Connect between 2 computers in XP

Are you using a crossover cat 5 cable?

Well, i just tried plugging the computers together and still that option to connect 2 computers is blanked out. I am folling all the instructions on microsofts website.

I have crossover cable, but am I supposed to connect both computers and then run the new connect wizard? I did not have them connected at that time

It sounds like you are trying to setup a direct cable connection.  That is for connecting with a serial or parallel cable.  Since you are trying to use a cross-over cable between network cards, you need to set up a network.  See the turorial at www.homenethelp.com for setting up a network.

Steve

I have not used direct cable connection in Windows for years.  When I used to use, it always seemed that it only worked on Thursdays of even numbered months on odd numbered days, and then only if my hair was parted exactly right and I held my tongue on the right (or was it left) side of mouth.  Set up a network instead.  I assure it is far easier and it always works.

Steve

I understand where you are coming from,  but it has always worked fo rme. It may have been painfully slow when I had to transfer an entire CD's contents across a 19.2 kbps connection,  but it worked.  Yes,  networking is relatively easy,  and much faster for moving data,  but if you have to use OLD PCs or systems with OLD OSes,  then the Direct Cable Connect is a good choice.  MS-DOS 6.2x had serial connection support which was fully compatible with Direct Cable Connect,  so you could really boot from a DOS floppy,  and then access another PC via the serial port.

Of course,  with today's notebooks not having serial ports,  this is becoming even more of a moot point.  ;-)

I finaly got it to work and managed to tranfer all my music to the other computer but for some reason the connection keeps going in and out, it keeps saying the network cable is unplugged, then plugged but with limited connectivity, it does this over and over and over, turning on and off, then it stops and i can transfer then it starts again and when i try to access folders on the other comp, it says i am not allowed. Not sure why it was doing this