unexplained slow Browsing and slow file transfers between Xp Pro server and Xp Home workstations

Hello,

I'm seeking information about unexplained network slow-downs between XP HOME workstations and a Xp Pro Server.

Here's the configuration :

- 1 XP Pro SP1 server
- 2 XP Home SP1 workstations
- 4 Windows 98 workstations
- 1 Switch C-net 16 ports 10/100 Base T
- 1 Router/modem Bewan

All computers have 100 baseT Realtek 8139C Ethernet Cards.
All computers use Fixed IP, Netbios over TCP/IP is activated
All the cables have been tested and are fully functionnal
All computers are up to date via windows update (XP Pro, Home and 98).
All computers have mcaffee enterprise antivirus and firewall activated, latest version.

Willing to reach the best network performance, here's the modification that have been done on the machines

XP Pro SP1 Server (P4 2.8Ghz - 1GB RAM) - Raid 1)
--------
Deactivation of numerous useless services (with services.msc)

- Wireless Zero Configuration
- Portable Media Serial Number Service
- Windows Audio
- Nvidia Driver Helper
- IPSEC Services
- Telephony
- Themes
- Remote Registry
- PInternet Connection Firewall (ICF) / Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
- IPv6 Internet Connection Firewall
- WebClient
- Indexing Service

Deactivation of simple file sharing, accounts created with passwords.

W98 Workstations (Celeron 600 - 192 Mo - 40go)
-----------------------
browsemaster deactivation, creation of a lmhost file in c:\windows\ wich reads

192.168.1.2 xp_server #PRE #xp_server
192.168.1.2 xp_server #PRE #DOM:workgroup
192.168.1.2 "workgroup \0x1b" #PRE

The nbtstat -c displays that the netbios name (xp_server) is in the cache once the workstation have rebooted.

The access to the files and the transfert speed is OK, no problem on these workstations.

XP Home Worsktation (Celeron 700 - 256Mo de RAM)
---------------------------
- Checked that the browsemaster key is set to "false" (to avoid election conflicts with w98 workstations)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\Browser\Parameters\IsDomainMaster -> FALSE

- Creation of a lmhosts file to use netbios cache (like I did on Windows 98 workstations) in C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc
- Checked that Netbios overs TCP/IP is activated.

- Deleted the key checking if scheduled tasks are existing on W98 workstations
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer\RemoteComputer\NameSpace\{D627 7990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}

- Changed the autodisconnect value to 500 minutes (decimal)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\lanmanserver\parameters


SYMPTOMS
---------
Only from XP Home Workstations the access to the files can take dozens of seconds when switching from a directory to another on the file server, the weirdest thing is that the speed of file transfet to the server is OK but the reverse not : 7-8 Mb/sec -> upload, 0.1 Mb/sec -> download !...

I've tried to play with media type control : 100/full duplex,100/half duplex, even 10/full et 10/half, just to see if there was any difference : no resuls... So i've put back to Auto (this settings have been tried on both the server AND the workstations).

I've also stopped every machines except the Xp Pro File Server and just One Xp Home workstation, but same symptoms...

Seems the network looks "physically" correct (Cables, etc.), that the 4 W98 workstations have no problem accessing and transfering files from and to the server.. I'm think that solution only might in the software but I can't see where. Could this be XP Home not liking an Xp Pro server ? If you have any suggestions ?

Thanks for your attention

Bye