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can someone help with me with networking please?
Numpty Question 101
I want to network my laptop to my workshop computer using a Cat 5 cable.
I can network with a second laptop, no problems.
The workshop one I can’t see though.
It’s running XP and because it was built for me there is no modem on it as I never intended to use it on the net.
Is the absence of a modem the problem? Is it needed to make the connection?As they say here….’me head’s a marley’ trying to sort it! 🙁
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17 Replies
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Have you thought about joining BNI or your local chambers of commerce – they’re good for networking 😕
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Whats BNI stand for? Big Numpty Institute?
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Dave (Rowland) is the networking expert.
As far as I know as long as your PC has a networking card you should be able to link it to another PC and access the internet using the other PC’s connection. XP has a networking wizard that takes you through the steps involved.
If you haven’t got a network card (don’t confuse a network card with a modem) you will need to install one.
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Yep, both have Network Cards.
Done the wizards but still no joy. 🙁
Heading home now….dangerously close to size 12 boot activation! 👿 😀 -
idea for you the computer with the Internet firewall will block the connection . it needs to be told that the other computers connected are safe.
got my own similar problems with networking its so frustrating.
chris
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Hi
some network cards will not change their own IP addresses so you need to set both to something similar. If you are on a cable internet connection
then you would set to dynamic "i.e finds an address each time it connects" if it is ASDL then it is normally a specified IP and the new computer needs to have a close IP address to be seen. To check if its a firewall prpoblem turn it off for a short while just don’t connect to the internet while it is off. If you can then see the other computer then you know the problem.Kev
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Harry can you explain exactly what your setup is, what is connected to what and how?
Do you have a hub, router etc.
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Lets get 101 sorted first….
Do you have a light (normally green) by the cable on the back of the computer or not?
Each computer cable/cat5 normally goes back to the wireless internet router, they normally have 4 sockets on it, the router normally is in charge of the network and assigns the IP numbers….. can u confirm?
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Two computers running XP. One a laptop the other a PC
Both have network cards, but the PC has no modem installed.
I have switched off firewalls and run the Network setup wizards on both.
I am connecting them directly with a cat 5 cable.
I only want to be able to share files.
The laptop connects to the wireless router which is over 60 feet from the computer desk in the workshop
The laptop will connect via the cat 5 cable to another laptop without problems.
Dave: when I plug in the cat 5 cable there is a green light and an orange light, the same when I plug the other end into the laptop. Is that what you mean?Thanks all for the help so far
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quote Harry Cleary:Two computers running XP. One a laptop the other a PC
Both have network cards, but the PC has no modem installed.
I have switched off firewalls and run the Network setup wizards on both.
I am connecting them directly with a cat 5 cable.
I only want to be able to share files.
The laptop connects to the wireless router which is over 60 feet from the computer desk in the workshop
The laptop will connect via the cat 5 cable to another laptop without problems.
Dave: when I plug in the cat 5 cable there is a green light and an orange light, the same when I plug the other end into the laptop. Is that what you mean?Thanks all for the help so far
What cables are you using. Laptop to Laptop, will be a Cat 5 "cross over" cable. Laptop to router should be a Cat 5 "Patch Cable". Pin outs are not the same on each cable and therefore have specific network jobs.
Also make sure the computers have different names and are on the same network name……………see network properties etc in teh control panel……………
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It’s a Cat 5 crossover cable Graeme. I am not trying to connect it to the router just laptop directly to the PC
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60foot hey… well thats an issue then… wireless internet without walls? if you laptop works where ur second computer is then could consider a wireless USB dongle for the second computer, but ONLY if it works well enough.
Or is there a phone point in the workshop nearer the computer, move the router in to the workshop and then cat5 into the computer.
Basically to create a network, you need to let it connect to the router as that is in charge of IP numbers, however directly connecting computers together is much harder, not impossible but will take a lot longer to sort out the configuration on the PC and may actually cause some delays on the laptop as it will have 2 network adapters running, you really need to stick to one network adapter running in each computer.
some routers will auto-sense that u have a crossover cable and will re-adjust. When u see lights at both ends, that means they are working… just maybe not configured right.
oh 20mtrs of cat5 isn’t much
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/20m-Network-Cat5E … 286.c0.m14
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Thanks folks. But I’m getting lost here. 😀 😀 A few questions just to clarify things if I may?
I can’t see how the router is the answer.
When I connect the two laptops together with the cat 5 is the router involved in that? Must try switching off the router and see if they still connect.The wireless works fine on the laptop in the workshop. And I don’t really want the PC on the internet.
The PC has no internet, modem etc.
I was hoping that the Cat 5 would directly connect the laptop and the PC without IP’s. Is this impossible?
Sorry to be a numpty!
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Just want to clarify that I only want to connect one laptop to the PC, not all three. Was thinking I might have confused you people as well as myself! 😀
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I use Bluetooth adapters on my PC and laptop. Work well without having to @rse about with cables. Bought them from Asda…about £15 each mate.
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On your laptop right click my network places, go to properties and then right click the local area connection and select status, on the support tab it’ll tell you the ip address and netmask.
OR
Your laptop will have had an ip address assigned by the router, your other laptop may have as well.
This would put them both in the same network, ie 192.168.1.? and the netmask will be 255.255.255.0
Your PC however will have a local address assigned which will be on another network as far as the computers are concerned so they will not talk to each other.
Have you made sure they are on the same workgroup.
Right click my computer and select properties and computer name, check the workgroup name and if it’s different make it the same as the laptop.OR you may not have the correct software installed for the PC network adapter, very unlikely though.
Steve
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thanks folks….will have another go later
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