I have just purchased a Dimension 4600 with XP Pro for our office. We have plugged this into our existing office network (using the integrated ethernet port) and are getting a very strange problem. Existing network is simple peer to peer, with existing PCs connected through a Netgear FS116 switch (10/100mbs autosensing, unmanaged). Access to a 2mb shared leased line internet connection also provided through the switch. Existing PCs are mostly Windows 2000, with one 98SE.

Existing PCS are all working fine. The new XP PC however has some problems with its network connectivity. One minute it can see all the other network PCs, access the internet, download e-mail etc, the next minute it can't. I cannot find any obvious reason why this is happening. Literally, you can be happily surfing one minute, and then not be able to access any websites the next, and then just as suddenly be able to access them again. Very strange. After much surfing etc, I have not managed to sort this problem out. I have tried the following:

 - try a different network cable I know works just fine

 - force the integrated NIC to use 100mbs duplex, rather than autosense

 - 'repair' the internet connection in XP

 - update the network drivers

 - try tracert, ping etc - normal results when connection is working, all timeouts when it is not

I am now stumped and would appreciate any help!