Hello all. I am PRETTY new to the scene of Ubuntu and linex. I have learned much about the systems from using the OS as my MAIN operating system, but i still have some questions.

I have a 1 TB external hard disk that i have plugged into a Dell Inspiron 1525 running Ubuntu Desktop 11.10 64 bit, and i am trying to share that disk across the network, primarily to another dell Inspiron model, 1526. The network is wireless, and the two laptops are sitting in my workstation both plugged into external displays for dual monitors on each. I would like to share the 1 TB drive, but all the options i have tried thus far end in the result of me finding the shared folder on the hard drive, and when i try to connect to the folder, a popup tells me that ubuntu was unable to mount to location.
I have tried two meat methods for the sharing, but NEITHER worked. and neither i remember the names for

Secondly, i have an HP Deskjet F4180 plugged into the same Inspiron 1525 LAPTOP. through a USB connection. My question with this one is how do i share it across the network to the Inspiron 1526 that is sitting across the desk.

All help appreciated, thanks. If the external hard drive will permanently be connected, I would do the following: mount it at boot (through /etc/fstab); share it using Samba, if it's a Windows network or through NFS is it's a Linux network.