Topic: Windows
I've had problems with the Win XP network sharing (accessing folders in other PCs in the same network): My Xp Home laptop could not connect to either my Xp Pro at home or my Windows 2000 at work. I could still see the computer name from one side and I could ping each other. It used to work ok until I changed something (installed something or did a windows update, I think).
I found a list of solutions by googling, which I had no intention of trying them all. The following seemed to have good results though:
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1047838434
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Networking/Microsoft_Network/Q_20965078.html
(If the above link asks for payment, try google's cache)
Since I knew I hadn't removed any windows component, adding components like netBIOS didn't seem right. Then I stumbled on a solution that worked for me.
My solution: Remove "Client for Microsoft Networks", then add it back (in the connection properies, install client).
PS: Well, when I tried connecting today, the same problem occurred :-(
I had to follow one of the advices and add an entry to the "hosts" file, then it worked again. Windows networking is the most unpredictable software I have ever used!
