Unable to Log into network shares or computers

[Guest]

I just got a laptop with VISTA HOME Premium to setup for one of my users. I
am trying to install software located on a network share. I am unable log in.
It keeps saying "logon unsuccessful: Windows is unable to log you on. Be sure
that your user name and password are correct." They are definitely correct.
If i look at the network folder I can see the computer but unable to log in.
I try run then \\sharename\folder\ and same problem. I was able to setup
vista premium laptops without any problems. It has to be a VISTA home issue.
Should i return this computer and request an XP to fix this problem?

 

[Jeffrey Randow]

In a workgroup environment, specify your username as
MACHINENAME\USERNAME. In a Domain environment, specify your username
as DOMAINNAME\USERNAME.

 

[Guest]

Yeah, I tried that and unfortunately it did not work. After much digging I
found this arcticle on TechNet.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx

which states,

Cannot Authenticate to a Shared Folder from a Windows Vista-based Computer
If you cannot authenticate when accessing a shared folder from a Windows
Vista-based computer on a computer running a version of Windows prior to
Windows XP (such as Windows 98 or Windows 95), a computer running an
operating system other than Microsoft Windows, or to a network device, the
cause might be a mismatch in the configured support for NTLM 2, an
authentication protocol that is used for file and printer sharing
connections. By default, Windows Vista is configured to use NTLM 2.

To resolve this issue, you can do one of the following:

Enable NTLM 2 support on the computer or device to which the Windows
Vista-based computer is attempting to connect. For computers running versions
of Windows prior to Windows XP, see How to enable NTLM 2 authentication. For
computers running operating systems other than Windows, see the operating
system's product documentation for information about how to enable NTLM 2
support. For network devices, see the device's product documentation or Web
site for information about how to enable NTLM 2 support or download a
firmware update that supports NTLM 2. This is the preferred solution.

If you cannot update the computers running operating systems other than
Windows or your network devices to support NTLM 2, change the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\LMCompatibilityLevel
registry value on the computer running Windows Vista to 1. This solution is
not recommended.

We are using samba v2x and are unable to upgrade to version 3x which
supports NTLMv2. So enabling NTLMv2 on the network is not an option. So I
just edited the value in the registry. I was able to log in to my network
shares just by typing in my username withouth domainname\username. Works like
a champ.

 

[Jeffrey Randow]

Yep. Some IS products install an outgoing firewall that can prevent
network communications pretty well.. Unfortunately.

 

[fuctifino]

You can use RegEdit but any changes could have serious consequences.
Do a back-up before trying to change anything or better still get somebody
in who knows what they're doing.
DH

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

I can't find this file to change:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\LMCompatibilityLevel
the way that isaer recommends. Is this a text file that can be edited
by hand, or is it accessible to change by some GUI interface? What is
meant by HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE?
Thanks,
Dan

Dan,

The System Registry is actually a database comprised of several files. You need
Registry Editor, to change this setting.
<http://networking.nitecruzr.net/2005/07/registry-editor.html>
http://networking.nitecruzr.net/2005/07/registry-editor.html

Be careful using Registry Editor - if you don't understand something, read about
it - don't guess.