It really sounds like
a failing service or something.
But, W2K/XP choose to communicate with each other on port 445, no matter if it is open or not. Once the discover each other is an "NT derivative"
This leads me to believe it has to do with Port 445 being locked/blocked bound by something else.
Ports 138/139 are for W9X.
hmmm, wonder if something got shoe-horned in to port 445 as a wrapper or something. Trying to listen or something, for passwords and stuff.
Also just a hunch, but if the TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Service is not running (properly) on the computer, you'll see some of the same types of things. Make sure it is running, Microsoft Management Console->Services->TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Service, enable it.
Oh, you'll need enabled NetBIOS over TCP/IP, since this is a mixed "OS" network. (just for posterities sake if you've already done this.
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