Networking Vista Home Pro to XP Pro

[Anthony Williams]

I used to be able to network two computers together (Windows 98, etc.)
without using a router. I just used a category 5 cable (I think its called).
But I can't seem to network my Vista notebook to my XP machine this way. Is
this even possible, do I need a router or what with Vista?

 

[smlunatick]

I used to be able to network two computers together (Windows 98, etc.)
without using a router. I just used a category 5 cable (I think its called).
But I can't seem to network my Vista notebook to my XP machine this way. Is
this even possible, do I need a router or what with Vista?

To network without using a router, you must be using an Ethernet Cat
5e "cross-over" cable.

Also, you must be using at least Windows XP SP2 with this patch:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...1D-EE46-481E-BA11-37F485FA34EA&displaylang=en

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I used to be able to network two computers together (Windows 98, etc.)
without using a router. I just used a category 5 cable (I think its called).

Yes, it's a CAT5 cable, but it's a special type of CAT5 cable, the
type called a "crossover" cable.

But I can't seem to network my Vista notebook to my XP machine this way. Is
this even possible,

Yes.


do I need a router

No.


or what with Vista?

You need the same thing you used before--a crossover cable.
Undoubtedly what you are using is a regular CAT5 cable, not a CAT5
crossover cable.

 

[Chuck]

It's likely a setup issue--However a crossover cable may also be needed.
Some of the newer ethernet interfaces automatically sense the cable and
adjust accordingly.