Network Paths in XP Problematic

First off, I have no problems sharing or copying files across this network as long as I use the Windows GUI on any computer on this network.

I wrote a batch file a few years back that has run fine until I installed XP Pro. A typical line in the file is as follows:

• xcopy \\Alex\E\*.* \\Carol\E

Well, now that I have XP on the Alex machine, the network path, \\Alex\E, is not found on the network.

Note: Drive E is shared as a network resource and File and Printer Sharing is turned on. I have also tried several protocols. This problem is unique to XP because this batch file will run on any other machine on the network. Other machines are all Win98/2000.

As a temporary work-around, I have gone through the batch file and substituted drive letters for all the \\Alex\<drive> entries; but, this isn't an acceptable permanent solution.

Any suggestions?

 

What happens when you run
net view \\alex and
net view \\carol
from the XP box and from one of the others?

From Carol does start~run~\\alex\e open WE and that share?

 

When I type net view \\alex, it lists the shared drives on Alex and the printer.

When I type \\alex\c in the Run box, I get "Network path not found." in a simple error box, no windows explorer.

This is very strange because I have done every combination of search words I can think of over about twenty search sessions spread out over a period of about two weeks and I come up with no evidence anyone else has ever had this problem. I guess people just don't use the command prompt any more; but, this is bugging the hell out of me.