Simple windows network

[Airmack]

I have 2 laptops, one is old, one is new. I want to transfer all files from old laptop to new lap top.

I have a router. I tried to connect both laptops via a cat5 but could not see each other. Do I have to set up a network with both lapotps from the router to share files?

Or is there a easy, faster way?

[glc]

Yep, just set them up in a simple peer-to-peer filesharing network. If the router is assigning IP addresses, all you have to do is plug each machine into a router switch port with a standard straight Cat5, put both machines into the same workgroup, enable file and print sharing, and share the drive on the old machine.