network wiring problem?

I am having problems getting my new home network to work. I have a new PC running on Windows XP and an old PC running on Windows 98. The new PC came with a NIC and I installed a new NIC in the old PC. I made sure that both were set for TCP/IP and that they would receive their IP addresses from a DHCP server. I have a cable modem which is plugged into a new Linksys 4-port cable/DSL router and the router is set to assign IP addresses. The new PC is located next to the modem and router and the old PC is located about 30 feet (as the cable flies) in an upstairs room. I purchased patch cords to run between the equipment but ran Cat5e wiring up a wall to the old PC. Both ends of the new wiring terminate in wall plates with the modular female connectors available from Home Depot.
When everything is installed and plugged in, I get 3 lights on the router for both computers. However, I cannot access the internet from the old PC. The new PC can reach the internet with no problems. Both computers can see each other but it takes an ungodly amount of time to access the folders or files. When I ping the old PC from the new PC, I get 4 good replies. When I ping the new PC from the old PC, most of the times I get only 3 good replies, sometimes only 2 but never do I get 4 replies. I brought the old PC downstairs next to the new PC and hooked up the network from there. Voila! Everything worked fine. Got the internet from both PC's, shared folders and opened files in no time. I made sure that I tried each patch cord. All worked fine. That left the in-wall wiring suspect. I used my Radio Shack circuit tester to check for breaks in the wiring, but they all seem OK. Even the connections to the modular plug seemed good. But I still can't get the internet nor network the way it should.
I am at my wit's end. Any suggestions?

1. RE: network wiring problem?
lbyard Jan-14-02 04:56 PM
In response to message 0

The cable should be solid core CAT 5 or 5e. The jacks and plugs should be for solid core wire and rated 5 or 5e. All jacks I’ve seen are for solid core wire. There are plugs for solid and stranded wire and many are not interchangeable. The jack should be wired according to the color code on the back of the jack to match the code used at the other end. The ends of the cable should not be untwisted more than ½ inch. Transmit pins must be connected to receive pins at the other end by wires in the same twisted pair. That is pins 1 and 2 are connected to pins 3 and 6 with wires in the same pair, not one wire from one pair and another from a different pair. A DC continuity check is not an adequate determination of cable performance at Ethernet frequencies and does not guarantee that the correct wires are used. Inspect jacks and plugs carefully. See our How to articles and FAQs for details. Larry

2. RE: network wiring problem?
jwtrenta Jan-16-02 03:28 AM
In response to message 1

I am using solid Cat5e wiring with compatible connectors. I just reran the wiring through the wall again. I found one spot that was crimped. I was real careful running this second wire. Made sure I didn't pull too hard and that the wiring didn't twist or crimp. Made the connections again using the same color code on both ends. Made sure that I didn't untwist more thab 1/2" of wire. I still cannot get through to the internet nor to share files. The computers can see each other. They know that they are there, it just can't quickly (as in several minutes and it still hasn't transferred) get any folders or files from each other.
I get more good replies from the new to old PC than from the old to new PC. Is that significant? Could the new NIC in the old PC be bad even though it checks out as OK in the device manager?

3. RE: network wiring problem?
lbyard Jan-16-02 04:14 PM
In response to message 2

>Made the connections again using the same color code on both ends.
Which color code? Or, what are the color of the wires when reading left to right with the plug up and the clip away?
>I get more good replies from the new to old PC than from the old to new PC. Is that significant?
Yes. Please answer the first question.
>Could the new NIC in the old PC be bad even though it checks out as OK in the device manager?
Yes, but it isn’t the likely problem. Larry

4. RE: network wiring problem?
jwtrenta Jan-17-02 01:48 AM
In response to message 3

plug up, clip away: wh/orange, orange, wh/grn, blue, wh/blue, grn, wh/brn, brn
This is the same on both ends of the wire.
Jim

5. RE: network wiring problem?
lbyard Jan-17-02 05:28 PM
In response to message 4

The order of the wires is correct. I still think you have a cable problem, however. One way to check that would be to put the two PCs next to each other and try another cable. I have made many cables for many years and still get a small percentage of them that I have to cut-off a plug and redo. Sometimes I have to cut-off both of them. Once in a blue moon, on a bad day, I have to do it more than once. It is an art that takes practice to master. Larry