[EBH]

Hi
This might be a stupid question, but I just got my first Mac, a macbook. Both this and my XP desktop is connected to the internet via the same wireless broadband router. Usually networking goes smoothly, but being completely new to OS X, the question is simply, how do I connect to the XP computer on my network?
Thanks!
P.S. What do you think is the best way to get to know Tiger? Something I have to read or just get there along the way?

[d00d]

It depends on how you want to connect. If you mean file sharing, any Windows shares you create should show up on your MacBook in the Network area in the Finder.
I think the real operative question I'd ask you is: what do you want to do?

[Spectre51]

Here is what I suggest doing.
On the Mac go to Finder->Applications->Utilities->Directory Access
Click on the lock to enable changes to be made. Highlight SMB/CIFS then click configure.
Where is says Workgroup change that to be the same as the workgroup your PC is on. Close that window and click apply.
No you can open the Finder on the Mac ad click on the Network icon. Give it a second and then you should see the PC's name show up in the Finder window. From there you should be able to hit connect and it will ask you for the username and password to connect to your Windows share. Once you put that info in and hit okay it will mount that volume on your desktop.
If you have any questions let me know and I will help you out more.

[ajbaron]

I've been following along, 'cause this is just what I've been trying to do for the past few days, connect my iMac 24 to my Dell. I've done just what you've said and all goes well until I try to connect to the Dell. I get an error message "The alias "mydell" could not be opened, because the original item could not be found. I'm then given three choices, OK, Fix Alias or Delete Alias. It won't let me delete and fix brings me to Main Identity.If I try to delkete, it tells I do not hjave sufficient privilides for "mydell". Any Ideas.

[Spectre51]

So your Dell is set to the same workgroup that you set your mac to right? Did you enable windows sharing and setup a share on a specific folder?

[ajbaron]

Sorry for the delay, just came back from dinner. Well, on the Dell I've enabled sharing on the files I want to share with the Mac. I've tried to connect from the Mac using the method on Apple's website under switch 101, migrate your files network connection. One question I have is when I use the format smb://Servername/Sharename, exactly what is Servername and Sharename? The workgroup on the Dell is MSHOME. I'm not certain what the workgroup on the Mac is.

[Spectre51]

servername would be the name of the PC. Sharename is the name of the share you setup on the PC. Meaning say you have a music folder and in the sharing preferences on Windows you named that share music. so your connnection would read smb://servername/music
To check the workgroup of the mac open finder -> applications -> utilities -> Directory Access -> Click the lock to enable changes to be made then slick on SMB/CIFS and hit configure. From there change Workgroup to be the same as the Dell's workgroup. Hit apply and then you can try going into the finder under Network and connecting to your dell.

[ajbaron]

I've tried everthing you listed, all to no avail. The workgroup for both the Dell and the Mac is MSHOME. Windows won't let me rename the shared music anything less than mymusic. When I try to connect using Finder->Go->Connect to Server I'm told "The Finder cannot complete the operation because some data in "smb://mydell/MyPictures" could not be read or written. (error code -36). When I try to connect through Network->mshome->mydell->Connect I get the error message "The alias "Mydell"could not be opened because the original item cannot be found. I'm given three choices, (OK) (FIX ALIAS) (DELETE ALIAS). When I try to delete alias, I'm told "The operation cannot be completed because you do not have sufficient privileges for"Mydell". If I try to Fix Alias I'm brought to Main Identity, and at that point I'm lost.

[Spectre51]

On the windows machine go to the folder you want to share. Right click on it and click properties. Go to the sharing tab. You should have Share this folder on the Network checked. Below that you can type the name of the share correct? Does your screen look that way?
BTW you have Windows XP right?
At the bottom of that sharing tab y ou should see something that says. Windows Firewall is configured to allow this folder to be shared with other computers on the network. Do you see that or not?
Oh BTW does your windows user account have a password assigned to it? This error can happen if you don't have a password for the winxp box.

[ajbaron]

Sorry for the delay, my Dell still has issues. Yes it is XP and no I don't have a password assigned, one of the issues we're trying to address. I cannot get into my Dell from my Mac, but I can get into my Mac from my Dell. Sounds good except I can't copy and paste, only copy, once I go to where I want to paste, paste is not shown, another Dell issue I'm working on. When I right click on a file in the Dell that I want to share with the Mac, the box opens with the various choices, including Send to. I open Send to and I'm give the choice of Compressed folder, Desktop, Mail Recipent, My Documents, 3 1/2 Floppy (A:) or CD Drive (F:). I'm trying to find a work around until we can try and address the "issues" the Dell has, if possible. Ideas?

[Spectre51]

Okay to connect to the Dell from your PC you need to put a password on the user account you are using. Try that then let me know if it still doesn't work.
How are y ou accessing the Mac from the Dell? My Network Places? I don't think yo will be able to use the Send To dialog box to copy anything over to the Mac. You can though mount the mac share on teh PC. Right click on My Computer and go to Map Network Drive. Select the drive letter you want to assign then click browse. Search under the My Network Places until you find the Mac share you want to connect to. Once you hit okay than drize will then show up under My Computer.

[ajbaron]

I have an idea I'm not going to be able to share files with the Mac until I am able to set privileges and get a password on the Dell, eventhough I'm seeing and getting into the Mac from the Dell. I'm getting into the Mac through My Network Places, I'm just not able to move anything anywhere except to my A or F drive. I'm wondering how I can add Y Drive to that menu, as Y Drive is my Mac.

[Spectre51]

To map a drive on the PC to the Mac Right click on My Computer -> Map Network Drive -> Select Y as he drive letter then hit browse to locate the Mac share. Hit finish then that drive should be visible in My Computer.
Once you set a password for the user account on the PC you should be able to connect to the PC from the Mac.

[ajbaron]

Tonight, we try to correct the Dell problems, I hope, then swap my photos and music to the Mac. Tada.