Trouble shoot network problem

[markf]

I have two computers networked together with cables through a netgear router. They share an internet connection and printer.

I just retired one computer (C), which was networked to computer (B) and added a new computer(A). So now computers A and B are networked together and C is gone.

Everything works fine with what I have shared between the two. For a while. At some point after working for a day or more with no trouble, I will use MyComputer on A to access a file on computer B. When I click My Network places computer B disappears and I can no longer access it. Whatever happens also makes it so I can't access A from B. I have to turn off both computers, wait , restart, wait and then it comes back. Very inconvenient

What's odd is if I use Run -cmd, I can successfully ping each computers IP address from the other, even though access through My computer is disabled.

I feel the trouble is with A, the new computer, because it didn't happen before with the B - C network. Also it, so far, has only happened when using MyComputer or other application on A to access a file on B.

I have very few applications installed on A, both computers have Norton Internet Security 2007.

I have no idea of how to figure out what is wrong and how to correct it. Any advice on how to trouble shoot this is much appreciated. Thanks in advance for any help

[kilgoretrout]

both computers have Norton Internet Security 2007.

I'll bet there's your problem. This suite has a pretty bad rep here for all the problems it causes. The usual advice here is to get rid of Norton and use the free tools, AVG AntiVirus, Spybot Search & Destroy and AdAware along with a free firewall like ZoneAlarm. They're better, less buggy, and much easier on your system resources.

[markf]

Thanks for your reply. I don't have any knowledge of the freeware you mentioned. I want to stay as protected from internet virus etc as possible. I'm thinking I may need to uninstall all of the Norton stuff and try using the apps you mention and see if the problem persists. Thus one step of trouble shooting. Kind of a hassle but I can't live with the network going down at random intervals.