I just solver my problem
Installing the IPX/SPX/NetBIOS protocol suite fixed everything. If anyone is interested in a longer discussion of the (similar) problem, here is the info:
>Like most of you, I have experienced (!) very slow local networking using
> "TCPIP only" once I introduced an XP box on my LAN (the traffic was
> excruciatingly slow from the XP box but not from the my Win98 boxes). For
> whatever reason, it seems that the TCPIP implementation in XP is routing
> local traffic through the Internet, which slows down LAN traffic to a crawl.
>
> I have 3 boxes: 1 XP Pro and 2 Win98. I use a network Hub (Intel Office
> Connect) and a Hardware Firewall (SonicWall SOHO/10) with cable modem access
> (Motorola CyberSurfer). My cable modem hooks to the firewall which itself is
> hooked to the Hub.Of course, each box is also hooked to the Hub. The
> hardware firewall serves as a router and a DHCP server. Each box accesses
> the Net directly. I do not use ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) or XP's
> software firewall. My LAN is setup as peer to peer as opposed to
> client/server. Peer to Peer seems to be the default setup.
>
> As a result of the difficulties encountered with "TCPIP only" for LAN
> traffic, I decided to use "NWLink IPX/SPX/Netbios compatible transport
> protocol" for LAN traffic. There are general rules to follow for any LAN
> setup. First, configure each box to use the same workgroup, such as "Home"
> or "House" or whatever else you want as long as it's the same for each box.
> Each box must also be configured with the same network protocols. Shares
> must be enabled for the files and printers you wish to share on each box.
> Software firewalls such as ZoneAlarm should be disabled until the LAN is
> configured and working. Once the LAN is configured and working, software
> firewalls can be re-activated but configured to allow local traffic
> otherwise local traffic will be blocked.
>
> To disable XP's software firewall, click on "Start" then "My Network
> places", then "View Network connections" on the top left pane, then click on
> your "Local Area Connection" to hi-light it, click "Change Settings of this
> connection" on the top left pane, click on the "Advanced" tab on top and
> uncheck the box next to "Protect my computer and network...". There you go,
> XP's software firewall is disabled!
>
> While you're still in the "Local Area Connection Properties" dialog box (on
> the XP machine), take a look at the window under "This connection uses the
> following items:", you'll see a list of protocols that are installed. If
> "NWLink IPX/SPX/Netbios compatible transport protocol" does not appear in
> this window, click on the "Install" button, then "Protocol", then
> "Microsoft" than "IPX/SPX/NetBios Compatible Transport Protocol" and take it
> from there!
>
> You must also install this protocol on each Win98 machines by clicking
> "Settings", then "Control Panel", then "Network", then the "Add" button,
> then "Protocol", then "Microsoft", then the "IPX/SPX Compatible Protocol".
> To get IPX/SPX to work on a network that includes an XP machine, you must
> activate NetBios and bind the NetBios protocol to "File and Printer sharing
> for Microsoft Network" as well as "Client for Microsoft Network" on each box
> on the network. I have uninstalled QOS on my XP machine as it serves no
> purpose. It seems that XP installs NetBios for IPX/SPX automatically once
> IPX/SPX is installed. IT'S NOT THE SAME WITH WIN98. In Win98, after
> installing the IPX/SPX protocol and re-booting, you have to click "Start",
> then "Settings", then "Control Panel", then "Network" and then, hi-light the
> "IPX/SPX protocol", click "Properties", click on the "NetBios" Tab on top
> and check the box "I want to enable NetBios over IPX/SPX". You must do this
> for each Win98 machines on your LAN. I don't know about WinMe, but I suspect
> that it is pretty much the same as in Win98.
>
> To look at bindings in XP, click on "Start", then "My network places", then
> "View Network Connections", then click on your "local area connection" to
> hi-light it. Once there, click on "Advanced" on the top menu bar and then on
> "Advanced Settings". You'll then see a tab on top called "Adapters and
> bindings". There you are! You'll see "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft
> Networks" with the protocols that are bound to it. Ensure IPX/SPX is there
> and checked. Also, ensure TCPIP is unchecked as you do not want TCPIP for
> your LAN once you decide to use IPX/SPX. You will also see "Client for
> Microsoft Networks". It's the same thing there also: check IPX/SPX and
> uncheck TCPIP.
>
> Now close this dialog box. Hi-light your "local area connection" again and
> click "Change settings of this connection" on the top left hand pane. Click
> on "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)", click on "Properties", click on the
> "Advanced" button on the General Tab page, click on the "WINS" tab on top,
> check the box that says "Disable NetBios over TCPIP". Remember, you do not
> need NetBios over TCPIP for your LAN if you use IPX/SPX. While you're there
> ("Advanced TCPIP Settings"), you might want to add a default gateway if your
> LAN is anything like mine by clicking on the "Ip Settings" tab on top, then
> the "Add" button and add your default gateway in the dialog box for this
> purpose (Mine is set at 192.168.168.168). Check the box entitled "Automatic
> Metric", if you do need to add a default gateway.
>
> To look at the bindings in Win98, click on "Start", then "Settings", then
> "Control Panel", then "Network", hi-light each protocol involved, then click
> "Properties", then click on the "Bindings" tab on top. For instance,
> hi-light the the "IPX/SPX compatible transport protocol", click on
> "Properties" and then click on the "Bindings" tab on top and ensure that the
> box next to each of "Client for Microsoft Network", "File and printer
> sharing for Microsoft network" and "NETBIOS support for IPX/SPX compatible
> protocol" is checked. While you're there, click on the "Netbios" tab on top
> and ensure that the box next to "I want to enable Netbios over IPX/SPX" is
> also checked. On each Win98 machine, do not forget to unbind the TCPIP
> protocol for LAN traffic. To do this, hi-light the "TCPIP protocol", click
> "Properties", click the "Bindings" tab on top and ensure the box next to
> "Client for Microsoft Networks" and "File and printer sharing for Microsoft
> Networks" is unchecked. Once you do this, you will get a dialog box stating
> "You have not selected any drivers to bind with. Would you like to select
> one now?", click "No". While you're in the "TCPIP Properties" dialog box,
> click on the "Netbios" tab on top and ensure that the box next to "I want to
> enable NetBios over TCPIP" is unchecked. You might also want to configure a
> default gateway by clicking on the "Gateway" tab on top.
>
> I'm not using NetBeui as IPX/SPX seems to work adequately in XP for File and Printer sharing on my > LAN.
>
> I hope this helps! For an OS that's supposed to be so great at Networking,
> XP requires all of us to become instant experts in Networking, which is way
> too much for your average users, including me, before I installed XP.
> Necessity is the mother of invention!
>
> Best of luck to all!!!
