Question : Network Cable Unplugged

Hi, thanks for reading.

THE PROBLEM:
A friend of mine has two computers with WinXP Pro on both.
They are linked via a crossover UTP cable.

One of the computers is constantly reporting "Network cable unplugged". (In control panel, Network and DialUp Connections, and in ipconfig)
This computer is a couple of weeks old and has a PCI addin card with the Realtek 8139 Chip, Gigabyte GA-7VA M/B, Athlon XP 2200+
It worked fine for the first week, but after that it started reporting the cable is unplugged.

The other computer is reporting no trouble at all, even when the cable is actually unplugged.
This computer is several months old and LAN onboard.



WHAT IVE TRIED:
**Firstly I tried manually setting the duplex speeds.
I went through the whole list, no improvement.

**I tried a different crossover cable ( one i made myself to 568A - 568B standard)

**I got updated drivers.

**I installed XP service pack 1a

**Then I tried a different NIC (NB also has the realtek 8139 chip)

**I updated the m/board BIOS

**I disabled any unnecessary devices in CMOS (USB, Serial ports etc)

**I moved the NIC to a different PCI slot

NOTES

Ever since the computer arrived the floppy drive has not worked - the light on the floppy is always on (as if its reading a disk - even though it doesnt sound like its doing anything).

I ran the exe tool that comes with the NIC drivers, and it complained that it only works for PCI devices, and this was not a PCI device. - So then I downloaded and installed the 4n1 update for the motherboard.

The other computer does not report any problems when the network cable is actually unplugged.


Thanks again.
Any help would be appreciated, I'm starting to think it must be faulty motherboard or ram or something.

-Matthew

Answer : Network Cable Unplugged

If the floppy light is on, I would bet the floppy cable is plugged in backwards.

This might provide enough feedback into the board to cause problems.  Check that first.

Also, in device manager, right-click the NIC and select properties.  If there is a Power Management tab, uncheck the setting for Windows to turn off the device when not in use.

Advise.