I will attempt to answer your questions. The W2K machines are set to obtain an ip address automatically and to obtain DNS server address automatically. This information is from the DNS tab of TCP/IP advanced properties of Network properties. I was under the impression that the Cayman DSL modem/router acted as a DNS server as it dispences the IP addresses to the clients. The IP address of the router is 192.168.1.254 and one of the W2K's is 192.168.1.4. I assume that this is typical of small intranets. I'll show my ignorance of the subject matter by admitting that I'm not familiar with host files.
If you consider this a lost cause, I will certainly understand, but I've answered your questions to the best of my ability. The systems continue to operate today, so perhaps it was congestion or some such issue. I just found it strange and too coincidental that only the W2K machines were affected.
Thanks again for taking the time to respond.
DHCP is the protocol that dispenses IP addresses while DNS resolves hostnames into IP addresses.
If your WIN9x machines continue to work fine but the W2K does not then it does not seem that your router or DNS service is this problem.
Let's go back to the PC's themselves. Turn off any power management features within W2K and within the BIOS of the PC. Power management causes all kinds of weird problems. Are you using built in network adapters or did you put adapters in a slot. Do you have the latest drivers for these adapters. What speed are the adapters and what speed are the ports on the router? If gigabit or fast ethernet try to take one of the connections back down to 10Mb and see if you continue to have the problem on that machine. Once again I never direct connect my PC's to a router but put a hub or switch in between them (switch is better).
It may be Monday before I can check back.