hi guys id realy appreciate some help please, iv been working on this for days.

i have connected two of my computers (both runnning on xp pro) with a cross-over ethernet cable.
i keep getting the 'a network cable is unplugged' sign on both of them, the little lights on the ends of the cable wont even come on.

the hardware is fine because if i change it to the modem cable it works but when i try to use my network card for connecting to the other computer it doesn't work.

when i tried connecting the cross-over to a laptop it worked but it doesn't with my other computer, can someone please help me please!!!

PS.ive even tries changes the hardware slot, installing and uninstalling everything, and even tried changing the the card into the other computer.