Windows Workgroup Authentication

[DBruceM2]

In need of help and I've never run across an issue such as this. I
have 3 PCs in a workgroup. One of the PCs will not share it's
resources due to an authentication conflict. Whenever I access this PC
from one of the others via \\PCname\c$ (for example) it prompts
for a login. I've input the login info, however it just keeps coming
back and asking for the password over and over. I have verified the
administrator password and it doesn't like that one either. The
offending PC can log into and view info on the other 2 PCs just fine.
I've narrowed it down to just this PC.
This network configuration had been operating fine for nearly a year,
but now it's not.

Things to note: the offending PC is running XPSP2, and the other 2 are
running 2KSP4
File/Print sharing has been re-installed on the offending PC
Each PC has an administrator account set up w/ identical passwords
The offending PC can be seen via Network Neighborhood along w/ the
other 2 however it will not accept any password for any account I
create.
I have reset tcp/ip stack from command line to no avail
I have stopped the Windows firewall service, but this was not
successful. No other firewalls running.
All 3 PCs are hooked to the same router in same subnet.

Has anyone seen this happen in a workgroup setup before? Any
suggestions?
Let me know if more info is needed as this explanation was hurried.
Thanks,
David

 

[Claymore]

Hi,

On the XP computer enable Simple File Sharing by going to Folder
Options => View and checking the box 'Use simple file sharing'

 

[DBruceM2]

Hi,

On the XP computer enable Simple File Sharing by going to Folder
Options => View and checking the box 'Use simple file sharing'

No joy. This option is already checked.
Unfortunately, I don't feel this will be a simple 'check this box' kind
of fix. The XP machine (offender) can be seen via network neighborhood
on both of the 2K computers. But once I double click it to access it,
it prompts for a login. (same thing happens if I try to access
\\XPcomputer\c$) The problem is that it won't accept any login I try.
Furthermore, it should NOT be asking for a login anyways, since I have
created logins on all 3 computers identically on each PC. (example:
administrator password is same on all 3 computers) So, authentication
should be automatic when trying to access a share on this XP PC.

 

[DBruceM2]

No joy. This option is already checked.
Unfortunately, I don't feel this will be a simple 'check this box' kind
of fix. The XP machine (offender) can be seen via network neighborhood
on both of the 2K computers. But once I double click it to access it,
it prompts for a login. (same thing happens if I try to access
\\XPcomputer\c$) The problem is that it won't accept any login I try.
Furthermore, it should NOT be asking for a login anyways, since I have
created logins on all 3 computers identically on each PC. (example:
administrator password is same on all 3 computers) So, authentication
should be automatic when trying to access a share on this XP PC.

Bump.
Anyone have any other thoughts??

 

[Claymore]

Hello again,

Have you checked that the Windows Firewall is turned off?
And that the Services - Workstation, Server, and Computer Browser - are
set to Automatic and Started?

 

[DBruceM2]

Hello again,

Have you checked that the Windows Firewall is turned off?
And that the Services - Workstation, Server, and Computer Browser - are
set to Automatic and Started?

Thanks for the reply.
One of my first steps was to disable the Windows firewall... no luck.
(I completely stopped the service rather than "disabling" it from GUI.
I checked each of the services suggested above, and they are all set to
automatic and are all currently running. Just to make sure, I stopped
and restarted each service. Still not working properly.
Is there a system service that handles the authentication portion of
file/print sharing? The Win2K computers can 'see' the XP computer,
but the XP computer won't accept the login info that I use to access
it's resources. (yes, i'm using correct logins) Basically, everything
works up to the point at which the machine requires a user/pwd.

 

[DBruceM2]

Thanks for the reply.
One of my first steps was to disable the Windows firewall... no luck.
(I completely stopped the service rather than "disabling" it from GUI.
I checked each of the services suggested above, and they are all set to
automatic and are all currently running. Just to make sure, I stopped
and restarted each service. Still not working properly.
Is there a system service that handles the authentication portion of
file/print sharing? The Win2K computers can 'see' the XP computer,
but the XP computer won't accept the login info that I use to access
it's resources. (yes, i'm using correct logins) Basically, everything
works up to the point at which the machine requires a user/pwd.

Well, it appears that I have fixed the problem... however it makes NO
sense to me. Maybe someone can explain it.
I turned Simple File Sharing OFF. After turning it off, I restarted
the services (workstation, server, computer browser). Now, when I try
to open a share from one of the other computers, I am not prompted for
a password and authentication is automatic and immediate (like it
always used to work).
Did a recent windows update turn on Simple File Sharing by default??
I've never worked w/ this option until this past weekend. I didn't even
know it existed.
Well, anyways... thanks for all of your help. The 'workaround' doesn't
make any sense to me, but it works so i'm not complaining.