Directory contents disappear when viewed from another computer on the LAN

I have 3 computers on a LAN behind a router; 2 XP SP2, & 1 W2K. I use the Dell XP workstation as sort of a file server, though they are all really peers.

I have had this network configuration for a couple of years now without problems, but a couple months ago, files started disappearing from networked directories, when viewed from my IBM laptop.

Scenario: I have a directory called, say C:\MyFiles on the Dell; full of files, which I can see from all the machines in my house.

One day, I launch File Explorer from my IBM, find the directory MyFiles on the networked computer MYDELL, but it is empty; no files. However from the Dell (where it is a local directory), and from the W2K computer, MyFiles is full of files.

I reboot all the computers & router multiple times (this is over several months) -- the problem persists. Furthermore, about once a week this problem spreads to another directory.

HOWEVER: If I rename "MyFiles" to "MyFilesX", I can see the files again from my IBM. When I re-rename "MyFilesX" back to "MyFiles", again the directory appears empty when browsed from the IBM.

What causes this problem? How do I fix it? No one on Experts Exchange could help; I'm hoping for better insight here!

Thanks,

Paul

 

As opposed to changing the share name have you tried changing the workgroup name?

 

Hi;

I hadn't tried that, but then I did, with no change of behavior. Any other ideas? Any caches I can flush or anything like that?

Paul

 

ooooo....now i know !!! thank's