Network Problems - Missing Drivers

[eragon]

I would like to set up a home network between our Windows XP Service Pack 2
desktop and our Windows XP Service Pack 2 laptop. Both have ethernet ports.
First of all, is a yellow crossover cable what I need to network just two
computers? It says on the box "for PC to PC connections," and, if so, are
the Ethernet Controller and SM Bus Controller important for networking? Both
of them are missing their drivers in Device Manager: Other devices. I've
tried reinstalling the drivers by running the wizard and putting the Windows
XP cd in pur CD-Rom drive, but it can't find the drivers. When I plug the
crossover cable, the laptop connects via a connection called Local Area
Connection which uses an Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection but it says
it has limited or no connectivity. The desktop connects via a connection
called 1394 Connection that uses a 1394 Net Adapter. It dosn't say limited
or no connectivity.

Can anyone help me fix our network? I would really like to share our dial-up
internet connection and play games over the network.

 

[Malke]

I would like to set up a home network between our Windows XP Service
Pack 2 desktop and our Windows XP Service Pack 2 laptop. Both have
ethernet ports. First of all, is a yellow crossover cable what I need
to network just two computers? It says on the box "for PC to PC
connections," and, if so, are the Ethernet Controller and SM Bus
Controller important for networking? Both of them are missing their
drivers in Device Manager: Other devices. I've tried reinstalling the
drivers by running the wizard and putting the Windows XP cd in pur
CD-Rom drive, but it can't find the drivers. When I plug the crossover
cable, the laptop connects via a connection called Local Area
Connection which uses an Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection but it
says it has limited or no connectivity. The desktop connects via a
connection called 1394 Connection that uses a 1394 Net Adapter. It
dosn't say limited or no connectivity.

Can anyone help me fix our network? I would really like to share our
dial-up internet connection and play games over the network.

A few things:

1. Yes, you can connect the two computers via the ethernet port, network
adapter (NIC) to network adapter.

2. You need a crossover cable, which is often yellow. The "crossover"
part is the important bit, not the color.

3. You need to install the drivers for each computer's NIC. You won't
find those drivers on the Windows XP CD. For the laptop, the drivers
will be either on CD's that came with the laptop or on the laptop
mftr.'s website. Make sure to get drivers for your specific make/model
laptop. For the desktop, you need to know what the NIC is. If this is
an OEM machine (Dell, HP, etc.) go to the OEM's website for drivers. If
you need help in determining this, post back with the make/model of
your computers.

4. Once you get the drivers installed, the NIC's will work and you can
set up the network using Windows Internet Connection Sharing (ICS).
Here is a great place to learn about setting up ICS:

http://www.bcmaven.com/networking/faq.htm

Malke

 

[Guest]

Hi! I get this same "limited or no connectivity" only since I installed SP2
and had an ISP problem (interrupted service). Now my local area connections
(desktop & laptop) either say "limited or no connectivity" or they flash "on
and off" or rather "connected/disconnected" (see other message under that
title).
Ray

 

[eragon]

Malke, The NIC's (1394 Net Adapter for the desktop and Intel(R) PRO/100 VE
Network Connection for the laptop) drivers are installed. It's the Ethernet
Controller and SM Bus Controller's drivers that arn't installed.

 

[Malke]

Malke, The NIC's (1394 Net Adapter for the desktop and Intel(R)
PRO/100 VE Network Connection for the laptop) drivers are installed.
It's the Ethernet Controller and SM Bus Controller's drivers that
arn't installed.

Then install the drivers for your motherboard. Again, you're going to
need to get them from any CD's that came with the laptop or the mftr.'s
website.

Malke

 

[eragon]

My desktop computer doesn't have a specific mftr. It was made by my uncle.
Would my mother board be MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD MS-6373? And, if
not, how can I find what my mother board is?

 

[Malke]

My desktop computer doesn't have a specific mftr. It was made by my
uncle. Would my mother board be MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD
MS-6373? And, if not, how can I find what my mother board is?

Didn't your uncle give you the motherboard drivers? Yes, it sounds like
you have an MSI board. Download and install (obviously from a computer
with a working Internet connection) the free Everest Home Edition from:

http://www.lavalys.com/index.php?page=product&view=1

It will give you an inventory of the hardware in your system. Then
you'll need to get drivers from the device mftrs.

Malke

 

[Carey Holzman]

to anyone that has "Limited or no connectivity ","Acquiring IP Address", and
"automatic private address" issues u can do the following command to repair
the Winsock corruption problem:

go to --->start-->run type CMD than type the following: netsh winsock reset

Remember this command only works under SP2



Let me know if it helps,

Carey

 

[eragon]

Malke, I don't think there's a problem with the motherboard drivers. The
laptop and desktop computers both work fine except that they won't network.
In fact, I'm using the desktop to write this message right now. I think it's
a problem with the desktop, not the laptop. I think the problem is that the
Ethernet Controller and SM Bus Contoller Drivers aren't installed.

 

[Malke]

Malke, I don't think there's a problem with the motherboard drivers.
The laptop and desktop computers both work fine except that they won't
network. In fact, I'm using the desktop to write this message right
now. I think it's a problem with the desktop, not the laptop. I think
the problem is that the Ethernet Controller and SM Bus Contoller
Drivers aren't installed.

OK, let's take this very slowly, once again. You started out this long
thread by saying that neither the desktop nor the laptop were
communicating and that both were missing their drivers. A driver is a
piece of software that tells an operating system (Windows) what to do
with a particular piece of hardware. Without proper drivers, Windows
may know you have a hardware device in the system, but can't use that
device.

I honestly don't know what you've got because now you are saying the
desktop is OK. If you are able to get to the Internet on the desktop
via ethernet, then its network adapter is working.

If you are *not* able to get to the Internet with the laptop, then
either the network adapter is not working because it is missing drivers
or you haven't set up the network properly, or both. I can't tell from
here.

I will give you quite a few networking sites to help you figure out what
you are doing wrong, but it might just be easier to have a professional
come out and set you up. Someone on-site is going to see immediately
what's wrong whereas it is quite difficult to decipher the situation
from your posts.

http://www.bcmaven.com/networking/faq.htm
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/filesharing.htm (Home)
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_filesharing/index.htm
(Pro)
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/support/troubleshoot_index.htm
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/howto/
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/
http://www.wown.info/

Good luck,

Malke