I want to connect my Mac Mini (running OS X 10.4) with my PC (running Windows XP SP2) using a crossover cable. When I connect the tow my PC informs me that the connection is not configured properly and will be limited while my Mac simply does nothing, various attempts at changing my network settings on the PC and Mac have yielded no results. All I want to do is play afew games and share some files using the Crossover cable so can I anyone please help by pointing me in the direction of a simple guide, I've googled the suject and been on the Apple website as well. Many thanks

Try this: Configure the Mac to operate on using Samba and then configure both computers with IP addresses on the same subnet... do as follows: Mac: 1) Open System Preferences. 2) Go to Sharing pane. 3) Turn on Windows File Sharing. 4) Click the "Show All" button at the toop of the window. 5) Go to Network pane. 6) Select your interface (probably built-in ethernet). 7) Assign and IP address and subnet under TCP/IP 8) IP address: 192.168.1.1 9) subnet mask: 255.255.255.0 10) router address: 192.168.1.254 11) Click the "Apply" button. Windows XP: 1) Go to the control panels. 2) Select "Network and Internet Connections" 3) Click on "Network Connections" 4) Double-click "Local Area Connection" 5) Click the "Properties" button. 6) Click on "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" 7) Click the "Properties" button. 8) Choose "Use the following IP address:" 9) IP Address: 192.168.1.2 10) Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0 11) Default Gateway: 192.168.1.254 12) Click the "Okay" button. 13) Click the "Okay" button. 14) Click the "Close" button. Now... you should be able to see the two computers as though they are on the same network... If you wish to transfer files do the following: Windows XP: 1) Open a Windows Explorer window. 2) From the "Tools" menu, select "Map Network Drive" 3) Choose a drive letter... (any letter will work.) 3) Use the following address: \\192.168.1.1\(mac user short name) NOTE: To determine your Mac user short name, go to the System Preferences and select the Users pane. highlight your name and look on the right-hand side of the window for your short name. 4) Click "Connect using a different user name." 5) Enter your mac user short name and password. 6) Click the "Okay" button. 7) Click the "Finish" button. If you browse your computer using Windows XP, you should now see a network disk that corresponds to your user folder on the Mac.