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Verify cable connections
•Make sure that the computer(s) you are troubleshooting are connected correctly.
•The network card must be connected to the network with Category 5 UTP (unshielded twisted pair) cables.
•Examine the network cables and make sure that they have not been damaged.
•Make sure that no electromagnetic interference, like unshielded speakers or appliances on the same circuit, is affecting your network.
•If you are using a hub, router, or switch, make sure that your network cables are not plugged into a dedicated Uplink port. The Uplink port is only used when connecting your hub to another hub or switch.
Verify each computer’s indentification
•Make sure that each computer on your network has a unique computer name.
•Make sure that all the workgroup name is identical for all computers on your network. If one computer has a different workgroup name than the others, that computer will not appear in the same workgroup view.
Verify indicators
Your network card has indicators or lights that can give you information about your network traffic and help you determine problems when troubleshooting. The card has two indicators labeled Link/Act and Full Duplex. A steady green Link/Act light indicates a good connection with the switch. A flashing green Link/Act light indicates that the network card is sending or receiving data.
When your computer is turned on and the network card is inserted into an open slot connector, a green light on the direct port LED indicator indicates that the card is linked to the network.If the LED remains dark without any apparent cause, check the network card installation.
Pinging your network card
PING is the acronym for Packet Internet Groper (PING), a utility to determine if a specific IP address is accessible. It works by sending a packet to the specified address and waiting for a reply. Ping is primarily used to troubleshoot Internet connections. By sending out a ping, you are verifying that a specific computer is available. Because all computers on the network must have a unique IP address, getting a reply means that a computer is on the network and that it can communicate.
If the computers can communicate, the hardware and cabling are probably okay. If you cannot ping another computer, there is probably a problem with the hardware. Check the cabling and adapter installation. If you are unable to network, even when you receive a reply to your ping, there is probably a software configuration problem. Verify that all the settings are correct.