NIC's will send but not receive

[Simon]

Have two pc's at home running WinXP Home (SPk1) connected
with a CAT5 crossover cable. We don't share an internet
connection, just want to be able to file share. Both
network cards installed and apparently working correctly
when viewed in the device manager. Network wizard has
been run multiple times on both systems with no luck.
Each computer can only view itself in "view network
computers" (workgroup area). Under the general tab for
the network connection (activity), packets are being sent
but not received on both systems. Each computer can
successfully ping it's own automatically assigned IP &
name, but not the other computer's IP or name. Netbios
has been enabled over TCP/IP. Link speed/duplex mode has
been set to 100 full on both network cards. Internet
connection firewall has not been enabled. Computer
browser app. is running under services. If anyone has
any clues, ideas or advice it would be most appreciated.
What little hair I have left is in serious danger,
many thanks
Simon.

 

[Bob Willard]

Have two pc's at home running WinXP Home (SPk1) connected
with a CAT5 crossover cable. We don't share an internet
connection, just want to be able to file share. Both
network cards installed and apparently working correctly
when viewed in the device manager. Network wizard has
been run multiple times on both systems with no luck.
Each computer can only view itself in "view network
computers" (workgroup area). Under the general tab for
the network connection (activity), packets are being sent
but not received on both systems. Each computer can
successfully ping it's own automatically assigned IP &
name, but not the other computer's IP or name. Netbios
has been enabled over TCP/IP. Link speed/duplex mode has
been set to 100 full on both network cards. Internet
connection firewall has not been enabled. Computer
browser app. is running under services. If anyone has
any clues, ideas or advice it would be most appreciated.
What little hair I have left is in serious danger,
many thanks
Simon.

1. Run CMD, then type IPCONFIG/ALL in the CMD box. My first
guess is that your PCs are not in the same IP subnet, so
check the IPs and the mask on both: for IP=a.b.c.d, a.b.c
should be the same on both and the d's should differ; also,
the mask should normally be 255.255.255.0 on both.

2. Recheck that ICF is disabled. Then, completely remove all
other firewall and AV software; to be sure, uninstall them
and reboot.

3. As a quick, free, experiment: set the NICs to HDX 10 Mb/s.
Some miswired crossover cables will not work at 100 Mb/s.

4. Some NICs reportedly do not work with crossover cables. You
could try other NICs, or replace the crossover cable with any
hub/switch/router and a pair of normal (patch) cables.

 

[Simon]

Hey Bob, thanks for your post.

It's late here in Australia (about to rest my sleepy
head) & I don't have access to the second computer, but a
quick check of mine shows the Subnet Mask to be
255.255.0.0. I understand it should be 255.255.255.0.
At present both computers are assign automatic IP
addresses. How do I change the Subnet Mask in this
situation? Will check the other computer tomorrow and
run through the rest of your advice. Thanks once again,

Best wishes, Simon.

 

[Simon]

Thanks for all your assistance Bob,
turned out just to be one faulty NIC. Network is now up
and operational. Best wishes,
Simon.