XP pro not able to set up local network

[Thenar]

I've seen this problem before and non of the solutions work for me. I used to have access to my wife's computer and she to mine and also I had my laptop on our little local workgroup called XFILES. For some reason it all fell apart. For a time I was able to use the printer on my wife's machine by specifically putting in her machine's address and the printer name, but that was stopped as well I suspect firewall, so I've disabled the damn Microsoft fire wall because I had zoneAlarm installed. I disabled that as well. But I can't even find my own computer in the network now. I get the message "Xfiles is not accessable. You might not have permission to use this.... Contact Admin to find out..."

Then under that is another message "The list of servers for this workgroup is not available."

I can't ping any machine on the network including the one I'm working on!! I've tried every solution I can think of....oh but Internet works fine.

I do have my wife's printer installed twice and I'm unable to remove either of them. I've tried everything. I don't know how it happened. I don't think I did it.

Also I have:
Client for Microsoft Networks
File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
QoS Packet Scheduler
Microsoft TCP/IP 6
3Com BCAITDI DMI TDI
INternet Protocol (TCP/IP)

All installed for this connection. I have no idea what half of them are.

And I've tried the "Repair" option...no luck. I've also run nbtstat -c and found there are "No names in cache" I've run "Net View" and got "System error 6118 has occurred."

If anyone has any suggestions or can walk me through the proper diagnostic proceedure, I'd appreciate it. I've disabled all my firewalls as far as I can tell; to no effect.

[hypnotizeminds]

Do the following on each computer:

Go to Start > Run.

Type "services.msc" w/o quotes.

Find the service in the list called Computer Browser.

Be sure it is enabled and running.

If it is not, right-click it and select Properties.

Change Startup type: to Automatic.

Then, under Service Status, click Start.

Apply, OK.