Uhm, note that

Subject: Uhm, note that
Name: ludicrous
Date: 5/11/2001 8:59:31 PM (GMT-7)
IP Address: 138.67.48.22
In Reply to: Re: New cable is your cheapest option posted by booman2
Message:

even without any files and printers shared disabled, the computer name should still appear on the network within a few minutes of boot, or almost right away with "Start => Find => Computer".

If I read his posts correctly, the "hey, I'm over here!" was only happening intermittently...