I am trying to set up my home network (right now 2 computers) to connect to the internet and also connect to themselves. I need more than file sharing, and need something which would be similar to connecting 2 systems together for gaming. It is not a game, but close enough for our purposes here.

I have a dsl modem attached to a wifi router which I connect both systems to for internet. Standard.

Now I want to connect these systems together so they can talk, and access the internet as they are now.

I am also using Vista, but I can figure it out if you have XP instructions.

Can I just use a crossover cable to connect the systems together (does someone know where I can get this? Pantip?). Or am I going to need a hub? And is there something else I am going to have to change in the software?

Bonus question: Can I buy another wireless router and use that as a hub? Eliminating the need for messy wires all together?

Any answers are much appreciated!

I think you're making this more difficult than necessary.

If both systems are now connected to your wifi network and both can access the internet, then they can also connect to each other. Look up the IP addresses assigned to each computer. Turn off the firewall and try to ping each computer (with the firewall turned on, the computer won't respond to a ping).

If all that works fine, the connectivity is there. You just have to figure out what kind of communication you need for the application you have in mind and set that up to run over the existing network.