kf6kmx

Didnt see that you mentioned, are you plugging the XP box directly into the Linux box without a hub/switch? If so, this may sound basic, but are you using a crossover cable? You didnt mention what network cards you have, a few of the new ones will handle the crossover on their own, but most dont. If the XP box is showing cable unplugged, its a hardware issue first. It will show the cable as connected, even without a working IP address.