Guest network access fails

[rmaril]

I have an XP box that will not connect to network shares without asking for a
user name and password. If I fill out the user name as Guest (blank password)
the machine will then connect to most other machines shares without issue for
an hour or two. After which I have to repeat the filing out of the dialog.

There is one exception... There is a pc (with a shared printer that I need
to access from the machine above) that will not authenticate as described
above. We have to attempt to connect to another machine on the network *then*
we can connect to this PC/Printer without issue.

None of our other PC's have any problems opening each other's shared
directories/printers.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Gordon]

I have an XP box that will not connect to network shares without asking for
a
user name and password. If I fill out the user name as Guest (blank
password)
the machine will then connect to most other machines shares without issue
for
an hour or two. After which I have to repeat the filing out of the dialog.

You should NOT be using the guest account at ALL, never mind for internet
access.
Why are you using it?

 

[John Wunderlich]

You should NOT be using the guest account at ALL, never mind for
internet access.
Why are you using it?

All XP Home computers and XP Pro computers with "Simple File Sharing"
enabled _force_ all network connections to work through the Guest
account. That could be why it is being used. Microsoft File Sharing
does not easily traverse NAT routers, so it should be safe for a local
network.

To answer the original question: Is the problem computer an XP Pro
machine with Simple File Sharing disabled? If so, try enabling Simple
File Sharing on that machine.
Double-Click any folder -> Tools -> Folder options -> View ->
(last checkbox on list).

Mapped network connections will disconnect if left idle for a period of
time then reconnect when next used. This is probably why you need to
re-authenticate.

HTH,
John