ok so I got this working. it was so easy once you guys said to just use the ip. on the client laptop, I just mapped a drive to //192.x.x.x/C$ and clicked the "connect as different user" and entered the user name and password of the main user on the "server" box. all cool. was able to browse folders and play streaming audio.
Problem: everytime the laptop reboots (and is connected to the home network) it asks for the password to connect to the network drives. (it claims it changed or something) anyone know whats going on?
i get sort of a related problem like this every once in a while, instead of trying to figure out why win2k gives me such garbage, i create an account on server (the one you are mapping a drive to) that has the same exact username and password on the client. The client automatically tries your currently logged in uname and pw when accessing restricted shares. The other way around this is to allow Guest no password access (security risk without a firewall/router)
pee on it
that never works at my house...stupid B vitamins