limited connection or no connectivity.?

Question

i have two computers all runing xp2. one is connected to the internet thru dsl modem but using usb for the connection. it is registered as lan. after installing the straight network between the two computers, the second one was registered lan2 but gives the error limited connection or no connectivity. the two pcs cannot communicate and the error \\name is not accessible. is it because the host has two local area network connection, (thus the one of the internet and the straight connection with the other pc)? how can dis problem be solved?

Answer 1

You made an error by using cable to connect two ethernet cards together when you are using a DSL modem. It tried to establish this foreign connection by creating the label lan2. Unhook the cable between the computers and delete that connection from your Networks Connections. You need to start over from scratch.

Now, I am unsure how you mean one computer is hooked up via USB. You don't use a USB cable to hook up computers to ANY type of network, unless I am grossly mistaken and I don't believe I am. I have never heard of such a situation. What I think you mean is you are using coaxial 5 or 6 cable to hook up the one computer to the DSL box. Cat 5 looks a bit like a phone connection but is larger. That is what plugs into the DSL modem. Now, the DSL modem needs a hub or router either perferably with a switch so your connection is not split between two or more computers, depending on how many you want to hook up. A switch allows each individual computer to have its own ability to directly use the full amount of bandwidth. Without a switch two or more computers are forced to share the bandwidth, which slows down your speeds. Lets say you have bandwidth which enabled a speed of 50 mpbs. Without a switch two computers would share the 50, so when both are on each would only be able to use 25, cutting down the speed in half. The more computers sharing, the slower the connection becomes depending on how many are turned on at one time.

So, either a hub or a router with a switch is ideal. If you are going to spend the money on a Router, which is preferable to a hub as it will allow wireless connection for a laptop later or if you have a visitor with a laptop, get a Router with wireless capabilities. It is almost impossible (but not quiete) to purchase one without a wireless capability these days. It costs only a small amount more, yet the benifits far outweigh the extra costs.

I suggest an inexpensive d-link or linksys g router. The newer N is still more costly as it is the newest on the market so it always is more expensive than the slower versions of WIFI. Get one with at least four connections. You can expand later on, which means you would need to use one for the expansion which leaves three computers able to wire up to it. Until you need to expand which will probably be never, you can hook four up wired and up to six more wirelessly for a home network without need for a server and a domain.

So, until you buy either a hub or router with a switch you can't do anything more. Once you have that hardware, just hook both up to the hardware and then use the Network Connections Wizard to walk you through hooking up your network. When you get to the section of naming your network remember that all of the computers have to share the same network name. Don't leave it as MSHOME. That is so boring. Also remember that the computer name and the network name is different. Don't try to name the network the computer names. Make sure you don't blow through that portion of the wizard or you will be left with the boring MSHOME. You can name your network anything you want, just make sure it is one word for easy connections and have it mean somthing to you. I just use my last name. The XXXX Network. Seems useful to me anyway.

This is rather simple, you just went about it the wrong way. Make sure you have the proper cable too. It is cat 5 with a end connecor which looks like a large phone line connector. Just much larger.

Good luck and have a nice day!

Answer 2

I got some questions that you leave out...what are you talking about straight network? Is both computers plugged into the modem or through a switch or router? did you set up a "MSHOME" network on both computers so that they can see each other? sounds to me like your daisy chaining the computers is this so? A lil more info and i might be able to help ya.

Answer 3

It is an IP address issue, you need to make sure that the IP for both computers are on the same subnet and check the default gateway also, the default gateway for the second computer should point to the nic on the first one, but no doubt it is an ip issue.

Answer 4

buy a router, and then u will be ok
hook up the main internet line to the router, then out of the router u can hook up as many as 4 connection,,
if u get wireless, u nned a wireless pci card for ur pc, then u can have anything wireless connected and 4 connections with a line

Answer 5

Open connect to. Then right click on the LAN 2 icon and click on property's button and uncheck the box that says notify me when this connection has limited or no connectivity.

Answer 6

Like what Richard said. Its an IP Issue. just give both computers an ip address ie:192.168.22.10.
That should fix the problem