I'm new to Mac environment. Just bought the Powerbook 12" and trying to connect with my other Win Xp network and having problem. My mac is able to see the Windows share system computer name. But when I click to connect a pop out message "The alias 'computer name' could not be open because the original item cannot be found. But my windows also cannot see the Mac although I already set my Mac for sharing. Any Mac expert please help!

Dude, I had the same problem you had. I have 3 comps (1 mac and 2 PCs) all networked and it took me about half A DAY to fiugure this out: Well I can't guide you through it but I can shares ome pointerz: • MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE "WINDOWS SHARING" box CHECKLISTED "On" in the System Preferences/File Sharing on you MAC • Whatever you named your "Computer Name" in the FILE SHARING will be what you want to put in as the address in your WINDOWS system. (For Example; I named my computer "DOC" and, by default, all my files are stored in the "macuser" folder. So the address would be: \\doc\macuser) • Make sure you have a TCP/IP installe din both and that the info on both machines are EXACTLY THE SAME. I have it set on Automatic ALSO, one more tip; I simply notice the two are pretty stubborn when talking to eachtoher. But I've always had lesser issues when accessing my MAC FROM my PC. I dunno, let me know if that helps!

Do the above. Did you assign a work group? My Mac Mini shows in WinXP up under My Network Places Entire Network Microsoft Windows Network Workgroup MyUserName I then mapped my mac shared user directory as M: and can see it. What is disturbing is that I create a network/ workgroup called HOME and yet the Mac Mini insists on using the workgroup Workgroup. I am think about not fighting it anymore and just use the Windows and OS X default name Workgroup. I had no problems.

The alias thing tends to happen in windows networks where the windows boxes are administering dns the realiy is windows dosnt like to use dns it will use brodcast and wins first whenever the possiblity exists. set up a wins server and then download webmin http://www.webmin.com use it to config samba on your mac there is an option to use a wins server select this. dont elect to be a master browser because on some instances the mac can then distrupt things another added measure would be to add an entry to your host table Ive seen this before where a windows server is set up as the dns server and will resolve name but if you do an nslookup using that same server its lost... because its really using broadcast or wins there is a reg key you can edit to change this but cant remember what it is its in my notes at home good luck P.S the host entry is the quickest fix and using ip address as well