goryhill,
try this...
1. make sure in the win9x PC ...
GOTO Control panel
Network
Configuration tab
Click file and print sharing.
make sure you have checked the two boxes ( where appropriate)
"I want to be able to give others access to my files"
"I want to be able to allow others to print to my printer(s) "
click OK
click OK
reboot....
GOTO MY COMPUTER...
right click the hard drive
choose SHARING
click shared as
choose full (for now) you will want to change this later for security reasons while you are ON LINE ( connected to the internet)
click ok
close all windows
On the XP PC
GOTO Control panel
select Network connections
left column
choose setup a home or small office network
follow the prompts in the networking wizard
this is generally clear and the simplest way to complete a shared connection to your other computer
you may get a warning, ignore it for now.
when you finish
it will ask you to run a file to set up the other computers in your home network
choose you do not need to for now ( already done )
reset the XP pc
GOTO Start and choose my network places
you should now see the win 9X pc in the new window offering Drive C as a shared
resource.
you can work from the XP pc and move files to and from the win 9X pc or,
print to the win 9X's printer( providing it has one)
sharing the XP pcs folders and files is a bit more work
should you choose to share ant files drives etc from the XP pc
you will be repeatedly warned of security violations.
you may ignore this as long as you are NOT connected to the internet.
in order to stay brief
may I suggest a visit to your local book store
there are several good books for novice and beginners
on file and printer sharing in windows XP available.
never feel badly about having to buy a book.
I have been working with computers for 10 years, and I still buy the books with " for the complete idiot" in the title.
good luck to you. I hope I have helped.
I may be contacted at
saint_croix_fx@ameritech.net
Should you need further details solving this problem?
I will be happy to add my input
ps
"every time something stops working, they blame me"