Cable unplugged? - Help

[Brad M-C]

Okay, this may seem like a really bonehead problem, but...:confused:

I just built a new WinXP box with a NetGear FA312 NIC. I am trying to network it to my old WinME box (w/ same NIC). On my WinXP box, I am getting a message "A Network Cable is Unplugged". I just looked at the cable, and it is plugged in.

Why would I be getting this message?


Thanks for your help.

-Brad

--chip: 2.26ghz P4
--mobo: p4533B
--video: chaintech geforce2 32MB
--hd: seagate 60gb barracuda
--cd: msi 48/16/18 cdrw
--nic netgear fa312

[mikeL]

Hey Brad M-C welcome to the forums, Are you trying to connect the computers without a hub/switch? If so you need a crossover cable. If you have a Hub/switch then you need a straight through cable.

Has the network ever work? I would check the network places properties, try another cable, then do a "ping 127.0.0.1" (without the quotes) on each machine to make sure the NIC's are working. Then ping one computer from the other

Good Luck, Mike

[mattg2k4]

The "Network Cable Unplugged" error does not literally mean the cable is unplugged, that error can pop up for any number of network errors, like a bad driver.

Check to see if the lights are on on the card, and the hub if you have one. If you don't have a hub, make sure you have a crossover like mikeL said.

[Brad M-C]

Originally posted by mikeL
you need a crossover cable

then do a "ping 127.0.0.1" (without the quotes) on each machine to make sure the NIC's are working. Then ping one computer from the other

That did it. First I had the wrong cable. Then I needed to set static IP's (figured this out from trying to ping one computer from another).

Thanks, mikeL & mattg2k4

--Brad