Apparent Active Directory Problem

I have some symptoms that seem related and seem related to active directory. I am running Windows XP Professional Version 2002 Service Pack 1.

I used to be able to access a server using the following names:

\\hostname.localnet.com
\\hostname
\\alias.localnet.com
\\alias

Recently, whenever I use the short names (\\hostname or \\alias) things seem to work correctly. But if I use the long names (\\hostname.localnet.com or \\alias.localnet.com) I get errors. Following are some of those errors:

* If I type \\hostname.localnet.com in the Run dialog box I receive the following error: "No network provider accepted the given network path."
* If I run "net view \\hostname.localnet.com" from the command line I receive the following error: "System error 53 has occurred. The network path was not found."
* If I try to map a network drive using \\hostname.localnet.com\share\dir as the folder I get: "The drive could not be mapped because no network was found."

In each case above I receive the same errors using \\alias.localnet.com, but they all work correctly is I use the shorter names (\\hostname or \\alias).

Another interesting symptom I discovered is that if I use \\hostname in the Run dialog box an explorer window correctly opens showing me all the shares on that server. If I click "Search Active Directory" on the left side of the window, in the Network Tasks pane, I receive the following error: "The Directory Service is currently unavailable."

I only see this behavior on my machine. All other computers on the network work correctly. I had another user log on to see if he experienced the same problem and, sure enough, he did. I started noticing the problem yesterday after having the Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall turned on during the weekend. I have turned it off since then but the problem still remains.

Any help anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated. Please let me know if more information is required. Thanks!!

--Rajaat