How do I set up sharing between Macbook Pro and Dell Win XP laptops?

You have two options using Windows sharing/samba or using UNIX tools NFS.

Since you want the data transferred to the Mac, configure a share samba on the Mac, then access the share from the PC and transfer/copy the files.

Hi Arnold!

Thank you for the comment! Can you elaborate a bit more on how to configure a share samba? Apologies for my rookie question.

Thank you!

Hi Cassie,

Would you mind giving some other environmental information please?

XP Home or Pro?
Do you have a WiFi network that both laptops are connected to?

I've found in this situation that it's easier to connect from the mac to XP but i believe it needs to be XP Pro

@Rob,

That's a very good question. I believe it is XP Home.

Yes they are both connected to wifi.

@Strung --

I'll give it a shot tonight! Thank you!

If you can't work out the networking side of things and feel like a project... The other thing you can do is pull the hard drive out of the Dell laptop and put it in a hard drive caddy so it becomes a usb disk that you can just plug into the Mac, but I'm hesitant to suggest it unless you know what you're doing.
The Mac will be able to read the disk but may not be able to write to it (ntfs) but in your case that wouldn't be an issue.
Having said that, have you tried a Windows formatted external hard drive? The Mac should be able to read it even if it can't write to it

Hi Rob,

Ordinarily I love projects. However, I'd prefer to leave the surgery to the pro's in this case.

I haven't tried a Windows formatted external hard drive, but I suppose that will be my next move should the other answers fail me.

Thanks!!

Good idea!  Desktops are one thing but Laptops are a PITA when it comes to taking them apart.

What I do is put my laptop HDD 2.5 into an external 2.5 HDD enclosure USB then just copy everything over via USB, it's easy to take the HDD out unless  it is SSD then this does not apply.
I have two one for desktop and one for laptops very handy.
How to install a 2.5" SATA hard drive into an external enclosure ( video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLNv8RMzfjo
Enclosure types
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2693213/its-cheap-and-easy-to-make-your-own-portable-hard-drive-from-an-old-pc-drive.html
 2,5 enclosures at Jaycar 20 dollars
http://www.jaycar.com.au/IT-Products/Connectivity/Hardware/USB-2-0-External-2-5%22-HDD-Case/p/XC4681
Amazon 6.99
http://www.amazon.com/2-5-Inch-Aluminum-External-Enclosure-Silver/dp/B000UTQOEW
There is also a cross over cable /straight through cable
just connect both ends to each system through the ethernet cable or via a router here's the how to
http://www.wikihow.com/Connect-Two-Computers

Merete,

That's exactly what I suggested but Cassie doesn't want to go down that path of pulling apart a laptop and I don't blame her.

ah I didn't see your comment Rob.
Being a female myself I can assure her it's safe  and she is not pulling apart the laptop, each piece of hardware. video card  ram and HDD is in it's own hole with a lid over it.
Pulling a HDD out of laptop is very easy just 4 screws to take the lid off the HDD part disconnect the cable done!!
How to Remove Laptop Hard Drive (Dell Inspiron) Video) she can watch then decide if it's too scarry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQz0KmnXL8c

Hi Merete,

Thanks for your input!

My hesitation doesn't have to do with me being female, but rather my inexperience. I prefer to make the transfer convenient and with as few messes as possible.

In addition, I think there are easier ways to transfer the data without needing to take the hard drive out.

To robs point, make sure the group/realm is the same as the one on the Windows properties of computer, advanced system settings, computer name.

From the Windows system \\ipaddress\ and you should see the folder you shared based earlier guidance.

The other option depending on you r quantity of files is to use one drive MS, Dropbox, Google, apples cloud storage to transfer the copy of the data up from the Windows system and then retrieve ithe. On the Mac fr

The least hassle is a USB Flash Drive.  128Gb drive was $20 at Best Buy this week.  http://dealnews.com lists the best deals on storage as of NOW.

This site has illustrated steps for network connections between Mac and Win7 & 8.
http://www.digitalcitizen.life/how-share-os-x-folders-windows-7

This is Apple's directions  https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT1549

All versions of Windows XP have always had their "hidden" administrative drive shares enabled by default.  You have to go to the trouble to turn it off if you didn't want to share it.

You only need to have an account on your computer that's an Administrator (in the group Administrators) to access the default "hidden" XP share.  Go to your Mac Finder-->Go-->Connect to Server (or press Command k while your Finder is selected)
smb ://Windows_System_Name_or_IP_address/C$

It should prompt you for the account name and password.  As long as it's an administrator account, you'll be able to connect to the entire disk.  You user account files will be in the C$/Documents and Settings/Account_Name/ folder.

If your account is not an administrator account, you'll have to share a folder on Windows.  You should be able to right-click on the folder you wish to share to pull up the pop-up menu.  Then Select Sharing and Security(should be the 4th item). A dialog box will open up on the sharing tab.
The default share name will be the folder name.  Click Ok and you will have a read only share to Everyone.  You can click on the Permissions button to change the permissons.  The Everyone permission allows anyone to connect to the share.  You can remove Everyone and select your user account to restrict sharing to just your account.  After you're done, you should remove the share, especially if you've allowed Everyone.

To connect to your Windows XP share:
smb ://Windows_System_Name_or_IP_address/Share_Name
or
smb ://Windows_System_Name_or_IP_address
then select from the available published shares.

Just wanted to follow up and say I've had unrelated computer issues so I haven't been able to try these solutions yet.

Hopefully tonight!

Thank you so much for all of your help everyone! This was so easy and I'm glad to have it done :)