Probably already answered but did not find a solution (checked forums), need help... Configuration: A) Laptop WinXP-SP2 B) Laptop Win98 C) Desktop Win2K-SP4 Network Problem: A can access and share resources with B and C. B and C can access and share resouces each other. B and C can ping and see in explorer A (icon-Network Neighborhood) but cannot access it. Error Message(s): from B: A is not accessible, network busy from C: A is not accessible, network name no longer available. Considerations: From B and C is possible to ping A also to successfully complete some "net xxx" commands. A, B, C belong to the same workgroup. A, B, C connect to a router and then to a DSL modem, connection to internet is fine for all. Changes before problem: Added C to the LAN (Desktop Win2K-SP4) Thanks in advance for helping luciano54b

1. Check the IP addresses of A, B, and C; make sure these are unique. 2. Check the netmasks. 3. Ping the adapter at 127.0.0.1 from each client. Ping the gateway address. 4. Disable firewalls on A, B, and C or ensure that IP range 192.168.0.1 through 192.168.255.255 is "local" or "trusted". 5. Enable file sharing on each machine. 6. Set up permissions on each client for the other clients (userid and password).

Thanks Orion for your hints. I checked again from your points 1 to 6 but no change, I disabled temporary firewalls in all systems, antivirus and nothing changed. I enabled the Guest account, it works for Win2K but not for WinXP, I looked for log files for troubleshooting, found nothing. The firewalls are set on every system to trust the zone 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.255.255. Ping is everywhere successful (systems and router). What else I really have no idea. I have the feeling that B and C do not resolve the "WORKGROUP" name even though explorer shows-up with all computers in the same workgroup in all three systems. The strange is that on A I got once the error message "... name no longer available..." (like on C, is permanent) while clicking on "View Workgroup Computers", this happened only once as I said. The other feeling I have is that this started to give me troubles, apparently, after installing the XP-SP2 and I'm struggling wherever and whenever I read something (magazines, forums, etc.) regarding some tweaking (registry) to avoid this problem (unless that's not my subconscious excuse to see the problem fixed). Any further sugest is HIGHLY welcome. luciano54b

Do you have Norton Internet Security on the XP? If you do try to disable the personal firewall. And then try it.It should work then. I am having the same problem. I am trying to share a printer between two XP pc and I had to setup a rule in NIS and turn of my firewall in OS and was able to do it.. I do have a router with a built in firewall but there has to be away around it in the OS.

Thanks Kris and sorry for the long time taken to answer. Anyhow, I do not have Norton Internet Security, but I found the solution in the Networking forum, that is, install on the XP system, Local Area Connection, the IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol and everything works except the W-98 to W-XP where I can ping the XP but I get a "Network Busy" error message when clicking in Network Neighborhood the icon relative to the XP machine. Still investigating and welcoming any sugest. luciano54b