My Network Places - Everything has disappeared!

I have XP Home and 98 machines networked via crossover cable.

Tonight, suddenly all the icons (i.e. shared folders) in My Network Places are missing! (except for the MSN butterfly icon) Not only are the 98's shared folders missing, but also my own.

Attempts to View Workgroup Computers results in the error "MSHOME is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource....etc etc." I'm the only user on my machine and I've had no problem before accessing my MSHOME workgroup before.

I've read stuff online; I've looked over Services running; I've rebooted my computer (more than once); I've re-run the home networking wizard more than once...I don't know what else to do.

Would installing the XML Parser 3.0 file (msxml3usa.msi) have some effect? I installed it (in order to get VidewoWave Movie Creator working), tho I think I did that AFTER I started having this problem. Can't remember for sure tho. I did an UN-System Restore to undo that Parser install, but I still have this problem of no icons in My Network Places.

Any help is appreciated.
Dave