Password required for network

[AD-15]

hello,

When I try to access my laptop using the network places window on my PC, it starts asking for a password to a guest account. Any idea how I can disable this?

[adam1701]

been trying to find this out for agies, since moving to vista it actually asks for a username and password.

its something to do with having the same account names on both computers afaik, but that's ridiculous.

must be a way around it.

[burtie]

Yes disable guest account.

[adam1701]

i always have guest account disabled, but i still have that problem.

[burtie]

Try this I'm not sure if It'll fix it with vista but worth a shot.

First, run secpol.msc and make some necessary change for guest account. Then run secedit /export /cfg c:\GroupPolicy.inf /quiet to generate a security template. you can use that template for UA Group Policy configuring later.

NOTE: you should apply the KB897327 hotfix first if you use WinXp with SP2 or you are not able to export the template normally,it can be obtained from , or contact Microsoft Product Support Services for it. Don't forget to integrate it into your XPCD later if you want to successfully apply the GroupPolicy template in UA mode.


Unattended process:

1. Enable "file and print sharing" in Windows Xp firewall's exception list from Winnt.sif, see SP2's ref.chm for detail

2. Use net user guest /active:yes to enable the guest account

3. Finally run

secedit /configure /db %systemdrive%\gp.sdb /cfg X:\XX\GroupPolicy.inf /overwrite /quiet
gpupdate
del %systemdrive%\gp.sdb

Change the path of CroupPolicy.inf accordingly.

Hope this helps!

[AD-15]

hello,

I'm sorry for taking so long to get back to you, I've been very busy recently.

Unfortunetly, I do not understand what you are saying. Do you mind if you structured your post into a step-by-step guide?

Thanks!

[AD-15]

any ideas guys?

[Lucio]

Are both accounts inside the same Workgroup or Domain? Also, are both running the same OS, or different ones?

[AD-15]

Yup, both are on the same workgroup. Both running XP pro.

[Viper81]

I find the first step with these kind of problems is to make sure simple file sharing is off (it always confuses matters for me) :

- From My Computer select the Tools menu, then Folder Options
- Click the View tab, and then de-select the Use Simple File Sharing (Recommended)

[AD-15]

hello,

None of this makes a difference.

To make things worse Norton 360 now refuses to allow my laptop to be seen by other computers on the network. When I move the locations to the trusted column in the settings and press OK, I reopen the window and find they've moved back to the "restricted" column. Quite literally the worst piece of junk I've ever purchased. I'll post again when I have it sorted.

[adam1701]

norton sucks, use AVG. its free and much better.

[AD-15]

Fortunetly, my subscription finishes very soon, I will find another AV.

I've managed to fix the norton issue. However, again, when I try to connect to my laptop, I still get that security box. Any ideas?

[MadduckUK]

just to make sure.... do you actually have anything shared on the laptop?

[dave87]

Well Shared Docs should appear automatically.

The accounts excluding the Guest one, do they have passwords on them? If they do not, then they are not able to be used for authentication over the network - set them with a password and you shouldn't have an issue.

[MadduckUK]

the only time xp asks me for a password when i try and access a comp is if iv actually forgotten to make any folders/drives shared.. just doing process of elimination