quick help please/ connecting two computers for file sharing only

[AnMig]

I want to connect my laptop to my home pc to transfer files that I downloaded in the office.
I stuck lan card in each system and connected them directly via a cat 5 cable (came with my laptop card)

My computer recognizes the LAN but states LAN cable is unplugged

Question
1. Do I need a special cable to hook two lan cards together directly?
2. Is there a way to share files using these LAN cards? The network wizard only gives the serial cable as the only option for direct pc to pc connection.



Please help, I am not trying to create a complicated LAN just a way to transfer files

 

[dbwillis]

Yeh, you have to have a special type cross-over cable to direct connect them, I think that the Linksysy site has a description of the wires that are swapped from a normal LAN cable.

 

[AnMig]

dam

I knew it couldnt be that simple

Thank a lot

 

[moregolf]

Actually, you can buy a crossed over cable, or an adapter that does it for you at one end. Not expensive..

 

[AnMig]

http://store.yahoo.com/sagetech/5feetcrosovp.html

found some here $2.50 for 5 feet

Thanks everyone, I guess will have to go back to burning files to external burner for now.