>Even though the novell client settings are identical on all machines, on the laptops, goto into the Client Properties, Advanced Settings, and turn OFF the File Caching option and test (if it is not off already).

I hope I got the right area. I will into Network Connections, right-clicked then properties, then properties for Novell Client for Windows, then Advanced Settings tab, File Caching. It was set to ON, switched it to off, then applied, then rebooted. Still getting error. Checked that setting was still off, it was.

I hope that was the setting you meant. Any other ideas?