Networking W98SE laptop and WME Desktop with a crossover cable.

Hi,
First of all, I want to praise you for the great site you are hosting!
I have spent about 7hrs. over the last week trying to network my Hitachi laptop with my uncle's Compaq desktop. I started by getting a cable at a computer shop. The guy did not even have the charts ready to make a cross-over cable, but he quickly found it on www and made me the cable. He tested it on 2 of his computers, and they connected flawlessly. (today I also compared the cable to your pictures on this site, and it seems to be made correctly: The colors are in a different order, but they cross over to the right pins)
However, I have spent my time trying all imaginable reasonable configurations of networking protocols, clients, etc. The computers also do not connect with DCC. I have twice seen the desktop's icon on the laptop(That tells me the network cards and the cable are working), but I wasn't able to access anything on the other system.
I read your 'How to' article on networking 2 W98 or W95 computers, but mine are W98SE and W ME...
Thanks a lot for help!
Fred

2. RE: Networking W98SE laptop and WME Desktop with a crossover cable.
lbyard May-02-02 10:21 AM
In response to message 0

>The colors are in a different order, but they cross over to the right pins
That is not sufficient. See http://duxcw.com/faq/network/ends.htm about SAME pair. I would suggest getting your money back and finding someone to make the cable who knows how to do it. Also, have them do more than just connect the cable between two PCs. See http://duxcw.com/faq/network/catest.htm. Larry

3. RE: Networking W98SE laptop and WME Desktop with a crossover cable.
freddyfehr May-02-02 01:24 PM
In response to message 2

So each color wire in the cable is designed for it's specific electrical voltage or frequency? I did not know that. I will get the proper cable. I doubt if anyone has expensive cable testing equipment, but I will ask them to transfer some 100MB between the PC's the test the cable on.
I will remove the 'communications' component of windows, and then reinstall it; so I can start clean. What guide on this site should I then follow to configure the computers? My main goal is networking, but if that works I will probably also share the Desktop's 56K connection.
Thankyou
Fred

5. RE: Networking W98SE laptop and WME Desktop with a crossover cable.
lbyard May-02-02 03:07 PM
In response to message 3

I don't think you understand the principles involved. The colors of the wires make no difference as long as the pins are wired correctly, and there are combinations other than the standard ones which will work. The catch is that wiring the pins correctly is more than just connecting the correct pins together. There is one receiver and one transmitter at each end of the cable. A transmitter has two pins. A receiver has two pins. The transmitter pins must be connected to the corresponding (+ and -) pins on the receiver at the other end. The thing that most people do not understand is that the wires connecting the two pins on the transmitter to the two pins on the receiver must be twisted around each other or the cable will not work for any appreciable distance at Ethernet frequencies. That is, those two wires must be from the same twisted pair. Not one wire from one pair and another wire from different pair. It’s that simple! Get it? Also, they should follow the color code. All of this is explained with pictures and step-by-step instructions for making the cable in How to Make Your Own CAT 5 Twisted-Pair Network Cables at http://duxcw.com/digest/Howto/network/cable/cable1.htm.

Use How to Network Two Windows 95/98 Computers at http://duxcw.com/digest/Howto/network/net2pc/intro.htm to initially setup and test the network. Then follow How to Network and Share an Internet Connection With Windows 98 Second Edition at http://duxcw.com/digest/Howto/network/win98se/intro.htm if you are going to use Windows ICS to share the MODEM.
Larry

6. RE: Networking W98SE laptop and WME Desktop with a crossover cable.
freddyfehr May-02-02 06:46 PM
In response to message 5

I get it! I just came back from the shop where they made the cable. I showed the guy your diagrams, and told him to make such a cable. He says his coworker took their only set of tool with him(I still honestly think that this is of the best shops in my region here in MX), so the cable won't be ready until tomorrow. I'm optimistic that the network will work this time.
Another question: What is the operable range of this type of cable in terms of longitude?
Thankyou again for you info!
Fred

8. RE: Networking W98SE laptop and WME Desktop with a crossover cable.
lbyard May-03-02 10:49 AM
In response to message 6

Longitude? East and West? Latitude should not be a problem unless you plan to run it outside in the Antarctic or on the ground in a desert on the Equator. The maximum cable length is 100 meters if solid core wire is used. It is three meters if stranded core wire is used. I have seen 15-foot (4.6 meters) stranded core patch cables that worked just fine. I would find someplace else to buy that cable. Larry

9. RE: Networking W98SE laptop and WME Desktop with a crossover cable.
freddyfehr May-03-02 11:10 PM
In response to message 8

Problem solved.
The shop redid and tested the cable at no additional charge, and I successfully copied 377MB in 4:37.
Thankyou for your help.
Freddy