# PC Networking Problems **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 2, 2004, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490 "2004-11-02T03:34:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490/1 "2004-11-02T03:34:30Z")
Okay, I’ve got two PCs running XP Pro, and I decided to drag out my old Linksys Homelink boxes so I could network the two PCs together (Yeah, I know, it’s the 21st Century and I really should switch to WiFi, it’s on my list of things to get to, right after I part the Red Sea.). I’ve downloaded and installed the correct drivers, and have gotten both PCs to recognize that there’s a connection, but I can’t get either machine to see the other one. I’ve checked Linksys’s site, but there’s nothing there for my boxes, so I can’t go there for help. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Incognito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guy_incognito/32/3920_2.png) [@Guy\_Incognito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Incognito)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490/2 "2004-11-02T03:56:33Z")
Are both machines configured with the same workgroup name? I’m not familiar with the Homelink devices that you describe, so I’m not certain if the usual network configuration settings would apply in this situation. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490/3 "2004-11-02T04:07:56Z")
Same workgroup name. I think that standard network configuration settings would apply. The devices hook to a PC via USB and then connect to one another by phone line. There’s no specific software for the boxes, just a couple of drivers. The little network icon in the taskbar shows a connection at 1 MPS (which is correct) on both machines. I don’t remember how to do a ‘ping’ of the machines, so I haven’t tried that. ---
**Author:** ![Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horrifying_Howler_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490/4 "2004-11-02T05:41:01Z")
This site has some info on networking XP computers & the network settings you need, don’t know if this will help you (but it has pictures, so I like it) [http://www.onecomputerguy.com/networking/xp\_network.htm](http://www.onecomputerguy.com/networking/xp_network.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490/5 "2004-11-02T07:11:18Z")
Well, I tried everything on that site, and no dice. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490/6 "2004-11-02T13:34:11Z")
I’m not familiar with the “Homelink” device either; if it isn’t a hub/switch/router (i.e., used for linking multiple PCs together by just plugging them in), you might need a “cross-over” cable. Short explanation: Each side uses two wires, one on which to transmit, one on which to receive. A hub/switch/router has internal wiring that links the transmit of one to the receive of the other. To connect PCs directly, this “cross-over” needs to be part of the wire. You can buy them at any Radio-Shack or other electronics store. Again, I have no idea what your hardware is like (perhaps post a link?), but I thought I’d throw it out there just in case… ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490/7 "2004-11-02T17:37:08Z")
[Linky.](http://www.linksys.com/Products/product.asp?grid=28&prid=97) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490/8 "2004-11-02T17:49:14Z")
FWIW I don’t think this product is represented by Linksys to work properly with XP. Linksys is fairly explicit that this is a Win98 product. IIRC there are some thorny driver issues with this product and XP. Basic stuff to do Go to Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer) Right Click on the drives you wish to share Choose properties Choose Sharing Configure Drive(s) to be fully read/write sharable & visibile Restart Do the same thing on the other machine. Did you use the lastest downloaded drivers or the drivers that came on the CD? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490/9 "2004-11-02T17:52:18Z")
Downloaded the drivers for XP, and I’ve done what you suggested, with no luck. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490/10 "2004-11-02T19:53:39Z")
Hmmm. I’ve never seen that type of device before, so I can’t help you get it up and running. However, if all you want is to just connect two computers, you can always do the “cross-over” cable thing I suggested. So long as each computer has a (functioning) network card, it shouldn’t be a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490/11 "2004-11-02T19:56:55Z")
> [@Digital Stimulus](#): > > Hmmm. I’ve never seen that type of device before, so I can’t help you get it up and running. > > However, if all you want is to just connect two computers, you can always do the “cross-over” cable thing I suggested. So long as each computer has a (functioning) network card, it shouldn’t be a problem. 'Cept, of course, that’s out of my price range at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Balduran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Balduran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balduran)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490/12 "2004-11-02T21:09:56Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > 'Cept, of course, that’s out of my price range at the moment. For desktops, you can get used network cards for 5-10$ and they work just fine (though they’ll probably only be 10Mbps) ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490/13 "2004-11-02T21:17:46Z")
- - - I am not familiar with the hardware you are using, but if the hardware uses a regular phone line cord for connecting then you might verify that the phone wall cord you are using is a _four-conductor cord_ (that is–it has four wires running through it, with four metal contacts on both ends). Newer phones only need two conductors so many newer phone cords only have two, but the standard cords had four conductors and the networking thing may need four. Look at the plugs on the end of the phone cable and count the wire-contact things. If there’s only two, I would try using a four-wire cord. - As far as ethernet 10/100 crossover cables, these do not always work. If both NICs don’t specifically say that they will work with a crossover cable, then either may not. If one works but one doesn’t usually the “working” NIC computer will see the other computer but cannot actually connect to it, and the other computer with the “non-crossover-working” NIC will see nothing. ~ ---
**Author:** ![daffyduck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@daffyduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daffyduck)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490/14 "2004-11-02T21:19:38Z")
Nobody’s said the F word yet. Firewall. Do what you gotta do to disconnect these machines from the Internet and then turn off all firewalls and see if that fixes the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490/15 "2004-11-02T21:56:11Z")
> [@Balduran](#): > > For desktops, you can get used network cards for 5-10$ and they work just fine (though they’ll probably only be 10Mbps) Both boxes have NIC cards installed, but the necessary length of CAT5 cable is outside of my reach, plus, I’d have to go back to USB with my cable modem and that’d cut down on my web surfing speed. I’ve tried killing the firewall on both boxes and haven’t had any luck. I tried pinging the IPs of the two PCs and got a connection time out on both machines. It’s a 4 wire phone cable, so that’s not it. ---
**Author:** ![Balduran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Balduran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balduran)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490/16 "2004-11-02T22:11:24Z")
Maybe these are dumb questions, but I’m not an XP guy: You say that each computer recognizes the other one is connected, but you can’t ping each other. Are you sure you’re using the correct ip adresses? How do you know what they are? When computer A recognizes that computer B is connected, does it tell you the ip? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490/17 "2004-11-02T22:26:27Z")
I followed these directions to ping > [@](#): > > Get a DOS window up. (You can click on “Run…” on the start menu and type in “cmd”.) > > At the DOS prompt, type IPCONFIG. This will show you the computer’s IP address (192.168.0.1 for instance) and the IP of the gateway. (The computer that is connected to the net will probably be the only one with a valid gateway.) > > To ping, just type “ping 192.168.0.2” If they recognize a connection, then ping will probably work. I used IPCONFIG on both machines to find the addy for both of them. ---
**Author:** ![Balduran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Balduran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balduran)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490/18 "2004-11-03T01:11:05Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > I followed these directions to pingI used IPCONFIG on both machines to find the addy for both of them. Huh. That’s what I would have done. Does your windows xp have a firewall up? [http://www.cam.ac.uk/cs/docs/faq/m8.html](http://www.cam.ac.uk/cs/docs/faq/m8.html) ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490/19 "2004-11-03T01:19:01Z")
I haven’t tried pinging both machines with both the firewalls down, and I won’t be able to get around to it until tomorrow, as I’ve I’m playing media junkie with the election returns. ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Incognito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guy_incognito/32/3920_2.png) [@Guy\_Incognito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Incognito)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2004, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490/20 "2004-11-03T01:36:23Z")
I guess you’ve checked the obvious things already, but can you confirm that both machines are using the same subnet and gateway addresses? Just for kicks, try temporarily disabling the network cards in the device manager on both machines and reboot both machines. After both have restarted, see if you’re able to establish communications. I’m taking a wild guess that the HomeLink TCP-IP information might be conflicting with your NIC’s TCP-IP configuration. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-networking-problems/272490.md?page=2)