package to read files on network - xp os

Please describe in greater detail what you are trying to do, including the full and exact text of any error messages.

Is the problem that you can see the old Windows PC on the network from the Ubuntu computer but you cannot browse through the files on it, that you can browse through the files on it but you cannot access them (for example, you cannot copy them to your Ubuntu computer, even though you can see their names on your Ubuntu computer), or that you can access the files but you cannot *use* them on your Ubuntu computer?

If the latter, then is the problem that you cannot open your documents, or that you cannot run your programs? If the problem is that you cannot open your documents, please specify what kind of documents they are, and include the file extension (which is usually present, typically consisting of 2-4 characters after a . at the end of the filename). If doing so does not reveal private information, please provide the full filenames of some of the files you're trying (unsuccessfully) to open.

thank you for the response..

on new machine i see the network under network

when i try to open the icon with file browser - error message: "unable to mount location, failed to retrieve share list from server" and it stops here.

(on old pc side i have allowed for file sharing and being able to change files from another location on the network.)

I have tried various applications , ie open folder - error " could not display "smb://machiine name?"

so i can only see the other machine - as if i need a specific application to be able to look at the files ie explorer type.

in your words: Is the problem that you can see the old Windows PC on the network from the Ubuntu computer but you cannot browse through the files on it,

second challenge: i have downloaded drivers for canon lbp2900, extracted and installed via Synaptic.. now i see the printer, choose it, send printing to it and then it cues on printer but no printing?!

thanks

Your printer issue is entirely unrelated; you should start a new, separate question about that. You can do that by clicking https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/cups/+addquestion.

Do you have any actual shared folders on the Windows system. If not, try sharing a folder, and then try to access the shared folder. Then you can access it from Ubuntu with smb://machine-name/share-name where machine-name is replaced with the name of the machine and share-name is replaced with the name of the share.

Does the Windows system run a firewall? If so, what firewall software does it run, and is the software configured to allow Windows File Sharing?

Those ideas might not enable you to fix the problem; if not, please post again (with answers to the above questions).