I am not very computer savvy, but know enough to get by.  I am trying
to use "TightVNC" to link up to XP computers in my home that share an
ethernet connection.  Anyone have some basic step-by-step directions
for this -- from installation on?  I found the TightVNC documentation
confusing.

Since you have XP running on both computers, alternatively you can
also setup "Remote Desktop".  Which practically works the same.

http://www.tightvnc.com/winst.html

Has the most compact information. 

Basicly, you'll need to setup a server and a client. 

The server is the computer you want to access remotely.
The client is the computer which access the other computer.

After installing the server part, you'll need to make an entry for the
other computer, some kind of authentication. This can be the name of
the computer, or a password.

With the client, you can logon, using the ip of the computer on which
the server is running. Authenticate using the password (if necessary).

This is basicly the same for most VNC or Remote desktop programs.

May be you should use "RealVNC" (www.realvnc.com)! You can add it to
the System Services. So you can just connect with the Viewer (you have
just to put in the name of the computer, you want to connect to and
the connection get etablished if the server runs). You have just to
check the little box by the installtion "Install as System Service"!
After "Full Installation" on both PC's you've just to put - if you
want - in a Password.
Now you can start the Viewer from the Start Menu...

chfishch