[K. Prophett]

I just installed Windows XP Professional and I have an old laptop. Unfourtunately the laptop doesn't have a Ethernet port on it. So what I have is a 9 Pin DB 9 connector. Its connected to my laptop and I was wondering what type of Cat5 cable will connect my laptop to the internet. A rollover, straight through, or a cross over. I am connecting the wire to a wall jack that is in my dorm room. But I'm not even sure if I can use the DB9. So someone please inform me.

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Is USB to ethernet an option? Even USB1.1 is fast enough for most american broadband.

[silverbeard]

Is USB to ethernet an option? Even USB1.1 is fast enough for most american broadband.

[K. Prophett]

there is only the wall jack for an RJ45 and my laptop doesnt have the Ethernet jack. But i was thinking that I would have to buy a USB Ethernet port for it. That should work right?

[diabillic]

It *should work*, although I wouldn't recommend it. A straight cable will do fine, the only use of a crossover is for machine to machine.

[SpaceCowboy706]

To answer your original question: I have never used DB9 as a network connection, I have never heard of anyone using DB9 as a network connection, I couldnt find any MS articles for using DB9 as a netowrk connection, and lastly i couldn't find anything on google of rusing db9 as a network connection.... also.... I couldnt find any type of adapters that go from db9 to ethernet (which is what you would have to use since the wallplate is cat5 ethernet)... so it is safe to say that, that route isn't going to work.

What other type of ports do you have on the laptop?

If you have PCMIA ports like this:


you could use one of these adapters:
1
2

If you have USB slots like this:


You could use one of these adapters:
1
2


Hope this helps a little more?