Network stopped working after DirectX 9.0 install

I don't know if installing DirectX 9.0 had anything to do with this but I cannot access Computer A from Computer B. Yesterday it worked and now it doesn't and nothing has changed otherwise.

If I do a search on Computer B for Computer A, it will find it in the network but when I click on the icon I get an error saying: Network path not found.

If I try searching for Computer B on Computer A, it will not find either computer.

I've checked the obvious. Both computers have names and drive "C" is selected for sharing.

So I can't think of what it might be.

 

I doubt it was DirectX, but do a System Restore to check.

Or: Start, Run, cmd

netsh diag gui
Set all options

Do the scan.

Look for areas that did not pass.

Finally:
Start, Run, cmd

net view
Please post back the error number and exact error text.

net view name_of_other_computer
Please post back the error number and exact error text.

Remember in this circumstance the issue can be on the other computer, not the one that had a new Direct X installation.

 

I ran this test on "Computer A ". The only thing that didn't pass was in reference to Outlook. I don't even use Outlook and don't have it set up on this computer. I use Eudora instead.

I managed to access files on "Computer A" but it's sort of hit or miss thing. Sometimes it works and other times it says Network Path cannot be found. When it does work, the computer just sits there for about 5-10 seconds before anything happens.

This may not have anything to do with this but seems like if just open a program it will allow me to access files from another computer. Like it wakes up Computer A.

Same thing happens when trying to access files on Computer B from Computer A.

I'm starting to wonder if it may be my router going south.

 

Is this a wireless setup?

 

No. I'm using a Linksys DSL/Cable modem router.

At first I couldn't even get the system to work when I replaced both computers about a year ago. Both running XP. I set both up for sharing but it didn't occur to me that both computers needed to have a name. So I named then and got it to work.

On my previous computers I had been running 98 and ME and never had any problems with those systems as far as the network is concerned.

Another weird thing. On both computers sometimes there is an issue where there is a delay action connecting to the internet. IE will start immedietly but it will say at the bottom "searching for www.XXXX.com" for sometimes five seconds then it finds the site.