Look at these resources for the basics:

www.homenethelp.com

www.practicallynetworked.com

You are basically creating a Peer to Peer network.  Each will be in the same workgroup, with a static IP, and shared drives.

 

If you just want to network 2 computer together then all you need is a cross over cable.  WinXP has a networking wizard that will help you set up the network.  If you want to have both computers share access to a cable/DSL modem then you might consider getting a cable/DSL router and regular Ethernet cables

I just want to connect the 2 computers together so I can exchange files.  I have a wireless internet connection so to connect is no problem.  Only connecting them together seems to be hard.  they don't seem to give acces to one another. 

Put the wireless adapters in Ad Hoc mode (which is the same as a wired crossover cable) and turn off the XP firewalls.

Where does the cross over cable connect  too each computer,I have a Dell 8300 with XP and a Gateway 500 with win.98.

 

Thanks

Peppie1

 

The crossover cable goes into the Ethernet jack of the NIC card on each computer.  You then need to setup the network connections through the Control Panel on each machine.

What you want to do is if you want to share files over a small network and you share the same internet you could consider on getting a Cable/DSL braudband router.  What that does is smartly routes the shared internet connection to each computer that is connected.  Also what it does is it alows 2-way transfer for shared printers, scanners, etc. and files.  But if you just want to share files between two computers you could just take a serial connecter and hook it up to each computer. 

If you have any questions just e-mail me at compwizpro2000@yahoo.com.