Sharing files Win98 to XP???

Hi Gurus,
Given two computers, a Laptop with XP Home and an old desktop with Win 98, (ya
know it may be 95... have to look again tomorrow, I am only "pretty sure" it's
98) R-45 Ethernet cable, and a D-Link DI-624 router, can I enable file sharing,
and if so how? Do I even need the router? I tried it without the router, just
the cable between the two, but was unsuccessful. The appropriate folder is set
up for sharing, and I told them to join the same workgroup, but no joy.
The reason for this effort is to copy some files from the desktop which are too
big for a 3 1/4" floppy, which is the extent of the secondary storage technology
available there. I thought of using Hyperterminal but if I would rather go with
Ethernet if I can, and I would think that I should be able to do it, but I just
don't know how.
Thank You,
-plh


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Where are we going and why am I in this HAND BASKET??