Can't see my XP computers on Network

I'm a Ubuntu noobie and just installed the new 8.1 release on a new box. The install was nearly flawless and the network connection came right up. After some research I finally figured out how to change the network name to put the new system into the same workgroup as the other 3 XP boxes in the house.

The problem is I don't completely understand how samba works and why it can't see 2 of the 3 boxes. When I go to "network" I see the workgroup. Under that I see all the computer box names. But I can only click 1 of them and see the shared files. The other 2 systems are identical as far as XP setup is concerned, but when I select their icon I get a blank page with no files. There is no error message either. The network is perfect between all of the XP boxes and it works just fine between ubuntu and box 1. I've checked the network settings on all 4 machines and I just don't see why I can't see box 2 and box three shared files.

The internet works on all machines. Research showed that someone having the same problem added "wins" to the smb.conf file but was unclear if that actually helped. But then why would the current stock config work on one box and not the other 2? He also mentioned that he thought it wasn't that it couldn't see the shared files, but that ubuntu wasn't logging into a "passworded" XP box. So I removed the passwords on my systems and restarted everything. Still no success.

I would really appreciate some help. I'm tired of windows and love the look, feel and speed of ubuntu. But I really need for the network to be working as it should. Any information you may need as far as config files going, I'll upload if you just tell me what they are. The smb.conf file is virtually stock with the one change of the workgroup name. I really stumped on why it would work with one box and not the rest.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Crusher
Dallas Texas