Please help!

[James]

Hi,

I have two PCs both running Windows XP Pro
both are networked together with two Realtek PCI
NICs and 1 cross-over cable (both NICs and cable
have been check *they are fine*). Both PCs had been
sucessfully networked together for some time, then
yesterday, out of the blue - one of the PCs connections
is reporting "Network cable unplugged" I can't think
what may of caused this as no new hardware or
software has been used neither has there been any changes
to both systems, help!!

James

 

[John Wunderlich]

I have two PCs both running Windows XP Pro
both are networked together with two Realtek PCI
NICs and 1 cross-over cable
[...] Both PCs had been
sucessfully networked together for some time, then
yesterday, out of the blue - one of the PCs connections
is reporting "Network cable unplugged"

A shot-in-the-dark:
Check the configuration of your network card (NIC). Sometimes when two
computers are connected with a crossover cable they don't correctly
autosense the network speed and duplex. Try going to the properties of
your network card and hit the "configure" button, "advanced" tab to
manually set the speed (10/100) and duplex (full or half) of both ends
of the connection to agree. (The "auto" setting is sometimes
unreliable).

Good Luck,
John