Can't connect to my Windows XP computer

Question

Everything worked flawlessly with the MacBook, but of course now that I bought the MacBook Pro and reformatted my MacBook, I can't get into my Windows XP computer. I turned off the Windows firewall to help in troubeshooting.
I get the message: "The alias __ could not be opened, because the original file cannot be found." I can either hit delete alias, fix alias, or OK.
It tells me I don't have sufficient privileges for deleting the alias, fix alias ask for me to choose which document I would like the alias to open (which is irrelevant because I want to connect to the Windows shared printer), and OK doesn't do anything.
Please help, I'm pulling my hair out over this issue.

Answer 1

If we could get some more information on the following:
Windows XP ??(pro or home?)
Anti Virus or Firewall applications installed (McAfee, Zone alarm, Norton, etc?)
Your goal: File and printer sharing? Having the new Macbook Pro access the Windows XP computers files and printer.
With Windows you have to setup the file and printer sharing wizard, so that it opens the ports on the computer to accept incoming commands from other computers.
To accomplish that, you do the following:
*Open up My Networking Places (by going to Start, then clicking My Networking Places)
*On the left hand panel (Network Tasks), click where it says "Set up a home or small office network"
*Follow the steps, hitting next
For the first option, you could select Other, then....
Select the option at the top "this computer connects thru network port, hub..."
*click next
*now, for the Workgroup name, you could put what you want for this. I'd prefer to have it named WORKGROUP, then click next
*then choose the option to turn on file and printer sharing, click next, and let it do its thing
*You might have to reboot after its done.
<====>
After doing that, now, on your Macbook:
*Open up Your Hard Drive -> Applications -> Utilities -> and open Directory Access
*Make sure the Lock is unlocked
*Double Click on SMB/CIFS
*In the Workgroup: type in the name of the workgroup you choose. In this case it was WORKGROUP
*Hit okay, and close out the program.
Now you should be able to click on your Network Icon, and you will see the windows xp computer name, and you will be able to click on it do what you wish.
As far as the printing, I am going to look into it. I know that the printer requires some drivers to print thru the different operating system.
What type of printer is it?