Networking problem

[Ichy]

I've got an annoying problem that I cannot find an answer for. Wireless network, static IPs, no firewalls except on the router. All the shares are set ok.

There are only two computers on the network and one seems to be hiding itself.

My laptop will not find the PC upstairs unless I ping the PC first. Search can't find it, mapping doesn't work, nothing. But Ping through CMD and its all good and suddenly the PC appears on the network.
Guess I should mention that the first ping returns about 103ms with the rest hitting about 20ms.

Strange bit is that if I do a search for computers on the PC upstairs it finds the laptop but not itself?

Network magic (sort of a network config manager for dummies) fixes everything but I don't want to use 3rd party software for just 2 computers.

Any ideas other than a reinstall?

[Jamie.]

Are they in the same workgroup?

[Ichy]

Yes mate, correct IP group as well.

[Silver]

What OS are they on? I had the same problem several times with Windows 98 years ago, which was never particulary good on a network.

[Barry_M2]

Whats the reason you are using static ip's?
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[Ichy]

Running XP.

Static IP's made it easier to configure the firewall for port forwarding on my router.

Tried two PC's today no problem so it's something dumb on this one. I've now got a batch program that pings on startup and that fixes for now but I guess I'll have to rebuild. Just odd.

[djr]

how are you trying to access upstairs pc? \\computername or \\ipaddress ?

[Ichy]

computer name

[djr]

[Ichy]

Sorted.

[GodzGift]

ipconfig /flushdns
ipncofig /registerdns
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[djr]