I am looking for a detailed tutorial on connecting a laptop running Windows Vista to a desktop running Windows XP using a cat5 crossover cable.
No, I want to connect my laptop to my desktop so that I can share the files on my desktops storage hard drive with my laptop.
Oh, yes. I also wanted to do that once. It looked a bit to hard. The easiest way to do this is to do it through network.
yes, getting a router (wireless if your Laptop has a wireless card) and setting up a network between the two may be the easiest method.
I've connected 2 windows xp computers with a cat5 crossover cable before, It should be the same with vista. Just connect the cable from one computer to the other and make sure each computer has been setup for network and allow sharing of files. Once that has been done the computers should be able to find each other. If you have a firewall make sure when it comes up and says found new "private network" you allow it access. You only need a router if you don't have the crossover cable.