NIC causing Windows to pause

[The PIT]

The Realtek 8139's I had couldn't handle overclocking even slight overclocking.
Gurm right about the initilisation however I haven't seen anything what you're discribing.
The only reason I can think that your machines throw you off to the desktop is either dicky network cards or theres something a program wants on the other pc and it sits there and goes Oh look I can see that now and goes across to get the info.
Why are you using a dns server on a two machine network???

[xortam]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by The PIT:
Why are you using a dns server on a two machine network??? </font>

Ah ha! I've been following this thread waiting for someone to note that. I'd bet they aren't running a DNS server but in fact are incorrectly configuring their network.

[Jorden]

Thanks for all the answers guys. I'll go with Jason's way of seeing things, as I saw that earlier like that as well

For the answer on tcp/ip: We only have TCP/IP running.
And to answer TP and Xortam: It was the only way I was able to get the network running. Especially at the time when Holly was still running Win98(FE&SE) and I had WinME. We might want to sit back and try to set it up again from scratch, if only I can find my 3way around in Holly's Windows, as she has renamed just about everything, and uses Windowblinds & Litestep to cover up the original Windows underneath

Jord.

[2Whyzzi]

This to me sounds like a wiring issue in the cable (either a bad crimp on one end or bad wiring).

I'd recommend buying another X-over cable or rebuilding the existing one.

As always, good luck.

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[Colin Morey]

Jorden, I assume your machine is the gateway?

I think we can rule out a mis-configuration issue. or rather I would suspect hardware.

have you got anyway of test throughput? (ftp server on one machine,.. download a _large_ file,.. you should get at least 800Kps on 10meg and 8M on a 100Mbit.
if not,

try "ping -t -n 100 -l 65500 <ip>"

let that run until its finished,
if you've got any packet loss, and you've not got any significant load on the two machines, (ie your not playing quake/UT etc.) then I'd double check the cable connections.

as for the long pause,.. I think its defined in the RFC's for arp.

IIRC realtek have a dos app for test/setting the cards up.

Colin

[Jorden]

Thanks, Colin.
Pinging now, and losing a lot of packages, so you might be right about the cables, as well.

I have the RealTek Diagnostic Program sitting in my SystemTray. I can test the cards with it, and then it all works fine.
Strangely enough I can not uninstall that Diagnostic Program either. No links to startup, no link in add/remove programs, or in System Information.

Jord.

[xortam]

I didn't mean that DNS was the cause of their initiation problems since they wouldn't see a problem simply going through POST. I simply doubt they installed and administered a DNS server; is that right Jorden? It sounds like they simply pointed at one of their local machines as a DNS server when in fact it isn't. They must have a legitimate DNS server addressed on their gateway or they wouldn't be able to find internet addresses such as the MURC site.

[Jorden]

Xort, in case you point to a DNS server as Win2k uses, then my answer is no.
I use DNS so Holly can use ICS as well as get onto my harddrives, for files to copy, or play DVD's, print on the HP printer.

I have no DNS server installed, nor software to be DNS server. I just use DNS under WinME as it was easier at the time to connect.

If the pause in Windows and crashing back to the desktop on the 2nd PC is caused by the DOS initializing of the NIC, then I can live with that, until I have more money to buy 2 good 3com 905B or C NICs.

Jord.

[paul]

If you have file/print sharing installed, when a pc comes online it tries to determine who is the 'browse master'. This setting is in file/print sharing properties tab (of networks). Set one pc for enabled and the other for disabled. this should speed up booting.

[fds]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by Jorden:
I have the RealTek Diagnostic Program sitting in my SystemTray.</font>

Then it's very likely this or some other application is causing the switch back to the desktop.

I have used Realtek 10/100 cards with a crossover cable for connecting two PCs in the past and did not have any problems (running at 100). We were running 98SE and Windows 2000 back then. The only difference turning on/off one of the macahines made was win2000 correctly detecting and updating the system tray icon noting "the network cable is unplugged." No pauses, no waiting, just an immediate status update and definitely no switching away from games running.

We had several shares but only ever used UNC pathnames to access them when needed and did not map them as a drive on the other system.

I never saw any Realtek diagnostic utility and only ever used the default drivers which came with the OS. It's got to be something related to networking which causes your games abruptly switching to the desktop.

I have no idea what do you mean by that DNS setting. You installed a DNS server for only connecting two machines? Most unusual.

There's something really messed up in your networking settings.

[fds]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by Jorden:
Xort, in case you point to a DNS server as Win2k uses, then my answer is no.
I use DNS so Holly can use ICS as well as get onto my harddrives, for files to copy, or play DVD's, print on the HP printer.
</font>

But DNS has absolutely nothing to do with Windows file and printer sharing... And if you want to use a NAT shared Internet connection on another machine you have to set it to use your ISP's DNS server and your PC as the gateway.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">
I have no DNS server installed, nor software to be DNS server. I just use DNS under WinME as it was easier at the time to connect.
</font>

I just don't get it. It's like saying you are reading a book which in reality does not exist.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">
If the pause in Windows and crashing back to the desktop on the 2nd PC is caused by the DOS initializing of the NIC,
</font>

And how did DOS get in the picture? Aren't you using Windows 9x/Me/2000? You even said your problems came
a) when turning on the machine
b) Windows initalizing

What does DOS has to do with that? Where and why would you want to run DOS with networking? Playing the original Doom via IPX in DOS?

[The PIT]

Good I'm not the only one confused then.

[The PIT]

Jorden if you're getting lots of packet losses I would say you've got either a faulty card/cards or a faulty cable.
Try swapping the cable first then both cards.

[Colin Morey]

fds,..
by dos we're refering to the underlying part,

you know,.. command prompt, before the windows gui starts up.

which is where the _hardware_ is initiated!

[Colin Morey]

*did suggest trying another cable*