em89

I'm having trouble connecting my Vista Laptop to my XP Desktop using a crossover cable. A network connection appears to be established, but the two computers cannot communicate. I've tried pinging on from the other with no success. The network map of the connection (as shown by the laptop) looks like this:


[Laptop (Vista)] - - - - - - - - - - [Hub]
........................................[Desktop (XP)] ----X---- Internet

However, i cant access the desktop from the laptop, nor does it show up in the Network folder, which contains 'internet gateway device' and the laptop only.
I've downloaded the LLTD patch already. Both workgroup names are the same. I'm out of ideas and would be grateful if any of you could help me.

Thanks

Camper

If your connecting the computers to a Hub than you should be using a patch cable. Crossover cables are used to connect pc to pc without any device in between.

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em89

Thats just the thing...i don't have any devices in between. The crossover cable is connecting the two computers directly.

EDIT: i've changed the network to private, and the network map now looks like this:

Laptop --------- Hub
................|
................|
Desktop ----

The desktop is now being recognised as a 'Residential Gateway device'

Camper

How are you assigning IP addresses to these computers? (Static or Dynamic)

Do you have file and print sharing installed on both computers?

Do you have Windows Firewall running on both computers?

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em89

Yes, file and print sharing is enabled on both computers, windows firewall is on both computers, as is norton firewall, i've tried disabling them all with no success.
As for IP Addresses, i've tried the automatic option as well as inputting the IP and Subnet mask (192.168.0.2 and 255.255.255.0 on the laptop....192.168.0.3 and 255.255.255.0 on the desktop) manually.

All to no effect.

Lectrician

What is the hub doing in the second pic - it looks teed from the cross over cable?

If you have a hub, why not use a standard straight through cable from each computer to the hub?

A hub is fine in this instance - any more machines, and you would be better with a switch - faster. The switch learns where machines are, and where to send packets of info.

How are you connecting to the internet? In this day and age, if you have more than one machine and the internet, you should be using a router with an inbuilt switch - ne need to leave the main machine on to access the interent.

em89

I don't have a hub, but for some reason, one is being displayed on the network map on the laptop

And i dont have a router, just a modem thats plugged into the desktop. I dont really care about sharing the connection, file sharing is my main priority.

Lectrician

Then a cross over cable from one machine to the other is all that is needed.

Enable the two ethernet network ports, and assign a static IP to each - say 192.168.0.1 to one, and 192.168.0.2 to the other. 255.255.255.0 as the subnet mask for both.

Then try pinging.

Should be fine.

Deepblue

Lectrician is right

but let me ask
Does the desktop have 2 network cards one to the modem and one to the laptop ?

If so verify that you are assigning the static IP to the right card the one connecting to the laptop.
the one connecting to the modem will need to be a dynamic IP so your ISP can assign you a Address within thier network or you will lose internet connetivity on that system.

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