PC to PC connection

Is there a way to connect my PC and notebook sitting next to each other on my desk, without a router? Each has an ethernet card, and both are running XP-Pro. My goal is to access the hard drives of both PCs from one PC. That's all.

I know this is a beginner question, and I did a lot of searching and reading, but could not find an answer other than advertisements for products.

Thanks for some help.

Okay, I ordered a crossover cable and it is in place now, connecting the 2 PCs together.

The XP "New Connection Wizard" gives me 3 choices for connecting 2 PCs...

1. Smart Link 56K Voice Modem
2. Infared Port
3. Direct Parallel

None of these is an ethernet crossover cable.

How should I proceed?

Thanks.

The word how comes to mind. A beginners forum this is not.

---edit---

I got some kind of networking going. Problem is that it slows the response time of my PC when bringing up the file-explorer from .1 seconds to minutes. Can't have it. Good experiment, now I know I can connect my PCs.

Should I try a USB networking connection next? Is it fast, or just like Ethernet?

Is there any way to get around clicking on a "networking" folder, and the hour-glass coming on for 60 seconds? I'd rather use a floppy sneakernet.

Thanks.