PC not broadcasting

[Jus S]

I'm trying to get all my data off my 2nd pc, so I can reformat the computer and give it to my folks. The problem is that the one PC won't broadcast, even though it picks up the network. My macs can see each other, and can see the PC over the router, but can't access any of the drives--I already used this method to take all the important data off the other PC.

HP zd8000. I've tried the network thing three different ways: 1) set up my own home network through PC--unfortunately, none of the macs can see it this way, 2) set up a network from my mac--when PC tries to add the location \\192.168.x.x\Macbook, it says the location is invalid, even though the macbook's address is set up to share files (I even ... Read Moretried using FTP, and it wouldn't work), 3) tried to share my PC shared folder and personal folders, but since the zd8000 seems not to be broadcasting, the folders never show up on the network (none of the folders are private). It's kind of funny, because when I stick in the other HD for the zd8000, everything worked fine, and I took all the files I needed directly through the network. I suppose I could burn all the stuff to disc and transfer it that way, but there's a lot of information: music, pictures, movies, comics, documents that needs to be transferred--that's why I prefer the network approach: simply copy all files and walk away.

Any suggestions?

[Apostropartheid]

Which OS is this? Vista? With Vista, you have to give permissions for other computers to access files.

[Jus S]

He's using Mac OS 10.5.5 and Windows XP (SP 3). Sorry it took so long for me to reply. I had to wait for him to respond.

Honestly nothing seems to be working, but I can't figure out what is causing the hold-up. My Objective: set up a network over the router that allows my Mac (OS 10.5.5) to talk to my PC (XP SP3). I have two hard drives (HD) for my PC, and one of them (old) works just fine--allows setting up of network, shares folders, etc. The other one (new) doesn't show up on the current network, can't establish a windows network that the Mac can see, and can't allow me to set up the Mac's IP as a network place even though I've set the Mac to filesharing via network or FTP. Due to this reason, I assume the PC is not broadcasting to the network, but that may not be the case. Both the PC and the Mac is getting internet service, and both computers can be seen through the router interface. Why won't the Mac and the PC (new HD) talk to each other?