Thanks for the suggestion fobs. The service IS running, though I admit to my shame that I hadn't checked that...
Situation is thus:
Machine1 - XP Pro - 2 NICs
Machine2 - XP Pro - 1 NIC
Machine3 - FreeSCO router - 1 NIC
M1 is connected to M3 thru one NIC & picks up a DHCP address (176.16.0.3) as it should and connects to the Internet as it should - no problem.
M2 is connected to M1 with the other NIC thru a switch - but I can only get 'em to see eachother if I just leave it to APIPA or assign static IPs - 192.168.0.1 for M1 and 192.168.0.2 for M2 - BTW no difference if I connect then directly (and I am using a X-over cable for that).
Since M1 has no truoble picking up a DHCP IP when connected to M3 I would have expected M2 to do the same (when I connect them directly as a test) but no joy.
Protocols are TCP/IP + Client for MS Networks + QOS with the addition of File & Print Sharing for the 192.168.0.0/255.255.255.0 network.
Gotta resolve this as M2 is the kid's machine & he wants the latest funnies....