To Connect a Computer to a Shared Drive

In Windows XP, start Windows Explorer (Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> Windows Explorer).

Open the Tools Menu, and Select “Map Network Drive”

The Map Network Drive window will appear

Select a drive letter from the Drive drop down list 

In the Folder Box, type   \\ <machine name>\<share name>

If you are on a corporate network and you need to use a different user name & password to connect othe remote machine,  

Click on the “Different User Name” item underlined and the “Connect As” window will appear.
In the User name field type your provided user name
In the password field type your password
Now Click the OK button on the Connect As window 

 

Click the Finish Button on the Map Network Drive window.  

A new drive should appear in Windows Explorer (which ever drive letter you selected above).  Now it’s connected.

Words of caution.   If in the Map Network Drive window, the box “Reconnect At Login” is checked, every time the computer starts up, an attempt to connect to the drive will be performed.  If the machine is not available, a message will be displayed basically stating that the machine could not be found and it will ask if you want to connect to the drive in the future.  When this happens, answer that you DO want it to keep attempting to connect.