Issues with a Netgear Switch and a Windows XP system

mitchafi

Golden Member
Mar 25, 2004
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The NIC is built in to the mobo, which is an ECS K7VMM. It is a VIA Fast Network card 10/100B

The Switch is a netgear FS model, don't have the numbers off hand. Keep in mind this is all hard-wired, and not wireless.

So, the deal is, the system picks up an IP from DHCP (10.0.1.15) but won't load any websites. Finally, after messing with settings for hours I can get it to load pages by going to device manager and switching the speed from auto-negotiate to 10T Half Duplex (or something like that). However, with this setting changed it works pretty slow, I'd say about half as fast as typical broadband. When I connect my laptop it works fine and at full speed.

The problematic machine is running WinXP Pro with no service packs. I would download the updates from a separate machine and install them, but this is a computer at work that is extremely crucial for the business, and I don't want to risk breaking anything. I've personally been BSODed from windows update, so am a bit wary.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Mitch
 

mitchafi

Golden Member
Mar 25, 2004
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No they are not, as far as I can tell - They look like standard ethernet cables. Unfortunately I can't really discern too much about their setup. I just got here a few days ago and they have absolutely no idea what they have going themselves. They didn't even know they had a switch. From what I can see and from the little bit they have been able to tell me, they have about 6 Apple's networked together and connected to a switch. The PC in question (the only PC they actually have) seems to be connected directly to the switch through ethernet that runs through the walls.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
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Well if a card won't work at 100 but will at 10 then it means the cable isn't up to category 5 specifications. If it's just a cable with an RJ45 end put on it and run through the wall I'd almost guarantee it's a homemade cable. Eitherway, all indicators are not up to spec cabling.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
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Doesn't mean the cable is good. Certain cards are better at dealing with cabling problems and switching tip/ring on the pairs. Just because it works on one doesn't mean the cable is good.
 

mitchafi

Golden Member
Mar 25, 2004
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Interesting. Re-cabling isn't an option, so I guess it stays. Thanks for the info.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
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The only way to know for sure is to take a good store bought category 5 or higher patch cable and plug the machine in question into the switch with that. If the symptom remains then it's probably driver on the NIC.