Can I use a network cable to connect two computers to share files?

[Elliot B.]

I'm not sure if it's a crossover cable or a normal one.

 

If it's the wrong type that I need, I do have a switch. Can I use that in the center?

[giantpotato]

Pretty much all recent NICs support automatic crossover so the cable doesn't matter anymore, but if both cards don't support it you would need a crossover cable.

[sc302 Veteran]

You only need one out of the two cards to support it.

[farmeunit]

If you've got a switch, use it.  Then it won't matter.

[trek]

If one is NIC gigabit then yes it will work regardless of cable type.

[Nilus]

I haven't come across a nic in years which didn't support automatic crossover.

So you can just hook up both PCs with an ethernet and set a static IP on each, for example 10.0.0.1 and 10.0.0.2 and you should be able to copy files by connecting by the other machines IP.

[Xahid]

I have connected 2 Servers having gigabit NIC with crossover cable Cat6, & they are working fine. (I didn't know you can use straight cable for giga NIC)

[UseLess]

If you put a switch in the middle, but there is still no DHCP (e.g. router, windows server, etc) on the network, then its the same as connecting directly (unless you need to connect more than 2). Plug 'em together, assign a static IP to each (as per Nilus' suggestion) and bob's your uncle!

 

I would attempt to access the computers by IP, not name...just to be sure. so \\10.0.0.1 rather than \\home_pc.