networkin problem....

i've got this pc i'm on now, and a laptop i use for college, both running XP. i wanna network the lappy to this machine to transfer music n work over onto it, as it ain't got the internet yet. i asked my college tutor what i needed to link em, n he said just a Cat-5 cable, which i promptly 'borrowed' from the pc next to mine in the class...
i've just plugged the cable into my lappy, and into the port on this machine where the broadband cable goes in and it says on both machines that no connection is recognised.
anyone got any idea whats the matter? or any other way of networkin em. i'm gettin a router soon when i get some spare cash, but i just need em connected briefly at the mo for file transfer.
cheers.

the cable you got was probably a straight through, which is used when connecting through a switch/router etc.

you need a "crossover cable" to link 2 pc's directly like that.

you may be able to convert your straight through to a crossover by changing the pin set up at one end.

m0.

cheers mate :D it says on the cable its a Cat-5e, if that makes any difference?

a crossover adapter costs £2 from http://www.solwise.co.uk/networking_sundries.htm

or rewire the cable:

change from

http://www.linuxathome.net/images/cat5/straight_end.gifhttp://www.linuxathome.net/images/cat5/straight_end.gif

to

http://www.linuxathome.net/images/cat5/straight_end.gifhttp://www.linuxathome.net/images/cat5/crossed_end.gif

i.e. one end different to the other

i'm tryin to rewire it, but i cant get the damn end off, hahahaha. i aint payin for nefink if i can do it for free, lol.