Newb XP network question

[Mike (guest)]

I've never worked with windows networking and I'm trying to set up 3 PCs using XP pro to all talk to eachother.


I'm more familiar with the Mac OSX networking, so I'll tell you what I do on them and hope that someone will help me figure out how to make the PCs behave the same way.

I have 3 macs which are all connected to my wireless linksys WRT54G router.  I have a user account on all 3 computers.  At one point, I enabled "allow computer to be seen on local network".  So from any of the macs, I can just go to Networks/local and then see the other two computers.

When I click on the computer I want, it asks me to sign in as a guest or as a specific user.  If I sign in as a guest, I have access to only one folder (public/drop box) and can drop files in without seeing the outcome... but they get transfered.  When I sign in as my User Name, I am granted access to everything I have access to on that computer as if I'm sitting right in front of it.

How do I do that on PCs?

Currently, I have three PCs running on the same Workgroup but cannot see any of them from the other computers.  I have a log in account on each one.  I have all my firewalls off and turned of windows IFP (internet firewall protection).

My problem is that I don't know what I'm trying to do (in windows terms).  I've been searching the web for guides and faqs, but I'm not trying to just share one folder here and there.  I don't want things avaliable to everyone on the network.  Just the users and their specific items on the 3 computers.

Thanks for any guidance.

Mike

[Guest_Mike]

Still stuck.

Can't figure out why I can't see the other computers in the workgroup.

I also can't figure out how I can make it so I share ALL the files on the systems, but ONLY to the admin who logs in from another computer.

[Guest]

Also...

My workgroup is called NetworkPC and all three computers have names and belong to the same workgroup.

Unfortunately at this point, the computers don't see each other (I have made sure every firewall is off too).

And when I get to the sharing of folders... I just want to have complete access (since it is all admin accounts). Do I just share my HD and that should take care of it? I want to make sure that I have to "log in" from any computer (because some of them have other users). And a guest login with access to a public folder would be nice.

Any more thoughts from anyone would be great.