Stretched: Thanks for the info on ssh. I will try that on Compaq (VL7) when I dig it out again. On Dell (VL6), I have already set thunar up with thunar_share_plugin from info found in this forum - and it is working. WinXP can see not only the shares defined in Samba, but the ones added by Thunar. Compaq smbtree could only see the ones from Samba.
Nightflier: I've stayed away from kde as I'd heard it took a lot of resources. I will, however, try you suggestion.
BigPaws: I see a correction I need to make in fstab. Thanks. I was beginning to think about assigning a permanent ip to Dell, which I've already done with the Kodak printer. I hesitate to do that with the laptops, Gateway & Compaq, so that they can connect with other Wireless Access Points as I travel.
Thanks to all of you have a Merry Christmas (Happy Hanukkah, or whatever).
Bruce