Multiple addresses for one machine

[Guest]

Hello, I'm trying to fix a problem that's cropped up on a computer that's
hooked to a network. The network has three WinXP desktops and 1 win 98
laptop. One of the XP systems has been tempermental about connecting with
the other systems in the network. Recently there was some unrelated trouble
with it's ethernet connection, and after getting a new card, the system can
connect to the internet through the router without trouble, but it isn't
connecting with the rest of the network. Looking at the Router's Address log
shows that unlike the rest of the computers on the network, this machine is
listed with three seperate addresses. Is there any way of eliminating the
extra addresses?

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Hello, I'm trying to fix a problem that's cropped up on a computer that's
hooked to a network. The network has three WinXP desktops and 1 win 98
laptop. One of the XP systems has been tempermental about connecting with
the other systems in the network. Recently there was some unrelated trouble
with it's ethernet connection, and after getting a new card, the system can
connect to the internet through the router without trouble, but it isn't
connecting with the rest of the network. Looking at the Router's Address log
shows that unlike the rest of the computers on the network, this machine is
listed with three seperate addresses. Is there any way of eliminating the
extra addresses?

A computer's network connection can only get one IP address at a time
from a router. I've often found that a router's DHCP client list
contains extra addresses that don't actually exist.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Chuck]

Hello, I'm trying to fix a problem that's cropped up on a computer that's
hooked to a network. The network has three WinXP desktops and 1 win 98
laptop. One of the XP systems has been tempermental about connecting with
the other systems in the network. Recently there was some unrelated trouble
with it's ethernet connection, and after getting a new card, the system can
connect to the internet through the router without trouble, but it isn't
connecting with the rest of the network. Looking at the Router's Address log
shows that unlike the rest of the computers on the network, this machine is
listed with three seperate addresses. Is there any way of eliminating the
extra addresses?

Brendan,

Please start by providing ipconfig information for the problem computer, and for
at least 2 of the otherwise working computers. This will help show what to look
at next.
Start - Run - "cmd". Type "ipconfig /all >c:\ipconfig.txt" into the command
window - Open c:\ipconfig.txt in Notepad, make sure that Format - Word Wrap is
NOT checked!, copy and paste entire contents into your next post. Identify
operating system (by name, version, and SP level) with each ipconfig listing.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Guest]

OK. . . Curiouser and Curiouser, The problem PC can't detect my main system
in My Networks places, or under the workgroup, dito for my main one and the
problem PC, however Print Sharing that I set up before the problems really
hit works, and so do the network drives I mapped to My Computer.

Anyway, here's the Ipconfig data from my main computer which is seeing the
rest of the network (It's running Win XP with SP2 installed, ZoneAlarm
firewall and the Windows firewall turned off)


Windows IP Configuration



Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : brendansmachine

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : nycap.rr.com



Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : nycap.rr.com

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : NVIDIA nForce MCP Networking
Adapter

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-E0-4C-BB-CE-AF

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.123.100

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.123.254

DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.123.254

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 24.92.32.21

24.92.33.22

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Monday, January 17, 2005 7:11:24
PM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, February 28, 2005
11:11:24 AM

Here's the data for a networked Laptop running Win 98:


Windows 98 IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . : OEMCOMPUTER.nycap.rr.com
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . : 24.92.32.21
24.92.33.22
Node Type . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
NetBIOS Scope ID. . . . . . :
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . : No
NetBIOS Resolution Uses DNS : No

0 Ethernet adapter :

Description . . . . . . . . : PPP Adapter.
Physical Address. . . . . . : 44-45-53-54-00-00
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . :
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Primary WINS Server . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . :
Lease Expires . . . . . . . :

1 Ethernet adapter :

Description . . . . . . . . : PPP Adapter.
Physical Address. . . . . . : 44-45-53-54-00-01
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 0.0.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . :
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Primary WINS Server . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . :
Lease Expires . . . . . . . :

2 Ethernet adapter :

Description . . . . . . . . : Fast Ethernet PC Card
Physical Address. . . . . . : 00-E0-98-A0-9F-98
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . : 192.168.123.159
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . : 192.168.123.254
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . : 192.168.123.254
Primary WINS Server . . . . :
Secondary WINS Server . . . :
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . : 01 16 05 9:55:00 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . : 02 27 05 1:55:00 AM

And for the problem computer, which is running Win XP with SP2 installed:

Windows IP Configuration



Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : billspc

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : nycap.rr.com



Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 4:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : nycap.rr.com

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Linksys LNE100TX(v5) Fast
Ethernet Adapter

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0C-41-E8-60-11

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.123.106

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.123.254

DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.123.254

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 24.92.32.21

24.92.33.22

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Monday, January 17, 2005
10:59:25 PM

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, February 28, 2005
2:59:25 PM

 

[Chuck]

OK. . . Curiouser and Curiouser, The problem PC can't detect my main system
in My Networks places, or under the workgroup, dito for my main one and the
problem PC, however Print Sharing that I set up before the problems really
hit works, and so do the network drives I mapped to My Computer.

<SNIP>

OK, Brendan,

Let's find out exactly where the problems lie.

Take the following code (everything inside the "#####"). (Did I get the names
and ip addresses right)?

Highlight then Copy the code (Ctrl-C), precisely as it is keyed, and Paste
(Ctrl-V) into Notepad. Ensure that Format - Word Wrap is not checked.
Save the Notepad file as "cdiag.cmd", as type "All Files", into the root folder
"C:\".
Run it by Start - Run - "c:\cdiag".
Wait patiently.
When Notepad opens up displaying c:\cdiag.txt, first check Format and ensure
that Word Wrap is NOT checked! Then, copy the entire contents (Ctrl-A Ctrl-C)
and paste (Ctrl-V) into your next post.

Do this from all computers, please, with all computers powered up and online.

#####

@echo off
set FullTargets=brendansmachine 192.168.123.100 OEMCOMPUTER.nycap.rr.com
192.168.123.159 billspc 192.168.123.106
set PingTargets=127.0.0.1
Set Version=V1.05
@echo CDiagnosis %Version% >c:\cdiag.txt
@echo Start diagnosis for %computername% (Targets %FullTargets%) >>c:\cdiag.txt
for %%a in (%FullTargets% %PingTargets%) do (
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo Target %%a >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo "ping %%a" >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
ping %%a >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo "net view %%a" >>c:\cdiag.txt
@echo. >>c:\cdiag.txt
net view %%a >>c:\cdiag.txt
)
@echo End diagnosis for %computername% >>c:\cdiag.txt
notepad c:\cdiag.txt
:EOF

#####


--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Guest]

.. . . OK. (Sorry for the delay in getting back, a number of things
happening all at once here.)
First, the response from my own system:
CDiagnosis V1.05
Start diagnosis for BRENDANSMACHINE (Targets brendansmachine 192.168.123.100
OEMCOMPUTER.nycap.rr.com 192.168.123.159 billspc 192.168.123.106)

Target brendansmachine

"ping brendansmachine"



Pinging brendansmachine [192.168.123.100] with 32 bytes of data:



Reply from 192.168.123.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128



Ping statistics for 192.168.123.100:

Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms


"net view brendansmachine"

Shared resources at brendansmachine

Brendans System

Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moveit Disk
Printer Print HP DeskJet 1220C
Printer2 Print Creates Adobe PDF
SharedDocs Disk
The command completed successfully.


Target 192.168.123.100

"ping 192.168.123.100"



Pinging 192.168.123.100 with 32 bytes of data:



Reply from 192.168.123.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128



Ping statistics for 192.168.123.100:

Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms


"net view 192.168.123.100"

Shared resources at 192.168.123.100

Brendans System

Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moveit Disk
Printer Print HP DeskJet 1220C
Printer2 Print Creates Adobe PDF
SharedDocs Disk
The command completed successfully.


Target OEMCOMPUTER.nycap.rr.com

"ping OEMCOMPUTER.nycap.rr.com"

Ping request could not find host OEMCOMPUTER.nycap.rr.com. Please check the
name and try again.


"net view OEMCOMPUTER.nycap.rr.com"


Target 192.168.123.159

"ping 192.168.123.159"



Pinging 192.168.123.159 with 32 bytes of data:



Reply from 192.168.123.159: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.159: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.159: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.159: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128



Ping statistics for 192.168.123.159:

Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 1ms, Average = 0ms


"net view 192.168.123.159"


Target billspc

"ping billspc"



Pinging billspc [192.168.123.106] with 32 bytes of data:



Reply from 192.168.123.106: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.106: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.106: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.106: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128



Ping statistics for 192.168.123.106:

Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms


"net view billspc"

Shared resources at billspc

Bills PC

Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HP LaserJet 5000 Series PCL6 Print HP LaserJet 5000 Series PCL6
Printer2 Print Acrobat PDFWriter
Printer3 Print Acrobat Distiller
SharedDocs Disk J:
Storage 1 Disk H:
The command completed successfully.


Target 192.168.123.106

"ping 192.168.123.106"



Pinging 192.168.123.106 with 32 bytes of data:



Reply from 192.168.123.106: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.106: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.106: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.106: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128



Ping statistics for 192.168.123.106:

Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms


"net view 192.168.123.106"

Shared resources at 192.168.123.106

Bills PC

Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HP LaserJet 5000 Series PCL6 Print HP LaserJet 5000 Series PCL6
Printer2 Print Acrobat PDFWriter
Printer3 Print Acrobat Distiller
SharedDocs Disk
Storage 1 Disk
The command completed successfully.


Target 127.0.0.1

"ping 127.0.0.1"



Pinging 127.0.0.1 with 32 bytes of data:



Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128



Ping statistics for 127.0.0.1:

Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms


"net view 127.0.0.1"

Shared resources at 127.0.0.1

Brendans System

Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moveit Disk
Printer Print HP DeskJet 1220C
Printer2 Print Creates Adobe PDF
SharedDocs Disk
The command completed successfully.

End diagnosis for BRENDANSMACHINE

Next for billspc:
CDiagnosis V1.05
Start diagnosis for BILLSPC (Targets brendansmachine 192.168.123.100
OEMCOMPUTER.nycap.rr.com 192.168.123.159 billspc 192.168.123.106)

Target brendansmachine

"ping brendansmachine"



Pinging brendansmachine [192.168.123.100] with 32 bytes of data:



Reply from 192.168.123.100: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128



Ping statistics for 192.168.123.100:

Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 1ms, Average = 0ms


"net view brendansmachine"

Shared resources at brendansmachine

Brendans System

Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deskjet1220C Print HP DeskJet 1220C
Moveit Disk
Printer2 Print Creates Adobe PDF
SharedDocs Disk
The command completed successfully.


Target 192.168.123.100

"ping 192.168.123.100"



Pinging 192.168.123.100 with 32 bytes of data:



Reply from 192.168.123.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.100: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128



Ping statistics for 192.168.123.100:

Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms


"net view 192.168.123.100"

Shared resources at 192.168.123.100

Brendans System

Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deskjet1220C Print HP DeskJet 1220C
Moveit Disk
Printer2 Print Creates Adobe PDF
SharedDocs Disk
The command completed successfully.


Target OEMCOMPUTER.nycap.rr.com

"ping OEMCOMPUTER.nycap.rr.com"

Ping request could not find host OEMCOMPUTER.nycap.rr.com. Please check the
name and try again.


"net view OEMCOMPUTER.nycap.rr.com"


Target 192.168.123.159

"ping 192.168.123.159"



Pinging 192.168.123.159 with 32 bytes of data:



Reply from 192.168.123.159: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.159: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.159: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.159: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128



Ping statistics for 192.168.123.159:

Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms


"net view 192.168.123.159"


Target billspc

"ping billspc"



Pinging billspc [192.168.123.106] with 32 bytes of data:



Reply from 192.168.123.106: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.106: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.106: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.106: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128



Ping statistics for 192.168.123.106:

Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms


"net view billspc"

Shared resources at billspc

Bills PC

Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HP LaserJet 5000 Series PCL6 Print HP LaserJet 5000 Series PCL6
Printer2 Print Acrobat PDFWriter
Printer3 Print Acrobat Distiller
SharedDocs Disk
Storage 1 Disk
The command completed successfully.


Target 192.168.123.106

"ping 192.168.123.106"



Pinging 192.168.123.106 with 32 bytes of data:



Reply from 192.168.123.106: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.106: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.106: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.123.106: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128



Ping statistics for 192.168.123.106:

Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms


"net view 192.168.123.106"

Shared resources at 192.168.123.106

Bills PC

Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HP LaserJet 5000 Series PCL6 Print HP LaserJet 5000 Series PCL6
Printer2 Print Acrobat PDFWriter
Printer3 Print Acrobat Distiller
SharedDocs Disk
Storage 1 Disk
The command completed successfully.


Target 127.0.0.1

"ping 127.0.0.1"



Pinging 127.0.0.1 with 32 bytes of data:



Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128



Ping statistics for 127.0.0.1:

Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms


"net view 127.0.0.1"

Shared resources at 127.0.0.1

Bills PC

Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HP LaserJet 5000 Series PCL6 Print HP LaserJet 5000 Series PCL6
Printer2 Print Acrobat PDFWriter
Printer3 Print Acrobat Distiller
SharedDocs Disk
Storage 1 Disk
The command completed successfully.

End diagnosis for BILLSPC

When I tried to run it on the Laptop running Win98, it failed to run.

Also, further experimentation has revealed that while the My Network Places
folder won't show the shared files in question, and clicking View Workgroup
Computers doesn't show all the systems, Typing \\Billspc, or any of the
systems will successfully log the Windows Explorer onto that system.
Hope this helps

 

[Chuck]

. . . OK. (Sorry for the delay in getting back, a number of things
happening all at once here.)

When I tried to run it on the Laptop running Win98, it failed to run.

Also, further experimentation has revealed that while the My Network Places
folder won't show the shared files in question, and clicking View Workgroup
Computers doesn't show all the systems, Typing \\Billspc, or any of the
systems will successfully log the Windows Explorer onto that system.
Hope this helps

Brendan,

OK, both WinXP systems have identical problem with OEMCOMPUTER.nycap.rr.com (the
Win98 system?). Both WinXP systems can ping OEMCOMPUTER.nycap.rr.com by ip
address, but can't resolve its name, nor Net View it by ip address.
OEMCOMPUTER.nycap.rr.com has Node Type = "Broadcast", so no problem there.

The most frequent cause of this problem is a misbehaving personal firewall on
OEMCOMPUTER.nycap.rr.com. Does OEMCOMPUTER.nycap.rr.com have, or has it had,
any third party firewall?

Also, check for a browser conflict between the two WinXP computers and the Win98
computer. I"m not talking about Internet Explorer here. The browser is the
program that allows any computer to see any other computer on the LAN. The
browsers for WinXP and Win98 don't work well together.

Make sure the browser service is running on the WinXP computers. Control Panel
- Administrative Tools - Services. Verify that the Computer Browser, and the
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper, services both show with Status = Started. Disable the
browser on OEMCOMPUTER.nycap.rr.com:
http://cms.simons-rock.edu/faq_by_subtopic/node138.html

After checking / disabling / enabling as above, power all computers off to reset
the browser settings on each. Then power the Windows XP computers on, and
finally OEMCOMPUTER.nycap.rr.com on.

The Microsoft Browstat program will show us what browsers (I'm not talking about
Internet Explorer here) you have in your domain / workgroup, at any time.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305

You can download Browstat from either:
<http://www.dynawell.com/reskit/microsoft/win2000/browstat.zip>
<http://rescomp.stanford.edu/staff/manual/rcc/tools/browstat.zip>

Browstat is very small (40K), and needs no install. Just unzip the downloaded
file, copy browstat.exe to any folder in the Path, and run it from a command
window, by "browstat status". Make sure both WinXP computers list the same
master browser.

For more information about the browser subsystem (very intricate), see:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188001
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305
<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winntas/deploy/prodspecs/ntbrowse.mspx>

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.