Direct Cable Connection

I have a laptop running Windows 98, Build 1998; setup as a Guest, and my desktop running Windows 98SE, Build 2222; setup as Host. The desktop fully recognizes the DCC but the laptop keeps sayiing it cannot connect. The cable is a Direct Connect cable which came with PCAnywhere 32. Both ends are connected snug and properly. Is it because it is drawing info. from a higher source to a lower target??