If you haven't installed your network card, do it now. No instructions for that provided here as you shouldn't have too many problems installing it unless you're Frog =)
Download the network files you'll need and install them in this order: vtcpup11.exe, vipup11.exe, ws2setup.exe, msdun13.exe (of course, the DUN is optional). You'll have to reboot your computer after ws2setup and msdun13.
Go to Start Menu -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Network and remove the new virtual private networking options that have been installed. Now comes the annoying parts.
Also in the Network setup, make sure that TCP/IP and IPX/SPX are attached to your network card (screenshot). If not, click the "Add" button, select Protocol, then select Microsoft, then whatever protocol you don't have.
Delete any protocols besides TCP/IP and IPX/SPX from your network card. This is important because using NetBEUI or any other protocol can slow down the network seriously.
If you don't have "File and Print Sharing" enabled (you can see it is in the previous screenshot), click that button and select "I want to be able to give other access to my files" (screenshot).
Now, double-click the IPX protocol attached to your network card. In the "NetBIOS" tab, the checkbox should be cleared. Leave it that way and click on the "Advanced" tab. Leave all of these alone except for "Frame Type" which you should set to "Ethernet 802.3" (screenshot).
OK that and then double click the TCP/IP protocol attached to your network card. In the "IP Address" tab, you will need to set up your IP address. Pick a number between 1 and 255 (not 1-3, these are taken), and hope that no-one else chooses the same number (if not, no worry, because you can always change it).
Now, click the "Specify an IP address" button and change your IP address to 192.168.0.x, where x is the magic number you selected, and set your subnet mask to 255.255.255.0. It should look like this. OK it.
You will also need to set up your "Identification" when you get to the lan party, but you can't set that up now because the Workgroup name is as yet undecided.
Anyhow, everything's set up now. OK it, wait for it to set up the drivers (it might ask you for the Windows 95 CD, if so, tell it to look in C:\Windows\System, if it doesn't find it choose C:\Windows, and as a last resort insert the CD) and you're on your way.
