Sometimes when I try to browse the network using the "My Network Places" icon and then select "View workgroup computers", it will time out and give me the message that the network is not accessible or you do not have permission dialog box. I can use the search function and locat a computer on the network and access any shared files, but sometimes it's a BIG pain, not to mention being slow as heck! While this is not a consistant problem, I would like to know the solution (if any)to it. All the pc's are running WinXP Pro.
Thanks for any and all help or suggestions.

Use google and search on the term WinXP Pro Master Browser.

What happens is when computers turn on and off the "Master Browser" keeps track of all of them by name and their network shares. It updates only every 15 minutes. Unless your systems are setup in a Domain and you have a Domain Controller then all the systems share the job of being the master browser.

If the one that is serving the Master Browser shuts off, it takes 2-3 cycles for the rest to figure it out and then another cycle or 2 for the others to figure who will take over. After it figures out who the new Master Browser holder is, it takes another cycle or 2 to repopulate it. So now you can see why when you turned one system off it took 2+ hours for the other to realize that things were gone. At 15 minutes per cycle, it adds up quick.

It sounds confusing but if you do a little reading on it you will understand it. With a few registry tweaks you can FORCE a system to always be the Master browser, that system also needs to always be on when the others are on.

Hopefully that didn't come of too geeky. :D

2 things you can do resolve this issue
1st find a older computer that you can load as the Master browser and never turn it off you could use it to share a printer that would allow a the computers to print.

2 and more expensive is to setup a domain, set a server with windows server operating system.