If you're planning on shared folders via ethernet, and you've set up suitable IP addresses, then you make the shared drive on the win98se machine, and you map to it on the win11 machine.

I can purchase the cable but need to know how to set up the IP addresses.

I just Googled it and found information for Win98 but not Win11. 🙁

I just found https://www.pcworld.com/article/2191054/windo … -a-network.html but don't know how to access the properties specified near the beginning of the page. 🙁

I don't have windows 11 (microsoft won't let me put it on an old computer), but I assume it would be similar to windows 10.

Start, Settings (little cogwheel), Network & Internet, Change Adapter Settings, your adapter will be listed, right-click and choose Properties.

Turn everything off, then turn on File and Print Sharing, Internet Protocol Version 4, and any Link-Layer Topology things.

Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4, you get the page where you can enter your IP address and subnet (leave everything else off/blank). IP address must be the same first 3 numbers with the last number different between the 2 computers (eg 192.168.1.10 for one computer, and 192.168.1.11 for the other one). The subnet mask must be 255.255.255.0 on both computers.

There's an important thing with ethernet cables. If you plan to directly plug one cable from one computer to the other, you need a crossover cable. The more common way with standard cables is to use a spare hub, switch, or gateway/router, and use 2 cables one for each computer going to the switch or whatever. No need for an internet connection.

One last thing is to make sure that both computers are in the same Workgroup. I use WORKGROUP, but you can use anything you like. This setting is in the same place where you set your computer name, which must be different for each computer.

It seems to be slightly different in Win11, as I don't see some of the options listed in your first step. 🙁

It was only slightly different--just a slight renaming--and I was able to find the settings. I made the settings changes to my Win11/64 laptop but don't have the wire for the Win98SE tower. I can get it from a 99 Cent store. What kind of cable do I need? I'd prefer a direct connection but don't want to lose the internet, and all my Win11/64 laptop's USB ports are in near-constant use.

just burn the stuff to dvd+rw.

I can transfer the stuff using flash drives, if that's what you mean. I have a problem: the Win98SE tower is not working properly: once I log on, when I start opening folders, I keep getting Exception 0E errors. 🙁 DOS mode works properly, though, but without sound. 🙁