Sewpur Slow Local Network

I suppose this is a general question.

I have a 5 PC network at home that access a main 'file server' via Windows network.

It is sluggish slow, takes forever and often times out. Is this typical of Windows? They are all XP machines, file/print share on, Firewall off.

Would getting Win Server 2k/2k3 and setting it up that way make the network faster? I want to head that direction eventually anyway so that I can control Virus scan and firewall globaly.

Even if I map a drive (which makes connecting faster at times) it is painfully slow.

Network Config:
DSL Modem > Belkin 4 port 10/100 108g Router > PC's

Again all are running XP (server is XP Pro).

Thanks

there is a setting in your router that is gooping it all up. check the logs in the router (it should have a log file that shows errors and such) and see if you are getting a lot of collision errors and stuff, and what ports/thingies are causing it.

Thanks for the suggestion. The only thing that my router logs are security issues, so no cheese there.

Isn't there like a netstat-e or someting from the cmd that will report packet arrors and such?

yeah... netstat.... or do a tracert to www.ocforums.com