Troubleshoot Mac mini LAN

Question

I have a LAN consisting of Mac mini (10.4.5) and an iMac G3 (9.2.2) plus a G3 MT and a windows machine and laserjet printer, all connected via ethernet and a Linksys router and to internet (all wired).
When first getting the new Mac mini the Network connected to my iMac without me doing anything that I recall. Now I have lost connection to the iMac and I don't know how to troubleshoot the problem.
(Ignore the other computers in this "incomplete" LAN hookup. I have never been able to get the iMac to communicate to Mac mini because of "invalid password," but that's another problem I'm not concerned with now.)
I simply want to correct whatever happened that the Mac mini no longer connects to the iMac. I've switched around ethernet connections on the router but that had no effect. AppleTalk is active via ethernet in the iMac control panel. When I run Network connect, the iMac is greyed.
I am at a loss where to look next.
G3 MT & iMac & Mac mini   Mac OS X (10.4.5)   Mac mini OSX4.4.5 & iMac & G3 OS9.2.2

Answer 1

pwwwayne - Good to stick to one issue!
OK - how do you mean connect?
Apple File Sharing? (Or remote log in or windows file sharing or ???)
Turn off AppleTalk everywhere - it's no longer needed unless your LaserJet only speaks AppleTalk and nothing else.
I'll assume File Sharing between OSX machines - so please have a look at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106461 for some general tips. Yes it is long, but you most likely can narrow it down to this:
Enable File Sharing on one mac - Sharing preference pane (note the connect address)
On the other mac - Finder -> Go -> Connect to server (Apple K) and paste in the connect address.
You should get a window to log in - just choose guest and you should see the public folder.
If you have bad passwords - open Keychain Access and delete all the passwords for the share server that isn't working and test them again before saving them in the key chain.