Home network with 3 computers: Can't access computers across network

S

scs0

Sometimes I cannot communicate with other active computers on my tiny
network. Sometimes when I type in their computer name into Windows
Explorer's address bar the connection will be made. Sometimes it will
not and I receive the error "Windows cannot find '\\<computer name>\'.
Check the spelling and try again..." What bugs me the most is that
sometimes the connection works and sometimes it does not.

Description of my network:
PCs: I have three, one is XP Home and the others are XP Pro. One of
the pro machines is a laptop that's rarely on. For the sake of
description say I have these two PCs: \\XP_Home\ and \\XP_Pro\

Router: Linksys BEFSX41 EtherFast Cable/DSL Firewall Router

Wireless Router: Linksys Wireless access point used with the laptop
that's rarely on. The wireless access point remains on, but
communicates with nothing most of the time.


On \\XP_Home\ I use Microsoft's built in firewall. On my system
\\XP_Pro\ I do not, but I am always logged onto my work's VPN.

Why can't I always connect to \\XP_Pro\ from my PC \\XP_Home\?

Thanks
 
R

Robert L [MS-MVP]

can you ping each other by ip? if yes, can you ping by name?

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Robert Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
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