How to eliminate prompt for IPC$ Password

[M$]

I have networked, workgroup, 2 PCs one is WinXP Pro (192.168.0.1) and the
other is Win98 SE (192.168.0.2).

The problem I keep running into is that when I log onto the Win98 PC using a
user with a password (not blank), I'm prompted for IPC$ Password. If I enter
the password for the user that I'm loged on with it comes back with the msg.
"Invalid password", Yes, the user name I use to log onto the Win98 box
exists on the WinXP box. If I use a username without a password and
configure the Local Security Policy so that the Accounts: Limit local
account use of blank passwords to console login only is disabled it works
fine.

I don't want to have users with the ability to connect to the XP box with no
password. I have searched the net and found several articles that address
this issue, but they all claim that this only happens when the username used
on the Win98 PC does not exist on the XP box. I'm sure that the username
exists on the XP box and I'm entering the correct password. e.g.
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_filesharing/11trouble.htm

Does any one have any idea what else could cause this behavior?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ovidiu Popa]

You are prompted for the IPC$ password because you have a share or another
resource on the XP box you are trying to map at boot time. I would check the
shared resources properties on the XP box, both under Sharing/Permission and
under the Security tab. Make sure that the accounts created on the XP box do
have enough permissions. If not sure, repost with your sharing/security
settings.

Ovidiu Popa
MVP

 

[M$]

I'm not mapping to any resource/share on the XP box when I boot or login on
the Win98box. I have created a share (as a test) called "temp" on the XPbox
and given "Everyone" full control. There are other shares besides the "temp"
share.

When I open the network neighborhood on the Win98Box, I can see the object
"XPbox" but as soon as I try to expand it to reveal the shares under it, I'm
prompted for the IPC$ password. I don't get a chance to map to any shares
nor can I map to the printer that is connected to the XPBox.

Thanks.

 

[Peter Baltus]

Not sure this is of any help, except sharing misery, but I have exactly the
same problem you describe, and so does one of my colleagues at work.
None of the tips/suggestions I've read on websites or in newsgroups do seem
to fix it. It is indeed not a mismatch in username/password, I created new,
special accounts on both sides. Switching to simple filesharing makes things
work, but then there's no access control to anything at all.

Since it seems to work for many other people, I'm sure we are missing
something
rather simple/obvious.

I've re-installed XP from scratch (still have it on a separate HD
partition), didn't
help. Verified workgroup settings, netbios settings, switched off firewall,
etc. User
account at XP is member of administrator group, should be sufficient in
terms
of priviliges (or at least, I think so?).

Ethereal is showing the W98 computers (it happens from 2 separate W98
laptops
in the same way) sending their username and an encrypted password to the XP
box, who responds with an IPC$ password challenge, at the moment that the 98
machine double-clicks on the XP machine name.

I'm wondering whether there could be a problem with incompatible encryption
for
the password?

Any help is welcome, I've been struggling with this on and off for the past
5 months....

Peter