Can't get machines to talk

I'm having a devil of a time getting my W2K laptop and WinXP desktop to
communicate at home.  They are connected to a LinkSys BEFSX41.  I can't even
ping it by IP address.  But both machines can get out on Comcast broadband.

I brought the laptop in to work to insure it still connects on our work
network.  It does.  But there is at least one XP machine I cannot connect to
here, while there are other XP machines I _can_ connect to.  I personally
set up all those XP machines and can't find a reason why I should be able to
connect with some but not others.

Anybody got any suggestions?

Another question - can WinXP serve as a WINS server?  I don't think so . . .

-- 
Jeff Crosby
Dilgard Frozen Foods, Inc.
P.O. Box 13369
Ft. Wayne, IN 46868-3369
260-422-7531

The opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily the opinion of my
company.  Unless I say so.