Vista requiring username/password with simple file sharing

[Denys T]

Why is Vista asking for a username and password everytime I try to access
shares with password protection turned off on both Vista machines? Damn if I
know. I can use the XP Pro machine to access the shared files on either Vista
machine and don't get asked for a username/password. Vista's networking is
flaky to say the least.

The whole idea of small office networking is to be simple, Vista has tried
to complicate this with password protection. Why should I have to have all
users on every machine? That's just more network maintenance I don't want in
a small home office. Besides some users may not want other people's accounts
on their machines but they'd still like to share files and Vista has made
this a nightmare.

Checklist:
File sharing : On (check)
Printer sharing: On (check)
Public sharing: On (check)
Password protection: Off (check)
Workgroup name the same (check)
Private network (check)

Logon to the router and I can see the Vista machines and the XP machine and
the network printer. On XP machine access the shared printer on Vista #1,
works like a charm. On XP machine open a shared folder on Vista #2, works
like a charm. On Vista #1 access a shared folder on XP machine, works like a
charm. On Vista #1 access a shared folder on Vista #2, sorry....do not pass
go do not collect $200 until you enter a username and password. EXCUSE ME! Oh
well, so much for progress.

Not a firewall problem, get the same result whether or not a firewall is
enabled or not. Haven't tried a crossover cable between the 2 Vista machines
to see if it's the router but I have my doubts because XP works fine.

Solution: Move all shared printers and files to XP and forget Vista sharing.

 

[Malke]

Why is Vista asking for a username and password everytime I try to access
shares with password protection turned off on both Vista machines? Damn if
I know. I can use the XP Pro machine to access the shared files on either
Vista machine and don't get asked for a username/password. Vista's
networking is flaky to say the least.

(snippage)

If one or more of the computers is XP Pro or Media Center:

1. If you need Pro's ability to set fine-grained permissions, turn off
Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab) and create identical user
accounts/passwords on all computers.

2. If you don't care about using Pro's advanced features, leave the Simple
File Sharing enabled. Simple File Sharing means that Guest (network) is
enabled. This means that anyone without a user account on the target system
can use its resources. This is a security hole but only you can decide if
it matters in your situation.

So you probably have Simple File Sharing disabled. With my always-mixed-OS
network, I prefer to create the matching user accounts and passwords as
below:

If one or more of the computers is XP Pro or Media Center:

1. If you need Pro's ability to set fine-grained permissions, turn off
Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab) and create identical user
accounts/passwords on all computers.

2. If you don't care about using Pro's advanced features, leave the Simple
File Sharing enabled. Simple File Sharing means that Guest (network) is
enabled. This means that anyone without a user account on the target system
can use its resources. This is a security hole but only you can decide if
it matters in your situation.

Otherwise disable Simple File Sharing in your XP Pro so you can connect as
Guest.

Malke

 

[Sven Pran]

Your comments below are very interesting and I wonder if my problem is the
same (please see my own post on this group about networking problem with 98,
98SE, XP and Vista).

I have logon with identical user name and password on XP and Vista, but I
have no logon at all on the two 98 machines!

Do I have to establish logons on the 98 machines in order to access Vista
"public" folders from them? (I can only access "public" from my XP machine,
not the domain with the same userid I have on the XP machine)

regards Sven

 

[Malke]

Your comments below are very interesting and I wonder if my problem is the
same (please see my own post on this group about networking problem with
98, 98SE, XP and Vista).

I have logon with identical user name and password on XP and Vista, but I
have no logon at all on the two 98 machines!

Do I have to establish logons on the 98 machines in order to access Vista
"public" folders from them? (I can only access "public" from my XP
machine, not the domain with the same userid I have on the XP machine)

I haven't networked Vista with Win98 at all and I don't have any notes on
doing it, either. I know it is unsupported and can be tetchy. MVP Steve
Winograd is really expert at networking Win9x/ME boxen so you might want to
do a Google Groups search. Use the advanced search and constrain the
newsgroup to this one - microsoft.public.windows.vista.networking_sharing -
and you might want to put Steve's name in along with your search terms.
Possibly something like "network Windows 98 Vista".

I could noodle around and guess, but I'd feel more comfortable letting
someone like Steve give you advice based on experience.

I'm sorry I couldn't answer this question for you.

Malke

 

[Denys T]

Simple file sharing (or the equivalent on Vista according to Microsoft) is
enabled on all machines. XP Pro is working fine with all machines, it's the
two Vista machines that hate each other and deny each other access without a
username/password. I find it strange that using XP I can access My Network
Places and get right on to either Vista machine shares with no
username/password prompt but I can't either Vista machine to access shares on
the other Vista machine without getting a username/password prompt.