XP network drives unstable for 98 machines

Help! Am I doing something wrong?

What do I need to do to get network shares to work with
my new XP machine the way they did between my 2 win 98
machines before adding the XP machine. I bought the
latter specifically to be an internet gateway and file
server. Right now it's not a particularly reliable file
server.

Specifically, connections to my XP (Pro) machine from my
2 Win98 machines stop working mid way through copies and
sometimes when I open a second file from the same remote
XP share. (the first "open" works.)

Also, my network drive maps set to "reconnect" at boot up
don't work. Apparently because the network client isn't
loaded before the mapping is re-attempted.

Is there something I'm doing wrong?

 

any good utility to test/tweak my NIC?

rest of the network h/w (including cable) is tried tested
and true (all work w/ win 98 machines)

 

If there is, your NIC manufacturer will have it on the driver disk or Web
site.