am not yet
prepared to abandon the ship!
I think my SiS 900 network adapter may be OK, because when I try the Network
Setup Wizard on my laptop, and the desktop is turned off, I am informed that
my network adapter is not connected. This coincides with the 'Network cable
unplugged'. When I start up the desktop, the laptop will show the
'Connected' info, and then when I run the Network Setup Wizard, there is no
mention of any hardware disconnection.
Thus, I tend to believe the desktop when I query the properties of the
network adapter, and I am informed that the device is working properly. So,
it seems that while the device may be OK, there is some disconnection
somewhere.

I did a 'Network Diagnostics' on both computers, and of course I received
lots of stuff that seems like Greek to me, but I noticed that the SiS 900 on
the laptop received a 'passed', and so did the IP Address, which also
provided some 'pinging' feedback. The desktop did not 'grade' the SiS 900 or
the IP Address, nor did it provide any 'pinging' details. Most of the
diagnostic test returned the same values and status except where the laptop
provided numbers for the IPSubnet and TcpWindowSize, the desktop only said
'empty'. The MACAddress and SettingID had different values on the respective
computers.
One other thing is revealed: With the laptop, the device that 'passed' was
identified as [00000001] SiS 900-Based PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter, but it also
had details for a [00000013] SiS 900 PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter
The desktop has two: a [00000001] SiS 900 Fast Ethernet Adapter, and a
[00000010] SiS Fast Ethernet Adapter.
Is a '900-Based' compatible with a '900'?

I am living in hope that there may be one minor little overlooked box
somewhere that just needs to be 'clicked'.

Thanks so much for your help.

Sincerely,

Chris B.

You're welcome, Chris. I'm sorry, but I don't know what Network
Diagnostics you ran or how to interpret the results.

This has gone on so long that I've lost track of what the problem is.
I'm happy to help if I can, but I'd like to start over, as if we're
discussing this for the first time:

1. What exactly is the problem? What doesn't work? Are there any
error messages?

2. Which computer is having the problem?

3. How many network adapters does that computer have? What are their
names, as shown in Device Manager under "Network adapters"?

4. What is each network adapter connected to?

5. How many LAN connections does each computer have in the Network
Connections folder? What are their names?

Any other information to help define the problem would be good, too.
--
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