Connecting 2 Pc's

[Cyril]

Okay, I have 2 PC's at home I want to connect. Both running XP and each has a network card. Each shows network card, and when machines are on show a netwrork connection, however when I connect the crossover cable I get a message saying A Network Cable Is Unplugged.

Can anyone tell me what may be wrong, or suggest any good sites for finding out what to do as have googled and had truble finding anything that made sense.

Thanks in advance.

[SingaBoiy]

Microsoft (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;278870)

[Cyril]

Any chance you can translate that in to ENglish?
Are they basically saying that crossover is not recommended? In which case would you recommend I just get a hub.

[delphin460]

ok to connect 2 comps together

make sure its a crossover cable not a standard network cable

when you connect both ends of the cable ti the network cards , the green lights should go on indicating that you are connected ( if not its the cable )

the other things to check after that is

check both are on the same network eg Start / setting / control panel

systems icon / computer name

make sure they are both on the same workgroup

obviously you will need to share drives after that so you can see each others h/d's ect

[SingaBoiy]

Should be as easy as connecting the cable to the pcs and running the network wizard.

But I would suggest a hub/switch. Can get a 5-port for 20-25 dollars

[Cyril]

Yeah, think it might be the cable. New cable $11, or hub $15. Might go with the hub. Thanks for your help.

[ilw]

almost certainly the cable, if you need help with the network check out http://www.homenethelp.com