How to network XP and Mac OS X

Here's the procedure you need to follow:

1. Make sure you know the local IP addresses assigned to both the XP and Mac computers (for XP, go to Start | Run and type cmd, then type ipconfig. For OS X, go to Applications | Utilities | Terminal (run app) and type (for wired): ipconfig getifaddr en0 or (for wireless): ipconfig getifaddr en1
2. Make sure the XP user account has a password set.
3. Put the Mac in the same workgroup as the XP machine. On the Mac, go to Applications | Utilities | Directory Access and open Directory Access. Click the icon in the left bottom corner to make changes. Enter your password. Make sure SMB checkbox is checked. Click SMB and Configure, and enter the name of the Windows workgroup.
4. Make sure you have a shared folder on the XP computer.
5. On the Mac desktop, go to the Finder menu and click Go | Connect to Server.
6. In the Server Address box, type in smb:///
7. In the Workgroup/Domain box, type in the name of the XP PC.
8. In the Username and Password boxes, type in the credentials for the account with which you're logged onto the XP computer. Click OK.
9. This will mount the shared folder as a network drive on the Mac desktop and you can access its files.