Chapter 54. Troubleshooting Networks
Networking has considerably improved with each new version of Windows, so you should experience fewer networking problems with Windows 7. However, Windows is just a part of the equation. Problems can occur with networking hardware, whether on your computer or elsewhere on the network. When that happens, you can use several troubleshooting techniques to identify and fix the problem. This chapter explores these techniques.
Letting Windows Troubleshoot the Network
Whenever you have a problem with a network, whether wired or wireless, you should always check your network hardware first. Even experts have been known to spend much time trying to troubleshoot a network problem from mouse and keyboard, when the problem turned out to be a loose cable.
If on a wired network, make sure the computer is firmly connected to the hub using an appropriate cable. For example, if you're using gigabit Ethernet, use Cat 6 straight through cables (not crossover cables) to connect all computers to the hub. Make sure each cable is firmly plugged in. If the hub and cards have indicator lights, they should be green when the computer is properly connected. The amber light only flashes when there's data crossing the cable.
Tip
How can you tell a straight cable from a crossover cable? Hold the two ends of the cable side-by-side, with the retaining clip facing ...
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