Can't seem to set up home network

[Rockpig]

Hi all again!
I've got a fairly new desktop PC with XP Home(oops) and my partner has an old notebook with 98. The cable socket is in the room where the laptop is, so that is where the Belkin router is. The set up is: cable into ISP supplied Surfboard modem, cable from modem into router, ethernet cable from router to laptop and the desktop connects to the router via wireless card. Both computers have a very healthy internet connection regardless of whether the other one is turned on or off.
I've been tearing my hair out trying to set up a network so we can share files (the desktop has lots of hdd space). I've tried the network setup wizard - desktop via wiress network setup, changing the settings on the laptop as per instructed (both computers have the same workgroup name and have individual names). I read a tutorial (working with TCP-IP) which advised manually changing the IP on the laptop (rather than have it automatically chosen) and all that happened was it lost the internet connection so I changed it back to auto.
Now, I'm sure there is something really basic I'm not doing and I would really appreciate it if someone could talk me through it or direct me to a step by step tutorial if one exists. The zip drive method of transferring files is just painful.
Thanks very much!

[degsy]

What happens when you try to connect to the network?
Have you allowed the network through the firewalls?

[Rockpig]

When i go to Network places, the laptop with 98 has the workgroup icon but only itself showing. The XP doesn't have any mention of the workgroup in my network places (but I checked in system - computer to make sure it was still named). I've tried to search for computer on both machines, giving the names I've assigned but there are no items to view.
Regarding the firewalls I've allowed file and printer sharing on both machines. Is that what you mean?

[z1p]

Have you shared a folder on each machine?
Make sure that the 'Computer Browser' service is running on the XP machine.
Can the machines 'ping' each other by name or IP address?
BTW - what firewall are you using?

[Rockpig]

Sorry for delay - working!
Yes there is a shared folder on both machines.
I looked for "computer browsing" but didn't know where to look sorry.
The XP can ping the router and the 98, the 98 can ping the router and the XP using IP addresses. The XP can ping the 98 by name but the 98 can't ping the XP by name.
We've both just got the standard OS firewalls.

[z1p]

Go to 'Control Panel"->"Administrative Tools"->Services, the 'Computer Browser' service should be listed there, make sure it is not disabled. What firewall are you using on the XP machine? For testing purposes try without the firewall on.

[Rockpig]

You guys are legends!
The problem was with the computer browser service: it was disabled because server and workgroups were also disabled so I started the other two and then started computer browser and Bob's yer uncle! The other computer is there shining like a beacon across the sea.
Haven't tried to share files yet coz its time to go to work here but I'm sure it will work.
Thanks very much again!