Strange Linspire Linux and Windows network problem

Hello,

Strange things are going on... computers can browse linux shared files, through the local network ONLY when connected to the internet.. when the internet connection is closed.. it takes several minuites to see inside the shared folder of the linux machine!

DETAILS:

I have set up a linspire box (LINUX) in a network with 5 other computers that have windows xp and win98... This network has stiatic addresses, XP main machine 192.168.0.1 and the rest 192.168.0.x

This XP machines is working as an internet connection share machine, sharing is internet connection to the others.

On the Linux machine I have entered this info in the network configuration window of SAMBA

IP static 192.168.0.10 mask 255.255.255.0

Gateway 192.168.0.1 and DNS servers 192.168.0.1

Now when I was trying to browse the files from the XP machines to the linux machine, it took ages. For some other reason someone opened the internet connection and then to my amasement the folders could be browsed FAST!

Is it the extra gateway 192.168.0.1 and dns server settings I gave Linspire the problem? I would test this on that network, but its not my network and I will have access to it in a few days.. I cannot reproduce this problem on my small 2 computer network at home. I will have to know why this is happening!

I want the linspire box to work on the lan only.. no need for it to browse the internet.

Has anybody seen this before????

Thanks in advance!