Please Help!!!

I am new to Linux but trying my best to learn more. I have set up a lab with a samba box (3.0.6) and have 16 Win XP Pro machines connected to it. Whenever I wanted to log in to the File Server (samba), I typed \\wits\clopez in the address bar and it will prompt me with a log in screen, where I type in my username and password. It worked for a while at the beginnig, but now it will not work unless I type in \\192.168.1.240\clopez

I have entries in the hosts file, lmhosts (under windows XP box), I am using static ip numbers. Whenever I type \\wits\clopez I do get the log in window but it just keeps coming back over and over (no message or warning), so I try \\192.168.1.240\clopez and log in , and it will work (able to see my files in the linux machine running samba) Please help or advice accordingly. Thank you.