[aka Brett]

Finally resolved by doing the following
Xp machine local area connection properties
where this connection uses the following properites
There was an entry microsoft network advertisment{something to that effect}--uninstalled it
is now fine

[TerryNet]

Glad you found it; something new to me. Thanks for posting the solution.

You can mark this "Solved" using the button at the upper left of your first post.

[aka Brett]

I compared the entry to some other xp machines.with working network,and the entry did not exist.I uninstalled it not expecting it to fix it.I am happy now I had about 20 hours tied up it the problem