Trouble opening files on networked storage

Question

In our small office we are using a Buffalo Linkstation networked hard drive to store and share files between Macs and PCs. One of our Macs in particular has trouble opening files. Either:
1. The file is invisible
2. The file doesn't open in the correct application by default (for instance, an InDesign file opening in textedit)
3. Only files created on this mac, and not on another, will open, though the files created on other macs are visible and have the same extension (but grey and without the usual icon).
Oddly, when I copy the file onto a USB stick and 'manually' bring it over, it will open fine.
The Mac in question is a Mac Mini (Power PC) running OSX 10.4.8. Other Computers on the network, which don't have the same trouble opening files are:
Mac Mini (Intel) with OSX 10.4.8 and Windows XP via Bootcamp
Power Mac G5 with OSX 19.3.9
iBook with OSX 10.4.
Dell Inspiron 5150 laptop with Windows XP
It seems like a software problem, but the Intel Mac is running the same version of OSX. The troubled Mac seems to drop its connection to the Linkstation much more often than the other computers as well, suggesting possibly a hardware problem?
iBook, PowerPC G5, Mac Mini Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Answer 1

Could this be an issue with file names?
I've used a linkstation with macs and had huge problems copying files TO the NAS because of bad file names or file names containing illegal characters for the linkstations formatting (Fat32 or whatever).
Make sure that you have files with names up to 32 chars and not more
Make sure you exlcude characters like " [ ] / \ = + : ; " , * |" from your filename
Include a file extension (.indd for an indesign file for example) for all files.
By changing file names and adding extensions as required I have been able to store and recover files from the linkstation.
Try a test file or two. If they work, it could be that that is the problem.