networking mystery

[drledger]

I have a home network with:
two hp vectras
one compaq presario
one compaq laptop.

all use xp and are networked using a linksys router. The problem is that I can see all the computers but when I attempt to access the shared folder on all but the presario I get an screen that says either unable to locate or not enough server space. Here is the odd thing, I can access the a drives and the zip drives in all computers. I have gotten around the problem by transferring any files to the presarion and then from it to wherever needed. that just seems a waste however, suggestions?
Note: all are same workgroup,
ip addresses are automatic

[ArcticFox]

I hope you meant to say a Linksys switch or hub, because that's what you need. A router is used to share a broadband connection evenly among PC's, like a switch without file sharing capabilities. If it is indeed a switch, I can't see how you are accessing the ZIP drives and such on other PC's.

[Agent_Embryo]

It could very well be a Router with a built-in Switch. They are very common today.

-

Some ideas:
* If you have any personal software firewalls (like ZoneAlarm), check if they are letting the sharing services through.
* How are the shares set up? Are they set on entire drives or on specific folders?

I have no other ideas right now...

[drledger]

switch and router is built together in this unit. I have one shared folder on each computer, called shared folder of all things. ONly one computer can actually be used. The external drives and zip drives are shared as entire drives. They work fine.

[meese]

This is what you do. To isolate the problem. (Bear in mind I have a 2 year old who doesn't seem to want to sleep on my lap). The linksys device you have is a switch and a router. You don't have to be connected to the web for it to work. The linksys has the capability to assign ip addresses to 254 devices on your private lan. What the linksys does is isolate your public ip assigned to you by your ISP from you private lan. You can have up to 254 devices access the web via the one ip address assigned to you from your ISP. Now if you don't use it to access the web, it can still be used as a switch for the 254 devices on your lan. Actually this device has a DHCP server built in that can assign ip addresses to 254 devices. So basically you are using the DHCP capabilities to assign IP's to your private lan. Anyway brake it down to only two PC's. Make it work with those two. If you can't it won't work with more pc's. Lets work with two and progress from there. ( Oh yea those three Lambics are just kicking in about now )