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Connecting two computers
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Member
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11. February 2008 @ 16:45 |
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I am trying to connect my laptop to my desktop using Cat5 ethernet to ethernet. My desktop is running XP Pro and my laptop is running Vista Home Premium. I can't get it to work. I can connect my Xbox to my desktop with no problems, but I can't connect the two PC's. Any and all advise is welcome.
HP Pavilion, AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ (2 CPUs), 4GB RAM, Windows 7 Professional.
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Senior Member
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11. February 2008 @ 17:31 |
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If you're connecting the 2 computers directly together without using a switch or hub, then you'll need a crossover cable. If you're not sure what that is, simply do a google search.
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Member
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11. February 2008 @ 17:51 |
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Yep, Cat5 crossover cable.
HP Pavilion, AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ (2 CPUs), 4GB RAM, Windows 7 Professional.
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Member
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11. February 2008 @ 18:05 |
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Make sure they're in the same workgroup. By default, XP's workgroup is "MSHOME" and Vista's is "WORKGROUP".
Make sure your firewall is set to allow file and printer sharing (if that's what you're trying to do.
In Vista, you have to set the network as "Private" to see the other computer, then set all the settings you want to on, especially "Discoverable" and "File Sharing". You can do this through the Network and Sharing Center. (You can open this through Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center)
What exactly are you trying to do? (share internet, files, printers, ...)?
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Member
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11. February 2008 @ 18:33 |
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I made a new workgroup, and changed it in Vista and XP.
My Vista is set as "Private".
I set all the settings on.
I want to share files and internet.
HP Pavilion, AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ (2 CPUs), 4GB RAM, Windows 7 Professional.
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Member
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11. February 2008 @ 18:45 |
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So you connected them and... what? Nothing comes up?
Try pinging one of the computers from the other (make sure you're pinging the right ip).
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Member
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11. February 2008 @ 19:04 |
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I connected them and... Nothing comes up.
I tried pinging the laptop with the desktop, request timed out.
I tried pinging the desktop with the laptop, request timed out.
HP Pavilion, AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ (2 CPUs), 4GB RAM, Windows 7 Professional.
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Member
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11. February 2008 @ 19:14 |
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Hmm... I'd guess that either the cable or one of the ethernet cards is bad. Try connecting each of them directly to the internet, can you get a connection?
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Member
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11. February 2008 @ 19:38 |
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Yes, they both work directly to the cable modem. The laptop can connect to the internet with the cat5 cable with no problem. I can also connect to my xbox with the cable.
HP Pavilion, AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ (2 CPUs), 4GB RAM, Windows 7 Professional.
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Member
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11. February 2008 @ 19:56 |
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Are you sure you don't have a firewall up? Other than that, I have no idea...
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Member
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11. February 2008 @ 20:06 |
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No firewalls.
When I bring up Network Map on the laptop with Vista, I can see the Laptop, Desktop, and the hub. But the only one that I can access is the Laptop.
HP Pavilion, AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ (2 CPUs), 4GB RAM, Windows 7 Professional.
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Member
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11. February 2008 @ 20:07 |
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Hub? Do you have a hub in between?
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Member
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11. February 2008 @ 20:19 |
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No. The desktop is wired to the cable modem through one ethernet card. I am trying to connect the other ethernet card on the desktop to the laptop. It's the same card and cable that I use to connect my xbox to the desktop.
HP Pavilion, AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ (2 CPUs), 4GB RAM, Windows 7 Professional.
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Member
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11. February 2008 @ 20:20 |
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Can you connect your xbox to your laptop?
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Member
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11. February 2008 @ 20:36 |
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Just tried. No I can't.
HP Pavilion, AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ (2 CPUs), 4GB RAM, Windows 7 Professional.
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Member
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11. February 2008 @ 20:38 |
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So... there is a problem with your laptop? But you can access internet through the cable modem... are you sure you can? Is it possible that you're connecting through a wireless connection, but it appears that you're using the cable modem?
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Member
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11. February 2008 @ 20:43 |
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No, I'm positive. If I take the laptop cable out of the desktops ethernet card and connect it to the modem, the laptop can connect to the internet.
HP Pavilion, AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ (2 CPUs), 4GB RAM, Windows 7 Professional.
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Member
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11. February 2008 @ 20:46 |
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Have you tried clicking "Diagnose and Repair" in the Network Sharing Center in the laptop? It gives you a vague description of what's wrong, and it can do some useful stuff like reset your network card. You could also try restarting both the PC and laptop (I assume you did this after you changed the workgroups?)
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Member
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11. February 2008 @ 20:52 |
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Yea, I've tried that too. I'm ready to give up. Instead of trying computer to computer (which I'm having no luck at), I'm going to shut them both down for the night and try making a home network using the hub tomorrow.
This Windows Vista is drivin me crazy.
HP Pavilion, AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ (2 CPUs), 4GB RAM, Windows 7 Professional.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 11. February 2008 @ 20:53
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Member
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11. February 2008 @ 20:54 |
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lol, good idea, I tried to do the same thing -- cat6 crossover cable, PC running XP Home, laptop running Vista Home Premium. I managed to get printer sharing, but not files. I ended up buying a $20 router from Best Buy...
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Member
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11. February 2008 @ 21:00 |
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Thanks for trying to help. I just hope the router thing works, or I might have a $900.00 pile of HP smashed in the trash can (temper is bad).
HP Pavilion, AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ (2 CPUs), 4GB RAM, Windows 7 Professional.
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Member
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11. February 2008 @ 21:13 |
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No prob. The router worked fine for me -- barely any setup, just plug them in and go.
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