Deadcat & the others....
Thank you for having a fix to this problem. It took me an entire day of of research, trial and error. I also thank the infinite genius of google.
If you do have slow network problems with Win98 to XP this is the fix! I have 8 computers set up on a switched LAN, 7 running win98 1 running XP. At first, accessing folders over the network FROM the XP machine was beyond pathetic. However, going FROM win98 to XP was lightning.
Having deleted the PC Names under "Manage Network Passwords", it's a beuty.
THANK YOU!!!!!!