I need help setting up

I'm sort of a 'n00b' (as the cool kids say) to networking and I need help setting it up. It keeps saying the cable's not plugged in but i checked it and it seems to be fine. I'm just trying to net work two computers together
They both run XP home(one i just bought today ).
What I want to do:
1.) Gaming (duh)
2.) Transfer files from this computer (the old one) to the new one.
The new one just brings up the 'Local Area Connection' Properties and the old (i should be saying older because its faily new too) says "Network cable unplugged"

I got invited to a LAN Party this friday so i need to learn how to do this, Thanks.
I know this post has probably been on here over 1000 times but im just too lazy to look for it.

To solve the "Network cable unplugged" make sure that the network cable is plugged correctly into the back of your computer and that the other end of the cable is correctly plugged into the switch/hub/router and then make sure that this is then turned on. On returning to Network Connections, the connection should not show the little red cross, and it should be connected OK.

If you are connecting the two computers together directly without a switch/hub/router don't forget that you'll need a crossover cable rather than a normal cable.

Once you have done this, you'll probably find that running the XP setup wizard (Start, All Programs, Accessories, Communication, Network Setup Wizard) will get you started OK. Just follow the wizard (making sure to have the same workgroup on each computer) and it should setup OK. If it doesn't, then post back and we can do it all manually

Yeah I figured that out today that I have the wrong cable, well, keep in mind that im still new at this but how do you transfer files?

Have you plugged in the correct cable between the two computers and does Network Connections show the cable as plugged in? If it does, try pinging from each computer. Click Start, Run and type cmd. In the Command Prompt type "ping 192.168.0.x" (without the quotes, and replacing the x with the correct IP address of the other computer). Do this from both computers.

If you get replies OK then the computers are probably connected OK.

To share files and folders, right-click on the folder which you want to share and click Properties. Click the Sharing tab and click the button to share over the network (you may want to allow network users to modify the folder also). Once the folder is shared, on the other computer you can access this share by typing this into the address bar in Windows Explorer - \\computername\sharename - obviously replacing computername with the name of the other computer and sharename with the name of the share. This should then display the contents of the folder.

You may also want to map a network drive which makes it slightly easier to access network folders - click Tools, Map Network Drive in Windows Explorer to do this.

I tried what you said, but its having trouble connecting or something, i went into windows explorer, typed '\\casey1\go'
casey1 is the name of the computer, go is the name of the folder I want to access. and it couldnt find it. go is in the shared files folder. Ive tried it on the other computer too, same thing. I made sure that nothing was named the same too.

Thank you for your help by the way.

I just tried pinging my other computer(the newer one, aka casey1) and each time it timed out.

You are not going to be able to share files until you have the ping timeout problem resolved.

Open up Network Connections and right-click the Local Area Connection. Select Properties. Double click Internet Protocol TCP/IP. Enter a IP address of 192.168.0.2, a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 and a default gateway as the address of your router (if you have one it'll probably have an address 192.168.0.1).

Repeat this process on the other computer, but set the IP address to 192.168.0.3.

Then, on each computer, click Start, Run and type cmd. In the Command Prompt, type "ipconfig /all" (without the quotes) and check that your computer has the correct IP address (192.168.0.2/3).

Then use the ping command to ping both 192.168.0.2 and 192.168.0.3 from both computers. Hopefully you should receive a reply from both.

If you do receive a reply from both, then try your file sharing again. If you don't on each computer click Start, Run and type "ipconfig /all > C:\ipconfig.txt" (without the quotes) and then copy the contents from both ipconfig.txt files into your next post.

I fixed the problem. It turns out the anti-virus program (PC-cillin) has a firewall built into it i didnt know about. I was at a LAN Party last night and we figured out thats what was causing it. Also on the old computer I had a firewall running that i have forgotten about (Outpost) that my dad made me download in the Baster Worm scare. I turned both of the off and it worked just fine.

Glad it's working.

These anti-virus programs with built-in firewalls cause a lot of problems for home networks and can be quite a problem in some places. People don't realise they are present, but the firewall stops all network traffic.

Please someone help me. It all started when i opened my computer to plugg the 3 1/2 disk thing and then i started the comp, that x on my taskbar came on. I have ask alot of people but they dont know.
I really need that cable to be plugged because now, i can't download music or use Internet Explorer.

**I need help but STEP BY STEP. I'm a little dum. So PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME**

It says this message "Local Area Connection: A network cable is unplugged".

my email just incase some1 can help: Doggchulo33@aol.com

Thanks!

Firstly, you dug up an old thread, rather than creating your own. This is a thread from March, several months ago.

Secondly, you sent me a PM. I don't like it when people PM me asking for help. If I want to help, I'll check the forum and respond, otherwise wait for someone else to help.