Alternate Workgroup Name Stops Network Browsing

ID: Q190648

The information in this article applies to:
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

SYMPTOMS

When you try to browse the network by double-clicking Network Neighborhood, you may only see the Entire Network icon. Also, if you double-click Entire Network, you may receive the following error message:

Unable to browse the network. The network is not accessible.

Note that you can still access network resources by mapping a network drive, or using Universal Naming Convention (UNC) network names.


CAUSE

This problem can occur if Policy Editor has been used to create an alternate workgroup, and the workgroup name was not totally capitalized.


RESOLUTION

You can edit the registry using System Policy Editor (Poledit.exe) or Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Check with your network administrator before you make any changes to the registry.

To resolve this problem, use Policy Editor to change the alternate workgroup name to all capital letters. To do so, use the following steps:

  1. Click Start, click Run, type poledit in the Open box, and then click OK.


  2. Click File, click Open Registry, double-click Local Computer, double-click the Windows 98 Network branch to expand it, double-click the Microsoft Client for Windows Networks branch to expand it, and then click Alternate Workgroup.


  3. Under Settings For Alternate Workgroup, type the workgroup name in all capital letters.


  4. Click OK, click Save on the File menu, quit Policy Editor, and then restart your computer.



STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows 98.


MORE INFORMATION

Policy Editor adds the workgroup value to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD\VREDIR

Additional query words: 98 


Keywords          : kbnetwork 
Version           : WINDOWS:
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: February 11, 1999