PC 2 PC via crossover question

ok, so i'm pretty much illiterate when it comes to networking and spent the good part of a week trying to get this notebook connected to my desktop using a crossover cable. they will communicatate fine now, but only when using a D-Link card notebook accessory. for some reason the connection will not work with the cable plugged into the built-in ethernet port on the laptop (it took me almost a week to figure this out).

does anyone know why the connection is achieved through the external card, but not through the built in port?
is there a way to test or fix it somehow?

both computers have Windows xp and service pack 2.

desktop pc:
gateway - some generic 2002 model
Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection (working)

notebook:
dell - inspiron 5100
Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller (not working)
D-Link DFE-690TXD CardBus PC Card (working)

 

Maybe it has something to do with automaticly detecting IP addresses. I would think it would be a simple matter of giving both computers static IP addresses (10.10.0.1, 10.10.0.2 or 192.168.0.1, 192.168.0.2)? Have you tried that? Also, windows firewall works on a per-adapter basis as far as I can remember. You can firewall 1 adapter, and leave the other completely open (someone please correct me if I'm wrong)

 

May be the Internal Network port is Not enable in the computer's BIOS.

The way to check network, http://www.ezlan.net/debug.html

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