Sudden go-slow or failure to connect to XP network machines

Hello all,

I have been running Vista Ultimate 64bit SP1 for a few months now. I have not had any trouble with it up to just recently. I am connected to the network using a wired connection and have the same workgroup name as the XP machines on the network. My files are stored on an XP machine that is used almost exclusively for this purpose - we call this the 'server'. I also run a couple of programs remotely from that machine, notably my mail program (Pegasus Mail). As I said, with all this until recently I had no problems at all with this setup.

Now, on this Vista machine for a reason that I cannot fathom I am having a very slow connection to the files on the XP machine on the network. (Other XP machines on the network have no trouble accessing these same files quickly and effortlessly, though they are much older rickety machines by comparison with this one.) Some of these files are on the 'server' machine itself (on a Raid 5 system) others are on a Mybook external hard drive which I have removed from this Vista machine and connected to the XP one - in case this was causing the problems. I am not able to access my email program except painfully slowly and with frequent crashes or messages of 'not responding' though eventually the program catches itself and recovers. But obviously this is not workable.

I have tried to remove all sorts of devices in case they have suddenly caused conflicts (webcam, removed the Mybook from my own computer etc.). I have also replaced the network cable. I have also reset the router and restarted the computer. After reading a post on here I have also disabled the IpV6 on this.

I can actually (slowly and painfully) view the files using windows Explorer, but am not able to access them using programs such as Breezebrowser or Photoshop Bridge for example.

Can anyone make any suggestions as to what might be the problem or how to fix it? What was a super fast wonderful work machine is now turning into a terrible time waster.

Many thanks in advance.

Ellie

How is your internet speed on the Vista machine, has it slowed down too? If so, take a look at your Windows Update history, see if WU updated a new driver (or have you recently updated the driver?) for your network card that might be causing some problems and roll back the driver to your previous one.

Thanks for the input.
The internet access is not slowed. On the other hand, the machine is dual boot XP and although I do not have hardly any programs installed on the XP side (had no need to) the speed of opening files on the network is just as slow as on the Vista side. So perhaps not Vista related or not only.

Strange problem indeed. Have you tried plugging into a different port on the router?

Yes, I did that too.

Just a quick note to say that this issue was entirely due to a failing linksys switch through which this machine was accessing the network. Nothing to do with Vista or the computer. Thanks for the help offered.

And, conversely, thank *you* for posting back with the issue's resolution.