unable to see network

[Sam]

Hi, I am on a University network, but am unable to browse the network on one
of my computers. It browses the web fine, and all programs can connect to
the internet. However, when I click on "entire network" it doesn't find any
computers. Similarly, when I click on "computers near me" I get the message:

Workgroup not accessible: Network path cannot be found.

I have tried changing the computer name and the workgroup, I have switched
off Zonealarm, I've upgraded my OS from Windows ME to Windows 2000 (hard
drive too small for XP), but nothing has worked. I have used it connected
directly to the socket, and through a hub/switch with another computer, it
doesn't find the network in either case. However, the second computer (on
windows XP) finds other network computers through the switch or with a
direct connection. It does not see the first computer when that one is
connected though.

I have run out of ideas, can anyone help?

My system is:

Pentium III 433
128Mb RAM
Windows 2000
Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC

The BIOS is quite old (1999) but I don't know who the motherboard
manufacturer is so I can't get an upgrade. I only know that it is:

Award Modular Bios v6.00PG, with Intel 440BX/ZX rev 3 chipset

Could this be a cause of the problem? And if so does anyone know how I get
hold of a BIOS upgrade? I'm not convinced that the BIOS could cause this,
but I've run out of ideas. Any suggestions at all would be welcome!

Thanks in advance,

Sam

 

[Bob I]

I'd contact the University IT help desk to see how it needs to be set up.