NT cross-cable networklink to XP

Hi all, repeated request.

I have an NT4 SP6 laptop. I'd like to bring data from that laptop to an XP Home SP1-ish laptop via a cross-cable. (SP1-ish because I refuse to download SP1 as published recently because it gives so much trouble, my updates are a bit older, from before the all-in-one package.) Thus far I have failed to be able to create the right settings. Despite what the wizard says, I especially do not want to upload the XP CD on to the NT laptop because I do not trust what it will change to the setup of the OS, which is already quite delicate as it is. So I tweaked with TCP-addresses, but as said I failed. If necessary I can also use a hub/router, but the cross-cable solution seemed so elegant that I wanna go for that one first. Plus it's cheap, and it's only a one time action. Any good ideas? Anyone maybe able to give me a detailed checklist so it will work as described? I'm an advanced user, so don't be afraid to go into tech details.

Tx in advance, Harry