If you don't have a hub, switch, or router then the cable needs to be rewired. Hubs et al already switch the wires inside them. You can buy them is a shop
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http://www.g2mil.com/Dec2003.htm
"So'n'so" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:uPEBb.386043$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have an old VAIO computer with files that I'd like to transfer to my new
> VAIO. I currently have only an RJ-45 Cat 5 cable to connect the new VAIO
> (XP) machine (which has the Ethernet card built in) to the old computer (Win
> 98) which has a 3COM Ethernet adapter plugged into the USB port (I got the
> Ethernet adapter from the cable modem I've been using).
>
> First, I'd like to know if it's possible to have a simple network connection
> between the two computers without a router. I tried setting up the
> connection on the XP machine (after disconnecting from the cable
> modem/Internet), going through the network setup wizard stating that I was
> NOT connected to the internet. I made a Netsetup.exe disc which I then used
> on the Win98 machine. I ran the wizard on the Win98 machine and got through
> it, but neither machine sees the other through the Ethernet connection
> (although it appears that there are packets being sent on both sides, since
> I see the light flickering on the NIC on both machines).
>
> Second, if it's not possible, what's the best way to transfer my old data
> (less than 10 Gb) from the old machine to the new? I don't want to backup
> to floppies (forever and a huge # of disks). Should I just buy an external
> hard drive (ugh)?
>
>