After several years of networking issues -- mostly being unable to browse the network . I have always resorted to fixed IP's.
I used to get the error message: ?Workgroup is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions.?
My problem was solved by changing the NetBIOS node type in the registry.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \System \CurrentControlSet \Services \Netbt \Parameters
Added DWORD NodeType set to 8 (problem solved! after years of not being able to browse the network)
My problem seems to have been caused by lugging my PC to different clients. One client has a WINS server the other clients and my home/office network doesn't. Adding the "NodeType" DWORD overides the "DhcpNodeType" Key which changes itself to a useless setting after connecting to a Network with a WINS Server.
Found the information I needed on this website -VERY useful for me, the best network troubleshooter I have found! (Please donate to this guy if you find it useful-- I have no doubt I'll need this site again)
Regards
John Layne