XP-some network computers ask for password

[Guest]

I have an 8 computer peer-to-peer network. It did have 5-W98 and 3-2K
computers. When trying to access drives on the 2K computers from the W98
computers it asked for a password, which I have not set up. I have now
upgraded all computers to XP. When trying to access drives on computers
upgraded from 2K from a computer upgraded from W98 it still asks fro a
passowrd. 2K to 2K computer is fine and 2K to W98 is fine.
All computers ping. In net view all computers show up.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Chuck]

I have an 8 computer peer-to-peer network. It did have 5-W98 and 3-2K
computers. When trying to access drives on the 2K computers from the W98
computers it asked for a password, which I have not set up. I have now
upgraded all computers to XP. When trying to access drives on computers
upgraded from 2K from a computer upgraded from W98 it still asks fro a
passowrd. 2K to 2K computer is fine and 2K to W98 is fine.
All computers ping. In net view all computers show up.
Any help would be appreciated.

Larry,

I'm not sure what your question is, though I have some.

Are you running XP Home, XP Pro, a combination, other? All of this makes a big
difference.

On any XP Pro computer, check to see if Simple File Sharing (Control Panel -
Folder Options - View - Advanced settings) is enabled or disabled. With XP Pro,
you need to have SFS properly set on each computer.

On XP Pro with SFS disabled, check the Local Security Policies (Control Panel -
Administrative Tools). Under Local Policies - Security Options, look at
"Network access: Sharing and security model", and ensure it's set to "Classic -
local users authenticate as themselves".

On XP Pro with SFS disabled, if you set the above Local Security Policy to
"Guest only", enable the Guest account, using Start - Run - "cmd" - type "net
user guest /active:yes" in the command window. If "Classic", setup and use a
common non-Guest account on all computers. Whichever account is used, give it
an identical, non-blank password on all computers.

On XP Home, and on XP Pro with Simple File Sharing enabled, make sure that the
Guest account is enabled, on each computer. Enable Guest, with Start - Run -
"cmd", then type "net user guest /active:yes" in the command window. Ensure
that the password for Guest is blank, with Start - Run - "control
userpasswords2"; select Guest, click Reset Password, click OK without entering a
new password.

On XP Pro, if you're going to use Guest authentication, check your Local
Security Policy (Control Panel - Administrative Tools) - User Rights Assignment,
on the XP Pro computer, and look at "Deny access to this computer from the
network". Make sure Guest is not in the list. Look at "Access this computer
from the network", and make sure that Everyone is in this list.

More about file sharing, between all different versions of Windows:
<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...db-aef8-4bef-925e-7ac9be791028&DisplayLang=en>

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Guest]

Chuck,

Sorry if my question was confusing. All computers are XP Pro. I do not use
passwords for computers to access each other on the network, but when trying
to access computers upgraded from 2K to XP from computers I upgraded from W98
to XP, I am prompted for a passowrd which I have not set up. Going the other
way, I can access former W98 computers from former 2K computers fine. Also,
former 2K to 2K is fine. Only former W98 to 2K asks for a passowrd.

 

[Chuck]

Chuck,

Sorry if my question was confusing. All computers are XP Pro. I do not use
passwords for computers to access each other on the network, but when trying
to access computers upgraded from 2K to XP from computers I upgraded from W98
to XP, I am prompted for a passowrd which I have not set up. Going the other
way, I can access former W98 computers from former 2K computers fine. Also,
former 2K to 2K is fine. Only former W98 to 2K asks for a passowrd.

Larry,

By default, under Advanced File Sharing (Simple File Sharing disabled), a
password is required for network access. Simple File Sharing, which uses the
Guest account, does not require one. Are you using AFS, or SFS, on each
computer? Are you using Guest-only, or Classic authentication, on each
computer?

Be consistent. Check all settings on each computer, and configure identically,
and according to the rules. Upgrade path differences probably led to setting
differences, which yields your inconsistent symptoms.

See the document referenced previously for details.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

Chuck is right - the behavior you are experiencing results because some of
your computers use Simple File Sharing and some do not. When you upgrade a
Win98 machine to XP Pro, SFS will be enabled by default. When you upgrade a
Win2k machine to XP Pro, SFS will be disabled by default.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304040

The best approach is to set all machines to use SFS or set them all to use
classic file sharing. If you use classic, you will need to have user
accounts with passwords, and all such accounts/passwords should exist on all
machines.

Doug Sherman
MCSE, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[Guest]

Chuck,

Thanks, that took care of the problem.

Larry,

By default, under Advanced File Sharing (Simple File Sharing disabled), a
password is required for network access. Simple File Sharing, which uses the
Guest account, does not require one. Are you using AFS, or SFS, on each
computer? Are you using Guest-only, or Classic authentication, on each
computer?

Be consistent. Check all settings on each computer, and configure identically,
and according to the rules. Upgrade path differences probably led to setting
differences, which yields your inconsistent symptoms.

See the document referenced previously for details.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Chuck]

Chuck,

Thanks, that took care of the problem.

"Chuck" wrote:

Alright, Larry. Thanks for the update.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.