ok, there's lots of technologies involving networking here, and if you don't want to get into it too much, the quickest path to resolution can probably had by simply changing out your network gear for something a bit more robust.

are all of you network clients wired back to a main communications closet or central desktop area? if so, buy a single router / switch that you can afford. for most people, that means Linksys, not Cisco. I like the Linksys RV082 which offers 1 or 2 WAN and DMZ ports and 8 10/100 ports. if you need more ports, then the Linksys RV016. this offers 16 ports, up to 4 of those can be WAN or DMZ ports.

this eliminates trying to find the 1 defective component, removes switch to switch trunks and inherent switching latency... plus brings you up to a router that in the future, if you wish, can VLAN and set QoS as apporpriate.

if you need wireless, then add the appropriate access point as you prefer.

idodishez, checkout this link.

http://www.networkworld.com/