Strange Password Problem

[Don Cohen]

I am working on an XP Pro computer at my office. When booting up, no
password is asked for, and no utilities are being used to automatically
input a password.

I want to be able to access that system's hard drive over the network, but
despite having enabled sharing, permission is denied. We have other
computers similarly set up, and can access their drives, but something is
different with this one system.

I believe I recall reading somewhere that not having a Password on an XP Pro
system will prevent access to its drives over the network (and I believe
that all the other computers that we can access do have Passwords enabled).
So I went to the Users applet in Control Panel, to create Password access
for this system.

Here's where things got interesting - it is asking for a Password there, in
order to create a Password. I left the field blank (no spaces, characters,
etc.) but this is not accepted, and a Password is again asked for. (Perhaps
I should have tried a single "space"?)

I do remember a few months back that someone changed something on that
computer, and it started asking for a Password. Nobody recalled the
original Password, and we couldn't get in. We had a guy come in, who booted
from his own CD, and cleared the Password. After that, it would boot up as
it does now, with no Password being asked for.

Any idea on what's going on? On the one hand, it seems there is no
Password, while on the other it asks for it anyway. How can I resolve this
situation, and create a known Password, which will hopefully then allow
network access to its drives.

Thank you.

 

[John Wunderlich]

I am working on an XP Pro computer at my office. When booting up,
no password is asked for, and no utilities are being used to
automatically input a password.

I want to be able to access that system's hard drive over the
network, but despite having enabled sharing, permission is denied.
We have other computers similarly set up, and can access their
drives, but something is different with this one system.

I believe I recall reading somewhere that not having a Password on
an XP Pro system will prevent access to its drives over the
network (and I believe that all the other computers that we can
access do have Passwords enabled). So I went to the Users applet
in Control Panel, to create Password access for this system.

Here's where things got interesting - it is asking for a Password
there, in order to create a Password. I left the field blank (no
spaces, characters, etc.) but this is not accepted, and a Password
is again asked for. (Perhaps I should have tried a single
"space"?)

I do remember a few months back that someone changed something on
that computer, and it started asking for a Password. Nobody
recalled the original Password, and we couldn't get in. We had a
guy come in, who booted from his own CD, and cleared the Password.
After that, it would boot up as it does now, with no Password
being asked for.

Any idea on what's going on? On the one hand, it seems there is
no Password, while on the other it asks for it anyway. How can I
resolve this situation, and create a known Password, which will
hopefully then allow network access to its drives.

Thank you.

One critical item you omit in your post is whether you are using
Simple File Sharing on not. This makes a big difference in the
accessing of files over the network. The following article might be
helpful:

"How to configure file sharing in Windows XP"
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040/en-us>

In Simple File sharing, all users connect through the "Guest"
account. With Simple File Sharing disabled, users authenticate with
a username/password either configured locally on the computer or
through a domain.

Another possibility...
In addition to sharing permissions when you set up file sharing,
there are also permissions set on the folder itself tham should match
(Right-click folder, Properties, Security Tab should match
permissions on the "Sharing" tab.

HTH,
John

 

[Don Cohen]

Hi John,

One critical item you omit in your post is whether you are using
Simple File Sharing on not. This makes a big difference in the
accessing of files over the network. The following article might be
helpful:

"How to configure file sharing in Windows XP"
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040/en-us>

In Simple File sharing, all users connect through the "Guest"
account. With Simple File Sharing disabled, users authenticate with
a username/password either configured locally on the computer or
through a domain.

Another possibility...
In addition to sharing permissions when you set up file sharing,
there are also permissions set on the folder itself tham should match
(Right-click folder, Properties, Security Tab should match
permissions on the "Sharing" tab.

I don't have access to that computer right now, but will check this out
tomorrow. The link you provided is very helpful, and will hopefully help me
to enable access to that computer's drives from others on the network.

Do you have any insight on the Password issue? I realize that may be a moot
point if I'm able to enable drive access using the first section of your
reply, but I'd still like to understand what's going on in this regard.

 

[John Wunderlich]

Hi John,



I don't have access to that computer right now, but will check
this out tomorrow. The link you provided is very helpful, and
will hopefully help me to enable access to that computer's drives
from others on the network.

Do you have any insight on the Password issue? I realize that may
be a moot point if I'm able to enable drive access using the first
section of your reply, but I'd still like to understand what's
going on in this regard.

This was mentioned at the end of KB304040 but also here...

Quoting from
"Client, service, and program incompatibilities that may occur when you
modify security settings and user rights assignments"

<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823659/en-us>

"All Microsoft network operating systems: The local administrator
account uses a "blank" password. Network connectivity with blank
passwords is not permitted for administrator accounts in a domain
environment. With this configuration, you can expect to receive an
"Access Denied" error message."

Perhaps?
-- John

 

[John Wunderlich]

I believe I recall reading somewhere that not having a Password on
an XP Pro system will prevent access to its drives over the
network (and I believe that all the other computers that we can
access do have Passwords enabled). So I went to the Users applet
in Control Panel, to create Password access for this system.

Here's where things got interesting - it is asking for a Password
there, in order to create a Password. I left the field blank (no
spaces, characters, etc.) but this is not accepted, and a Password
is again asked for. (Perhaps I should have tried a single
"space"?)

First, I assume that this user has administrator privilege....
(To check, right-click on "Start". If "Open all users" is an option in
the window that pops up, then you have administrator privilege).

Then,
Right-click on "My Computer" -> Manage -> Local Users and Groups ->
Users -> Right-click on user, then "Set Password".

HTH,
John

 

[Don Cohen]

First, I assume that this user has administrator privilege....

(To check, right-click on "Start". If "Open all users" is an option in
the window that pops up, then you have administrator privilege).

Then,
Right-click on "My Computer" -> Manage -> Local Users and Groups ->
Users -> Right-click on user, then "Set Password".

Thanks again, John. The main User Account does have administrator
privileges, so I'll check this out as well tomorrow, and see if I can set a
password without it asking for the current one. That's the roadblock I was
running into before: while it acts as if there is no password, it still was
asking for one.

Will let you know what I find on both counts after that.

Best,

 

[Don Cohen]

Hi John,

One critical item you omit in your post is whether you are using
Simple File Sharing on not. This makes a big difference in the
accessing of files over the network. The following article might be
helpful:

"How to configure file sharing in Windows XP"
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040/en-us>

I verified that Simple File Sharing *is* enabled.

Another possibility...
In addition to sharing permissions when you set up file sharing,
there are also permissions set on the folder itself tham should match
(Right-click folder, Properties, Security Tab should match
permissions on the "Sharing" tab.

For whatever reason, there is no Security Tab, but the Sharing properties
are set as we want (for network users to access and/or change files).

That brings us back to the original Password issue:

1. When I Ctrl+Alt+Del to change Password, it asks for the current
Password. I tried nothing, or a single space, but these are rejected.

--What does this mean? Is there in fact a Password? If so, how is it that
the system boots up and never asks for a password?

2. From one of your other posts:

First, I assume that this user has administrator privilege....
(To check, right-click on "Start". If "Open all users" is an option in
the window that pops up, then you have administrator privilege).

Confirmed. "Open all users" *is* an option there.

Then,
Right-click on "My Computer" -> Manage -> Local Users and Groups ->
Users -> Right-click on user, then "Set Password".

I can get to this, but there are dire warnings about problems that may be
created if this action is performed, so I was reluctant to do this,
especially since it isn't clear what the Password status is as referenced in
Point #1 above.

So, if we assume that Sharing is set up and configured properly, the likely
remaining explanation relates to the Password issue.

How do you explain this computer's current behavior with reference to the
Password (#1 above)?

What is the safest way of resolving this, and avoiding unanticipated
problems for this computer's basic operation, access to data, programs,
etc.?

Many thanks!


Don

 

[John Wunderlich]

I can get to this, but there are dire warnings about problems that
may be created if this action is performed, so I was reluctant to
do this, especially since it isn't clear what the Password status
is as referenced in Point #1 above.

So, if we assume that Sharing is set up and configured properly,
the likely remaining explanation relates to the Password issue.

How do you explain this computer's current behavior with reference
to the Password (#1 above)?

What is the safest way of resolving this, and avoiding
unanticipated problems for this computer's basic operation, access
to data, programs, etc.?

Usually when you change your own password, it asks for your current
password before changing it to another. Why a blank password doesn't
work for this in your case, I don't know.

The method I outlined above forces a password change via Administrator
Rights. For most people, those warnings can be safely ignored. If you
use the Encrypting File System (EFS), however, you will permanently
lose access to EFS files unless you first back up your certificates.
The method of backing up certificates is contained at the end of the
article:

"Best practices for the Encrypting File System"
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223316>

.... so assuming you don't use EFS, go ahead and use the method above to
change the password. If you have worries about the warning, this would
be an excellent time to update your backup/archive of your computer
data.

HTH,
John

 

[Don Cohen]

Usually when you change your own password, it asks for your current
password before changing it to another. Why a blank password doesn't
work for this in your case, I don't know.

Well, if you're stumped, I'm stumped! That's part of why I hesitated to
reset the Password. I hate inadvertently creating more problems when trying
to fix one!

The method I outlined above forces a password change via Administrator
Rights. For most people, those warnings can be safely ignored. If you
use the Encrypting File System (EFS), however, you will permanently
lose access to EFS files unless you first back up your certificates.
The method of backing up certificates is contained at the end of the
article:

"Best practices for the Encrypting File System"
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223316>

... so assuming you don't use EFS, go ahead and use the method above to
change the password. If you have worries about the warning, this would
be an excellent time to update your backup/archive of your computer
data.

The techs are supposed to run a backup program every night, to a second
internal hard drive. I'll verify that this is taking place.

I don't believe there is EFS in use (which to be honest, I am not yet
familiar with this), but will make sure about that as well.

Thanks again, John.

Don