A network between a DOS machine and a Windows XP machine

[mysticsniper]

I'm not relly sure how to make this but that is why I asking this

My sister have some business but want to make some kind of LAN (there already one but with more newer equipment) but want to make another with a pretty old machine they use as cashregister that use some old crap DOS facturing program the technician there got and old ISA (old and discontined architecture)network card to put in this old 386 machine (since a newer one wont' work since they now are PCI). Im not sure but it seems he already installed it but he doesn't know well how to configure the protocols, Me either, but want some help from me since I used machines from the DOS days but In my DOS days was very rare the people who had a modem much less a network unless was a big company but without getting out of the topic the thing is this is it posible to network this old computer to a more newer laptop with windows xp? is the onemy sister had I don' t well how since in Windows XP like most people here knows Real DOS was ditched and making this old DOS program recognizes the networks under xp enviromnet that why I'm asking here I was thinking some program like VMware or something (the one I used to run Windows 3.0 & 3.1 on a Linux machine) but Im not sure but If remember well had options to networking and could help to install real DOS but I don't know really if I really could need real DOS and other problem Im not sure how make the network card from the newer laptop with xp run in with A DOS and recognize the network since a lot of now days hardware doesn't even have drivers for windows 98 much less for DOS

So any help appreciated

Thanks

 

[Teal]

Do you know which version of DOS the old PC is running and are you sure it is actually MS DOS as a number of old POS (point of sale) terminals ran other similar but not identical OS.

If you can get it working what are you going to use the network connection for anyway?

 

[mysticsniper]

The old pc has MS-DOS 6.20 or 6.22 If i rememeber well and the number of POS. I don't understand well that part you mean a wan or something like that not, Its just on the same building is only this crap old pc with her laptop what she wants and the laptop has windows xp

 

[Teal]

Mostly I'm trying to understand what she will do with the network link as there may be easier ways of doing what you want than setting up a network.

For example one of the many 'Laplink' clones and a suitable cable for file transfer may be an easier solution than fighting to get a full network link set up.

You will also need to be especially careful not to alter anything that may stop the cash register software working properly.