New Network Setup

[slharris]

I am new to network setup, and am in need of some help. I am wanting to connect my laptop with my desktop. I have two Ethernet cards in my desktop and one Ethernet connection on my laptop. They are both running Windows XP Home Edition. I have tried all the setup options to get them connected through ICS, but I have yet been able to get them to 'see' each other. Is it possible to set up a home network this way, and if so, how do I do it? Thanks.

[Greenstead]

There is a network setup wizard in XP, though it sometimes give strange results. Its worth a try if you're new to this.

[slharris]

I have tried the XP network wizard setup, but I am still left with a laptop and a desktop that cannot communicate. Thanks, though

[Greenstead]

If you're stuck come back and we can walk you thro the configuration for the PCs. There can be obscure problems in addition to the standard configuration so you might be experiencing something unusual.

If you want help come back and post what NICs you are using and how the PCs are physically connected. Also if you are using (or want) internet sharing.

[slharris]

Thanks for the offer. I am willing to take any advice right about now. The desktop has a NETGEAR FA 310TX with this at the end of the description (NGRPCI), which is my ADSL connection. The othert ethernet card that is in my desktop that I would like to network my laptop to is a 3Com 3C450. My laptop has a 3Com 3C920 Integrated Fast Ethernet Controller (3C905C-TX Compatible).
There are my adapters in both the desktop and laptop. The reason I want to set up the network is to share Internet connection, and also be able to access files on my desktop from my laptop, along with printing from laptop to the printer that is hooked to my desktop. When I have the money, I want to go wireless with the the laptop connection to the desktop.
At present, I have them connected by a cable that is connected to the laptop ethernet adapter, and the 3Com 3C450 Ethernet card in my desktop.
Thanks again for any help you can give.

[Greenstead]

OK - lets start.

Lets call the PC with the ADSL connection the Host. The other PC the Client.

I'll assume you are connecting ok to your ISP from the Host (yes?).

The cable to connect the Host and Client is a Cat5 cross-over. The cross-over part is critical - you should buy a manufactured cable with cross-over stamped on it. Made-up cables can by iffy and the quality of physical connection is critical.

On both Host and Client:
- Ensure each PC has a unique computername.
- Ensure each PC has an identical workgroup name.
- Make a new folder directly under c: and open its properties (right click, properties), go to the sharing tab and set the folder network shared.

Lets configure the two NICs that will connect Host to Client. Its exactly the same on both PCs.
- Open Network Connections window (START-> Connect to ->Show all connections).
- On the local area connection to the other PC. Right click -> Properties. This opens the Properties window.
- On the General Tab. You should see four items:
-- Client for Mircosoft Networks
-- File and printer Sharing
-- Qos
-- TCP/IP
Check all the buttons.
(If you don't see some of these you may need to install them.)
- Now highlight TCP/IP and click properties. Opens TCP/IP Properties window.
- On the TCP/IP General tab. Check the buttons for 'Obtain an IP address automatically' and 'Obtain DNS server address automatically'.
- On the TCP/IP General tab click Advanced. Opens the Advanced TCP/IP settings window.
- Click the WINS tab. Check the button for 'Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP.
- Click OK until everything is closed out.
The NICs are now configured.

A quick check on the Internet connection:
- Open the network connection properties for the NIC connected to ADSL and ensure the only item checked on the General tab is TCP/IP.

Assuming you already have ICS installed on the NIC to ADSL.
Power down both PCs.
Power up the Host PC. The power up the Client PC.

ICS sharing and File sharing should work.

Of course, it might not work if there are some of those 'obscure' problems to sort out.

Can you access internet from both PCs?
Can you see and open the network shared folders from PC to PC?

[slharris]

Thanks again for your help. I went through each step as you described, but the NIC's in the laptop and desktop are still not communicating. After running through the setup, there is still no cable connection detected between the laptop and desktop. I just get that "A network cable is unplugged" message. I have tried everything I can think of to get the two to communicate,but still nothing. Any further advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Greenstead]

If you are getting that 'unplugged' error then it is usually one of two things.

1. The card or driver is not working correctly. 3Com are sometimes a problem. Check you have the latest driver. Try moving the card in the desktop to CPI slot 2.

2. The cable is the wrong type or faulty. (Often happens despite the confidence you may have in the cable).

[slharris]

Well, you were right about the cable. I thought I would try getting a new one, run through the NIC cards setup, and ICS on both the laptop and desktop. IT WORKS!!! Just to see if it was the cable causing my problems, I swapped it out with the new one and my newly setup network quit working. I put the new cable back in and voila! Thanks for your time and patience. I can now access all files from either pc, and I can surf the web from my laptop. My next step isto install a wirless connection for my laptop, but that will be later. Thanks, again, for all of your help.:D

[Greenstead]

Nice to hear back it all works.

Good Luck.