SD - I shall certainly try the Googling when I have a block of time. Trouble is that when doing this it's only too easy to find something interesting & gallop off and play - only to find one has wasted an hour and no further forward... anyone recognise that syndrome?
GtW - me: XP, 'erindoors W2k: much the same OS with goodies in the former, but, I know, they both have surprises. I suspect that if I were somehow to tweak the W2k registry I'd get instant connection - but I don't know enough.
Keef - d'y'know, I'd forgotten all about mapping drives; used to do that all the time on a bigger network. I'll give it a try.
The other thing that had me doing
is that (and I forgot to mention this in my OP) is that my laptop, (XP and wireless connection) detects my machine every time and instantly. So I'm sure that you're on the right track, GtW.
Thanks, y'all: I'll get back when I've tried Keef's solution.
Jim