Networking XP to ME with a crossover cable

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jrmfzf@gmail.com - 15 Jan 2006 23:45 GMT

I apologize if this has already been covered, but I've been online all
day trying various websites' solutions with no success. Basically I
have an old Windows ME desktop and a new XP laptop that I'd like to
connect together through a crossover cable. Can someone please walk
through the steps to do this. I think I've done everything correctly
but still have no connection so I must be doing something wrong.
Thanks.

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Galen - 16 Jan 2006 07:07 GMT

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

> I apologize if this has already been covered, but I've been online all
> day trying various websites' solutions with no success. Basically I
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> but still have no connection so I must be doing something wrong.
> Thanks.

Nope. ;) That would spoil the fun. Here's the hint that should get you
going... Do NOT use the WinXP network setup disk. Instead set the XP machine
to a static IP address and the ME machine to a static IP address... The
workgroup will be MSHOME (default XP) and the IP address for XP... Hmmm...
192.168.0.1 and ME will be 192.168.0.2 and let it do the subnet
automatically. Ensure print and file sharing is enabled on both networks.
From there you'll figure it out.

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Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
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which is always an advantage. We had formed no theories. We were simply
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Steve Winograd [MVP] - 16 Jan 2006 10:28 GMT

>I apologize if this has already been covered, but I've been online all
>day trying various websites' solutions with no success. Basically I
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>but still have no connection so I must be doing something wrong.
>Thanks.

First, make sure that you have a crossover cable. A regular cable
won't work, and one or both computers will report that a network cable
is disconnected if you use a regular cable.

The easiest way to set up the computers for networking is to run XP's
Network Setup Wizard, which will make all the necessary settings.
This will get you started:

XP ICS - Starting the Network Setup Wizard
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_ics/networksetupwiz.htm

Make sure that any firewall program (Norton, McAfee, PC-cillin,
ZoneAlarm, etc) is configured to allow access on the local area
network.

If that doesn't help, please post another news group message with
complete details of the problem: what works, what doesn't work, what
you've tried to fix it, and complete text of all error messages.

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Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
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jrmfzf@gmail.com - 17 Jan 2006 03:45 GMT

Thanks to both of you for your suggestions, but I still don't have a
connection. The XP computer has a Norton Firewall, but I've not only
added the assigned IPs to its exception list, I even tried turning it
off. I made sure that the Windows Firewall was off as well. If the ME
computer has a firewall, I can't find it, and I'd figure that even if
it had one I'd still be able to ping from it to the XP, which I can't.
Does anybody have any more suggestions? Thanks.

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Noel Paton - 17 Jan 2006 06:09 GMT

One word - Norton!

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Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)

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> Thanks to both of you for your suggestions, but I still don't have a
> connection. The XP computer has a Norton Firewall, but I've not only
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> it had one I'd still be able to ping from it to the XP, which I can't.
> Does anybody have any more suggestions? Thanks.

Reply to this Message

Galen - 17 Jan 2006 08:45 GMT

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

> One word - Norton!
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>> even if it had one I'd still be able to ping from it to the XP,
>> which I can't. Does anybody have any more suggestions? Thanks.

LOL You stole the words right out of my mouth Noel. That and I never ever
ever have had any bit of luck with the network setup disk from XP with any
systems other than XP.

Back to the OP... Yes, a cheap router and straight cables.

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jrmfzf@gmail.com - 17 Jan 2006 14:17 GMT

So is what you guys are saying is that since I have Norton installed,
the only way to network these two computers is through a router?
Surely there has to be a way around the software.

Reply to this Message

Noel Paton - 17 Jan 2006 15:07 GMT

No - what we're saying is that because you have Norton installed, the
probability is that you'll have to uninstall it to get any sense out of your
system.

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> So is what you guys are saying is that since I have Norton installed,
> the only way to network these two computers is through a router?
> Surely there has to be a way around the software.

Reply to this Message

Galen - 17 Jan 2006 21:53 GMT

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

> No - what we're saying is that because you have Norton installed, the
> probability is that you'll have to uninstall it to get any sense out
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>> the only way to network these two computers is through a router?
>> Surely there has to be a way around the software.

Right, a cheap router, straight cables, and no Norton. That should do the
trick. (Mind you that you should use a firewall, just not one that's
bloated, breaks the system, and it should also work.)

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jrmfzf@gmail.com - 18 Jan 2006 01:33 GMT

Okay, so I've uninstalled Norton and gone to windows firewall on the XP
and allowed every possible exception I could find for the ME's IP.
Now, when I ping from the ME machine, rather than timing out as it had
before, I get a message that says destination host unreachable. Any
suggestions?

Reply to this Message

Galen - 18 Jan 2006 03:09 GMT

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

> Okay, so I've uninstalled Norton and gone to windows firewall on the
> XP and allowed every possible exception I could find for the ME's IP.
> Now, when I ping from the ME machine, rather than timing out as it had
> before, I get a message that says destination host unreachable. Any
> suggestions?

First make sure the cable is good.
Second set a static IP address in the LAN (local area net connection) to:

ME: 192.168.0.2
XP: 192.168.0.1

After you type it in mouse down and click into the boxes just below it and
let it auto-fill those.

To do this you will highlight TCP/IP in the network connection properties
menu... Then you will click properties for TCP/IP... Don't worry about
DNS... Just fill in the above addresses and make sure that after you're done
with each of them that you mouse down and click in the subnet mask section
so it can auto-fill.

Now, one last thing...

Grab your cable. Pull both ends out... Flip them up and look at them so that
they're both going in exactly the same direction. Is one of the color
strands (two really) different? Is it properly crimped? I don't suppose
you've access to a tester? Maybe a multimeter? Then you could check
continuity but with the above - and I assure you - you should then be able
to ping either box and we can go from there if need be.

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