How do I simply connect my Viao PCG-TR2MP subnotebook to my Dell
Dimension 8300 (both very recent & running Windows XP) so that I can
transfer files from one to the other? I know nothing about networks.

Hi goodyear-ga,

Good day and thanks for your question.

To connect two computers, you don't need a router or switch. All you
need is an ethernet crossover cable.

Start by going to Control panel. Double-Click on Network and click on
the Identification tab. Give both computers a unique name. Chose a
Workgroup name and use the same name on all computers. The computer
description can be anything you want it to be. Next, click on 'Access
Control' tab, and select 'Share-level access control'.

Next click the Configuration tab. Highlight TCP/IP for your network
card and click on properties. Select 'specify an IP address' and enter
an IP address of the form 192.168.aaa.bbb (e.g. 192.168.0.1). Subnet
mask is 255.255.255.0. For the other machine, give an IP of the form
192.168.aaa.ccc (note, 192.168.aaa is the same for all machined. It is
the last 3 characters which are different).

Next click on DNS Configuration and Enable DNS .For Host enter the
name you gave this machine in the first step under the Identification
tab. On the other machine, use the unique name given to it from step
one. Enter 192.168.0.1 into the field with the dots and click the add
button. Use this same number for all machines in the network.

Thats it! Your computer should show up in 'My Network Places'

If you have any clarifications, please don't hesitate to ask. I will
be more than willing to help you.

Thank you for using this service and have a nice day

Regards,
Aditya.

Network and simple don't really go together since you said that you
don't know anything about networking the best you can do is buy a
router ($100) and some cables and let the hardware do the work for
you.

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=295685&pfp=SEARCH

Assuming both computers have USB (universal serial bus) connections,
you can buy a special USB lead that will connect 2 computers together
(ordinary USB leads are designed to connect a computer to a
peripheral, so won't do this job).

A UK supplier of one device is:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/products/module.asp?moduleno=25600

They are quite widely available from a number of manufacturers. 

Alternatively, you could use a USB 'pen drive' as an overgrown floppy
disk to move files. They are also widely available in a number of
capacities. Under XP you probably woudl not even need to install a
driver. An example is
http://www.maplin.co.uk/products/module.asp?moduleno=30725

Owain

uhm aditya the poor guy said he knows nothing of networking , and you
want him to setup his own network. in his case a router is the way to
go