The File-Sharing Network on my XP SP2 Home machines spontaneously revived,
but only after I did a lot of fumbling that seems to have affected my
ability to compare files of the same name that are shared by two computers.

Here's my attempt to give a clear illustration of the problem:

Suppose I have two Work Group computers named "Desktop" and "Laptop," and
also have two folders on the C: drive of both computers named "Alpha" and
"Beta." I want to be able to compare and synch the two sets of folders.

In "My Network Places" in the Start Window of both computers I can see the
icons for the Alpha and Beta folders. There is a difference in the icon
names, however: Alpha is shown in Desktop as "Alpha (laptop)" and in the
Laptop as in "Alpha" (desktop.)" Beta, however, is labeled "Beta (laptop)"
on both computers.

I can compare the two Alpha folders side-by-side on the Desktop but cannot
do that with the Beta folder.

What can I do to make the Beta folder function the same way as Alpha so that
I can compare the two Beta folders on the Desktop, side-by-side? Would
getting the name of the Beta folder on the Laptop to change from
"Beta(laptop)" to "Beta(desktop)" do the trick? Is that possible?

I get tongue twisted trying to explain the problem so I hope the above is
understandable.

I would appreciate any suggestions about changes I can try to make it
possible to view the two Beta folders on the desktop, side-by-side.

Thanks.