Problem setting up home network WIN XP and WIN98SE

[Halmos]

I have two computers connected via a router. One runs WinXP (I got this one after the other) and other runs Win 98SE. If I set up my network on WIN XP I can see the other computer, transfer files etc. for sometime. After sometime (I don't know how much time, or why) the computers cannot see each other (there is no problem, however, surfing the net). When this happens I have to again go through the whole process of setting up the network on my XP see the other computer. Then it works for a while... after which the computers don't see each other.

I didn't have this problem earlier. I don't know why this is happening now

Can anyone please help me with the problem?

Recently I have disabled the windows messenger service (the popup messenger messages).
Also, I sometimes log on to VPN which temporarily changes my ip address.

The firewall in XP is disabled. The ip addresses are of the form 192.168.1.*

If I ping the 98SE computer from the XP computer there is no loss.

 

[JackMDS]

If you disabled the services called Messenger in the XP services, try to change it to manual.

If you are reusing the Wizard to reconfigure you Network Settings, clear the settings, and configure them manually.

 

[Halmos]

Thank you. Can you please tell me how to clear the settings and how to set the network manually in XP? When I click on set up home network, it automatically starts the network wizard.
Thanks in advance.