Can't see laptop on network..

ok I have been tending to my pc's lately and after using a usb modem for a while I decided to go back to a wireless lan.

Both pc's running xp pro
Main PC connected via net cable
laptop wireless
Both are setup manually with specific ip address, lan setup for dyanmic above xxx.xxx.xxx.006.

I have software firewalls but have disabled.

I have two identical admin accounts with identical passwords

simple sharing on both computers

ok after reboot things are a little slow and while internet access is immediate the machines do not appear to see each other right away. Eventually I can usually ping both ways.

However I cannot enter \\laptop into run without the not found notification.

The other way round things are fine.

Only recent change was from zone alarm to Online armor on main pc but as above I usually disable for tests.

One strange thing on the main pc is that the dial up box is appearing occasionally I think it could be open office trying to ring home and obviously hasn't been notified of the changeover to LAN. Maybe this indicates corruption in my setup?

Have I missed anything?

 

Want to add I restarted laptop and it will only see my main computer once I have attempted a ping..

 

Any ideas?

 

Tony thank you for that I have sorted the laptop for now but my main computer has just completely died (the mobo is over 7 years old!) so until sorted I cannot give any feedback!

Will get back asap

 

Hi Tony finally sorted the computer and reformatted my main machine.

Have followed your advice and still can't see the laptop! Pinged no problem though.
I am overdue a fresh install which I normally do every so often but it would be nice to learn what might be going on here so any further ideas would be appreciated!

Olly.