"not responding" error when right clicking shared folder and netwo

Hello all. I am new to this forum and am hoping someone here can help me. I
just bought a M1710 XPS Dell with Vista Ultimate on it. I have an existing
network that has XP and 98SE on it. Everything (but the Vista cpu of course)
is networked through a Netgear router. I would like to connect the Vista to
the network so I can share files and I would also like to be able to print
with the networked printer. Here is my first problem. I have enabled
discovery, sharing, etc under the Network and Sharing options. I can see my
XP cpu but not the 98SE when i go to the My Network Places Add New Network
location setup. However, I can't connect to the XP at all or choose a folder
on the XP through the setup wizard. Also, I can see the vista cpu when
adding a new network location on XP, but can't see my "shared folder" I
created on the vista.
My first big problem is when I create a folder on the Vista and right click
on it and go to properties or sharing and then the sharing tab, the window
stops responding and I have to use task mgr to close it. Sometimes it hangs
for awhile and then looks like it is shared...but isn't. And sometimes I
receive a COM Surrogate error. I have disable most of my startup progs in in
msconfig on the Vista...however, none of them seem to have antying to do with
networking. All of my services are enabled.
Can anyone help? I have downloaded all available Vista updates and have
followed alll of the instructions on MS Vista networking site found here
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/net.../vista_fp.mspx

Someone please help!!!!

Mark