Home network: one computer suddenly requires a (non-existent) password.Help requsted.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gorham
  • Start date Start date
G

Gorham

First off, please forgive the cross-post; both a Windows 98 and a
Windows 2000 machine are involved in my problem.

I have a local network with three machines on it using a Linksys router
which connects all three machines to each other and to my cable modem.
Two of the machines are Win2K and the third runs under Win98.

Until today, all has worked well with all three machines "seeing" each
other and able to access folders that have sharing allowed.

As of today, the Win98 machine is suddenly being required to enter a
password to even look at the other two machines. I have one shortcut on
its desktop to a folder on my Win2K desktop and that too is requiring a
password for access.

The other two machines are still working perfectly; they can "see" all
three machines and access the shared folders on all three machines
including the Win98.

I'm stymied. The problem is one-way and I've checked settings on the
other machines and found nothing that helps. No passwords have been set
so I don't have one to remove. The problem still exists if one of the
Win2K machines is off.

I'm sure something must have been done to cause this; it can't have just
materialized out of thin air. But I don't have a clue where to start
looking.

I'm also sure I've left out important details; it's hard to think of
everything pertinent until after one has pressed the "send" button.

If anyone has any ideas tha might help, I'd surely be grateful.

TIA.

G.
 
quoted from http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to setup home or peer-to-peer network

If all of the computers in a peer-to-peer workgroup don't have a common
networking protocol, a common workgroup, and common user names and
passwords, the computers may experience a difficulty to communicate with
other computers that are running Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows 95, or
Microsoft Windows 98. To resolve this issue, configure the computers by
ensuring that they have a common networking protocol (TCP/IP), a common
workgroup, and common user names and passwords. Also make sure enable File
and Printer Sharing is installed.


--
For more and other information, go to http://www.ChicagoTech.net

Don't send e-mail or reply to me except you need consulting services.
Posting on MS newsgroup will benefit all readers and you may get more help.

Robert Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN, Anti-Virus, Tips & Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.
 
quoted from http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to setup home or peer-to-peer network

If all of the computers in a peer-to-peer workgroup don't have a common
networking protocol, a common workgroup, and common user names and
passwords, the computers may experience a difficulty to communicate with
other computers that are running Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows 95, or
Microsoft Windows 98. To resolve this issue, configure the computers by
ensuring that they have a common networking protocol (TCP/IP), a common
workgroup, and common user names and passwords. Also make sure enable File
and Printer Sharing is installed.
Click to expand...

Hi and thanks.

It's not a peer to peer network, simple an "enable file and printer
sharing" network. I did go back and check that all the computer names,
workgroup names and enabling is good but that's not the issue. The
network works because the other two machines can see the Win98 one and
it can see itself and, until I try to open them, the others. Along with
the fact that the setup was working. Something's tweaked something and
now it doesn't but it's not the overall setup that I can tell.

I mis-spoke earlier though. When I try to access one of the Win2K
machines from the Win98, it requires a password and I've tried every
password I've used from that machine to no avail. Which isn't surprising
since I've never set a password for file sharing.

But! If I try to access the other Win2K machine, I get the message that
it's "Not accessible. No permission to access source." That same machine
is indeed accessible from the other Win2K machine.

I'd think it was a cable except that all three machines access the cable
modem (and Internet) just fine. And all three at least see each other.

There's a permission somewhere that's gone awry but I can't find it and
can't actually figure even which machine to look at. And now the problem
seems to be different as it tries to access files on the two Win2K
machines anyway.

I'd go ahead and upgrade the other machine to Win2K but not until I'm
sure the problem isn't in one of the others.

If the thinking caps could continue to be worn, I thank you.

G.
 
Thanks but still no-go. After doing all the steps, the Win98 machine
could still see the other machines but still requires a password to get
to one and has the not-accessible message on the other. The network's
there but somewhere something's happened to mess up its access.

I'm beginning to think the problem may be on one of the other machines
but I can't think how.

Right now I don't have the second Win2K machine up and it's just the
Win98 and the Win2K with the password requirement. But I've just checked
through the registry on the Win2K machine and found the computer name of
the other Win2K machine under explorer/mount points. I tried adding the
Win98 machine as another key but that didn't work; it's probably just
for Win2K machines. But nothing on the 98 machine so I don't know where
the password information would be stored so I could remove it. Why it
gets the no access message from the other machine I'm not even going to
worry about; those two don't really need to communicate.

The other two do and I'd really like to solve it.

Guess the bottom line of the question becomes where the target machine
(Win2K) would store the password information.

Thanks for trying, Carey.

G.
 
You added the same user name and password that you use on the Win98 machine
to the admin user setting on Win2k box as the web-site I sent you suggests,
and it still asks for a password?

Carey
 
I did but maybe not at the same time I had the other machine with those
settings. I'll give it another try.

Thanks.

G.
 
OK. Now I'm confused. I've gone through all the steps in tip #1 that you
suggested on the Win98 machine. The two Win2K machines don't have any of
the options you suggest so I haven't done anything with them. But I
don't see anything in Tip#1 about admin user settings on a Win2K box.
Perhaps it's another tip. I have verified that the machine names and
workgroup are all correctly entered.

Thing is, this whole setup was working.

Anyway, thanks for trying.

G.
 
You need to add a user on the Win2k box that matches the same user name and
password that is used on the box trying to connect to it.
 
Ah! I'll give that a try. Thanks.

Wonder why it worked before without that. I have everyone set for all my
sharing and that should work. Nevertheless, if trickery makes it work
again, I'll give it a shot.

Thanks for your patience and help Carey.

G.
 
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