Problems with accessing all PC's on an XP network

[RedGBarn]

I have 5 PC’s on an XP network

1 – Desktop running XP Pro

2 – Laptop running XP pro

3 – Laptop running XP Home

4 – Desktop running XP Pro

5 – new laptop running XP pro

I have run the network setup wizards on all the PC’s

My problem is this

No 2 can see (view network computers) and access their files OK

No 3 can see all 4 others and access their files OK

No 1 can see and access files on 2,3 & 4 OK – it can see 5 (view network computers) but cannot access files on 5 (it says it is not accessible)

No 4 can see 1 2 & 3 OK – it can see 5 but not read its files

No 5 can see 2 & 3 OK and see their files but cannot see 1 or 4

Its driving me mad – does anyone have any ideas?

[FAT64]

1) Are they all part of the same workgroup?

2) Any firewalls in the way anywhere?

3) Any duplicate computer names?

[RedGBarn]

all the same workgroup - yes

all firewalls are off

and all very different names

[Zxian]

General networking trouble shooting:

- Can each computer ping the other four?

- Can you access the other four comptuers by entering the IP address (e.g. \\192.168.1.100) into the address bar?

- If above works, can you access the other four comptuers by manually entering computer name (e.g. \\Computer1) into the address bar?

How is the network setup? Is it a single router that's acting as a DHCP server? Multiple routers acting as DHCP servers will cause headaches. Trust me.

Have you enabled/disabled "Simple File Sharing" on the XP Pro computers?

On the computers that can be "seen" but not accessed, try removing the share (pressing OK after removing) and then re-sharing the folders.

Hope this helps!