Windows 7: is there an easy way to network xp and win7 computers

I'm trying to use an Ethernet Crossover cable to connect my XP laptop to my recently upgraded Windows 7 PC.I was told the Ethernet was the simplest way but I can't make it work.Can anybody help?

Have you read this?

Connect two computers using a crossover cable

That isn't really called networking it's called Internet Connection Sharing which is a bit different. Although you should be able to network those machines once you have ICS set up.

I think you would be far better served by using a router, otherwise you need to have the host machine turned on in order for the other machines to have internet access.

The link below shows you how.
Internet Connection Sharing - Enable

Sometimes the manual method works best like in the link from aem below.
Internet Sharing using Cross-Over cable

yes I did see that on the Microsoft site but it said it apllied to all vista systems so didn't read the whole thing-does it also apply tp XP?

You should read the entire article.

You could also google for this particular problem - MS has one nearly identical for Windows 7.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...rossover-cable

Thanks for the tutorials.If it is determined that this is what I need to do, they appear to be fairly easy even for a newbie like myself.I am really wondering if this is the right approach for me.All I'm trying to do is get picture and music files from my laptop onto my pc.I have a wireless ADSL modem and the laptop(XP) runs wirelessly while the pc(Windows 7) is connected by a standard Ethernet cable.I do have a crossover cable available if needed.

Once you get the ICS connection working you just need to set up a Workgroup on the Windows 7 machine. After that go to the XP machine and use the same Workgroup name as on the Windows 7 machine then run the network set up Wizard on the XP machine.

You may also need to go into the Advance sharing options on the Windows 7 machine and make sure that Network discovery and everything else is set up correctly.

I tried the tutorial but when I right click the local area network I don't see a sharing tab.There is a bunch of items checked and a line that says this allows your computer to access resources on a Microsoft Network.Under Network connections on my Xp laptop I see 3 connections listed under LAN or High speed Internet.They are,a 1394 connection(1394 Net Adaptor #2),a Wireless Network connection and a Local Area Connection.All 3 say they are connected and firewalled(even though I turned the firewall off for a few minutes,they still said firewalled)The wireless Network Connection says shared.
I have the PC connected to my Gigaset wireless ADSL modem by standard Ethernet cable and a Ethernet crossover going to the laptop.Is this the correct setup? If it is,then how to I get the file on the XP computer onto my Windows 7? I have clicked sharing on the file in the XP laptop but I don't see it when I search on the Windows 7 pc.Thanks for following through on this,I'm starting to feel like I'm in over my head

Simply left or right click on the file while holding the button down and slide it over to the destination on the other machines folder where you want to be. This assumes that you can see the other machine on the network and access it's files.