The network cable is plugged in, dammit!

[FleshEating Bob]

Ok, so I'm trying to network two computers together so I can share the internet connection between them. Though I have checked and rechecked the connections, swapped out NICs and ethernet cables, that ****ing "A network cable is unplugged" message remains, and the little "link" LEDs on the NICs are not lit. I am thoroughly confused as to why these computers seem to be unaware of the fact that there is a 50' length of cat5e plugged into each one's network card. Unless every single one of the 12 NICs and 5 cables I have are all defective, I'm fairly sure it's not a hardware problem. I assumed that XP would detect the connection and at least confirm that there is indeed something connecting the computers, as it has every other time I've networked two computers with XP together. Anyone have any insight as to something I might have missed?

[Zuzzz]

I suspect if you are trying to connect 2 computers directly youll need a 'cross-over' cable. If you are connecting them through a router or switch you can use regular cables. Try a cross-over cable and see if that fixes your issue.

Z

[obyz21]

If your internet connection is into one computer and you are hooking another computer to the first computer with no router, switch or hub between them - then you have to use a crossover cable

[Breadfan]

Yup, simple PC-to-PC requires a crossover.

Crossover Cable DIY (http://www.makeitsimple.com/how-to/dyi_crossover.htm)