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XP filesharing password prompt

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Preka

Programmer
May 11, 2004
55
I've tried Googling this, and I have seen several other people ask the same question, but I've yet to see a worthwhile answer (most people go, "hurf durf it doesn't work that way!" and they're demonstrably wrong, as I will explain in a moment).

I have 3 PCs - Two desktops running XP Pro, and a laptop running Windows 7.

Both desktops have shared folders on them. If I attempt to access the shared folder on Desktop #1, since my laptops login credentials do match, I am prompted for a username and password. I then enter a username and password for an account that has permissions set for the shared folder in question and, voila, I get access. This is EXACTLY what I want to happen.

On desktop 2, however, trying to access the shared folder from the laptop does NOT prompt for a username and password - it merely returns a message that access has been denied. I have checked and rechecked and everything obvious on both desktops is set in an effectively identical fashion.

I have temporarily gotten around this using the "credentials" feature of Windows 7, but that isn't what I want - I want accessing the folder to prompt me for a username and password. Does anyone know what could possibly be different between the two desktops that is causing this?

Thanks in advance.
 
Gah, my kingdom for an edit function:

"...since my laptops login credentials do match..."

Should read, "...do NOT match...
 
It's not SFS - they both have simple file sharing off. They both have identical settings in both the share permissions and the security tab of the shared folders in question. I'm thinking there might be some obscure policy or network setting that might be set differently, but I wouldn't know where to begin.
 
This may be long shot, got to Start-> Run and type in:
control userpasswords2

This should bring up the Password Manager. Click on the Advanced Tab. Click on "Manage Passwords" and look for an entry for the computer you are trying to access.

Remove it, and try to access the share again.

I say its a long shot because there may be no entry. But if there is, this should get the password prompt back up.

----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.
 
There is a set of conditions that creates the behavior your want, but I don't remember exactly what it is. First, usernames must not match - if the same username exists on both system (even with different passwords) you will get access denied. The next thing to examine (I think this is where you will find the difference) is the guest group (but maybe it's the guest account). Using the 'control userpasswords2' applet that vacunita posted, go to the Advanced tab, Advanced User Mangement Button. Compare the settings on the 2 machines for both the Guest account and the Guests group.
 
I may be wrong??
But on a peer to peer network, after enableing simple file sharing, create the same username and password on all 3 computers with admin rights and it rolls without any issue. Has worked for me.

Bo

Remember,
If the women don't find you handsome,
they should at least find you handy.
(Red Green)
 
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