Can two networked win2k PCs ever work without passwords ?

[envirographics]

Can two win2k Pcs see each other without passwords ?

Simple networking problem but is it impossible in PC land for a
solution to exist, i.e. is it nature of the beast ?

I have two PC's, both win2kpro.
The newer one has just been formatted and has only win2kpro and latest
SP's on it plus a Proofmaster Folio software rip program, nothing
else. The other PC has my graphics progs on it and is not networked.
Turning clocks back a few yrs it was networked to the Departments
system simply to be able to access a departmental program or two. Since
then we have had it formatted and win2kpro then my progs back on so as
to be NOT networked and to be able to run unsupported programs without
support issues !
The two are connected via a Cat 5 crossover network cable. The bare
bones PC is connected to an Epson proofing printer via usb lead.

Problem is that despite having the folio rip PC reformatted and win2K
loaded back on then the rip, making sure it doesn't require a
password at any point in its operation, the graphics PC sees it in the
add printer wizard (start>settings>printers>add printer>network>browse)
but doesn't display any of the printer queues below the name of the
folio rip PC.
If on the Graphics PC we go
MyNetworkPlaces>EntireNetwork>MicrosoftWindowsNetwork>Workgroup and
double click the FolioRip PC name we see our problem...it displays:-
Incorrect Password or unknown username for
\\FolioRipPC
Connect as
Password

Now first time we encountered this, if we entered administrator and a
password, that password having been used on the folio PC during install
to try and overcome the problem of the two PC's seeing each other,
then printing worked.

In order to try and lose this situation we now have the Folio rip PC
reformatted as mentioned and this time not requiring password to boot
up.

If there is no solution to this, what password would we enter on the
graphics PC !

However, we need, we are told by the RIP installers, to lose this
situation where the graphics PC demands this password etc.

Is this possible with simply two PCs connected as such, or are we stuck
with this scenario as it's a Microsoft thing too deeply embedded to
overcome ? They don't get this problem with a MAC setup they say.

What we seek are the blow by blow steps or route we need to take to
solve this if someone could be so kind please. This would be most
welcome, as what tech support we have access to hasn't solved this,
and those that probably can, if its solvable won't because its an
unsupported PC ! and we have no money left now for an expensive visit !
Thanks in advance for your help.
Envirographics

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Can two win2k Pcs see each other without passwords ?

Simple networking problem but is it impossible in PC land for a
solution to exist, i.e. is it nature of the beast ?

I have two PC's, both win2kpro.
The newer one has just been formatted and has only win2kpro and latest
SP's on it plus a Proofmaster Folio software rip program, nothing
else. The other PC has my graphics progs on it and is not networked.
Turning clocks back a few yrs it was networked to the Departments
system simply to be able to access a departmental program or two. Since
then we have had it formatted and win2kpro then my progs back on so as
to be NOT networked and to be able to run unsupported programs without
support issues !
The two are connected via a Cat 5 crossover network cable. The bare
bones PC is connected to an Epson proofing printer via usb lead.

Problem is that despite having the folio rip PC reformatted and win2K
loaded back on then the rip, making sure it doesn't require a
password at any point in its operation, the graphics PC sees it in the
add printer wizard (start>settings>printers>add printer>network>browse)
but doesn't display any of the printer queues below the name of the
folio rip PC.
If on the Graphics PC we go
MyNetworkPlaces>EntireNetwork>MicrosoftWindowsNetwork>Workgroup and
double click the FolioRip PC name we see our problem...it displays:-
Incorrect Password or unknown username for
\\FolioRipPC
Connect as
Password

Now first time we encountered this, if we entered administrator and a
password, that password having been used on the folio PC during install
to try and overcome the problem of the two PC's seeing each other,
then printing worked.

In order to try and lose this situation we now have the Folio rip PC
reformatted as mentioned and this time not requiring password to boot
up.

If there is no solution to this, what password would we enter on the
graphics PC !

However, we need, we are told by the RIP installers, to lose this
situation where the graphics PC demands this password etc.

Is this possible with simply two PCs connected as such, or are we stuck
with this scenario as it's a Microsoft thing too deeply embedded to
overcome ? They don't get this problem with a MAC setup they say.

What we seek are the blow by blow steps or route we need to take to
solve this if someone could be so kind please. This would be most
welcome, as what tech support we have access to hasn't solved this,
and those that probably can, if its solvable won't because its an
unsupported PC ! and we have no money left now for an expensive visit !
Thanks in advance for your help.
Envirographics

There is a little too much formatting and reloading Windows here
for my taste. Taking a machine out of a business domain environment
is a five minute job, with no loss of anything, and reloading Windows
to get over a password issue is equivalent to buy a new car when
you run out of gas.

Windows is by its very design a "secure" operating system. Once
you accept this fact the solution to your problem springs to the
mind: Create and use one and the same account on each PC,
with synchronised passwords. You don't even need to enter
the password each time when logging on: Tools such as TweakUI
let you automate the process.