Originally Posted by
LIH Prem
It sounds like the one running xp is the router. It has a usb connection to the internet (via some sort of modem, what type of modem, we don't know) and I guess it also has a wired interface that can export it's internet connection.
-David
If that's it, the OP will need a cross-over cable if she's connecting the two laptops via an ethernet cable. She'll also have to configure the XP machine to allow a shared internet connection which, if I recall correctly, may be difficult if the machine is pulling an IP address from the modem/ISP.