Workgroup with inconsistent password requirements

[Guest]

I'm puzzled by a workgroup with three computers, all with the same accounts
setup, but where accessing shares from one computer doesn't require a
password, but does from another.

The workgroup consists of the following computers:

Name OS Login Acct Other Accts Shares
A XP Pro AcctA AcctB, AcctC ShareA
B XP Home AcctB AcctA, AcctC ShareB
C XP Home AcctC AcctB, AcctA ShareC

All accounts are members of Administrators. All computers are in the
workgroup X. All Shares are owned by Administrator with Full Control for
Administrators.

Here is the odd behavior we are seeing:

When someone on computer C attempts to map ShareA, they are presented with a
login window (unexpected). Entering their account (AcctC) and password is
sufficent to get full access. However, someone on computer B who attempts to
map ShareA is NOT required to login (as expected).

I tried creating a NEW administrator account on computer A and C (AcctTest).
When I then login on computer C using AcctTest and map ShareA that works
WITHOUT presenting a login window.

I'd love an explanation of what is going on, and any suggestions as to how
to fix the problem (with the existing accounts).

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Steven L Umbach]

XP Home will use ONLY simple file sharing which means that anyone can access
the share on an XP Home computer as guest [anonymous] without any
credentials if everyone permissions are on the share and the folder. By
default XP Pro works the same way but if simple file sharing is disable
users will need to authenticate to a user account on the XP Pro computer to
gain access to the share. If the user is logged onto their computer with the
same logon/password that exists in the local users on the XP Pro computer
they should get seamless access without getting a prompt for credentials.
Also be default XP Pro requires that the user account has a password to
access a share via the network. --- Steve

 

[Guest]

You'll note from the scenario I laid out that there are two XP home computers
accessing a share on a single XP Pro computer. One requires a password to map
the share, the other doesn't. Their accounts are both administrator accounts.
The question is: what could cause that to happen? How can it be fixed?

--Steve

XP Home will use ONLY simple file sharing which means that anyone can access
the share on an XP Home computer as guest [anonymous] without any
credentials if everyone permissions are on the share and the folder. By
default XP Pro works the same way but if simple file sharing is disable
users will need to authenticate to a user account on the XP Pro computer to
gain access to the share. If the user is logged onto their computer with the
same logon/password that exists in the local users on the XP Pro computer
they should get seamless access without getting a prompt for credentials.
Also be default XP Pro requires that the user account has a password to
access a share via the network. --- Steve

I'm puzzled by a workgroup with three computers, all with the same
accounts
setup, but where accessing shares from one computer doesn't require a
password, but does from another.

The workgroup consists of the following computers:

Name OS Login Acct Other Accts Shares
A XP Pro AcctA AcctB, AcctC ShareA
B XP Home AcctB AcctA, AcctC ShareB
C XP Home AcctC AcctB, AcctA ShareC

All accounts are members of Administrators. All computers are in the
workgroup X. All Shares are owned by Administrator with Full Control for
Administrators.

Here is the odd behavior we are seeing:

When someone on computer C attempts to map ShareA, they are presented with
a
login window (unexpected). Entering their account (AcctC) and password is
sufficent to get full access. However, someone on computer B who attempts
to
map ShareA is NOT required to login (as expected).

I tried creating a NEW administrator account on computer A and C
(AcctTest).
When I then login on computer C using AcctTest and map ShareA that works
WITHOUT presenting a login window.

I'd love an explanation of what is going on, and any suggestions as to how
to fix the problem (with the existing accounts).

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Steven L Umbach]

Sorry that I read your post a bit too fast. What I would check is to see if
the user already has a mapped drive to share A that uses persistent
credentials that may be a different user. Also go to his user account in
Control Panel and see if anything shows in "manage my network passwords"
that shows that computer/share though I don't believe that works like it
does in XP Pro. Also make sure that use user does have a password to logon
to his XP Home computer because a password is required to access a share by
default on XP Pro as if you do not enforce minimum password length the user
may have set his password to blank but know what is needed to logon to the
share. --- Steve

You'll note from the scenario I laid out that there are two XP home
computers
accessing a share on a single XP Pro computer. One requires a password to
map
the share, the other doesn't. Their accounts are both administrator
accounts.
The question is: what could cause that to happen? How can it be fixed?

--Steve

XP Home will use ONLY simple file sharing which means that anyone can
access
the share on an XP Home computer as guest [anonymous] without any
credentials if everyone permissions are on the share and the folder. By
default XP Pro works the same way but if simple file sharing is disable
users will need to authenticate to a user account on the XP Pro computer
to
gain access to the share. If the user is logged onto their computer with
the
same logon/password that exists in the local users on the XP Pro computer
they should get seamless access without getting a prompt for credentials.
Also be default XP Pro requires that the user account has a password to
access a share via the network. --- Steve

I'm puzzled by a workgroup with three computers, all with the same
accounts
setup, but where accessing shares from one computer doesn't require a
password, but does from another.

The workgroup consists of the following computers:

Name OS Login Acct Other Accts Shares
A XP Pro AcctA AcctB, AcctC ShareA
B XP Home AcctB AcctA, AcctC ShareB
C XP Home AcctC AcctB, AcctA ShareC

All accounts are members of Administrators. All computers are in the
workgroup X. All Shares are owned by Administrator with Full Control
for
Administrators.

Here is the odd behavior we are seeing:

When someone on computer C attempts to map ShareA, they are presented
with
a
login window (unexpected). Entering their account (AcctC) and password
is
sufficent to get full access. However, someone on computer B who
attempts
to
map ShareA is NOT required to login (as expected).

I tried creating a NEW administrator account on computer A and C
(AcctTest).
When I then login on computer C using AcctTest and map ShareA that
works
WITHOUT presenting a login window.

I'd love an explanation of what is going on, and any suggestions as to
how
to fix the problem (with the existing accounts).

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Guest]

Thanks. I'll have them check those items.

--Steve

Sorry that I read your post a bit too fast. What I would check is to see if
the user already has a mapped drive to share A that uses persistent
credentials that may be a different user. Also go to his user account in
Control Panel and see if anything shows in "manage my network passwords"
that shows that computer/share though I don't believe that works like it
does in XP Pro. Also make sure that use user does have a password to logon
to his XP Home computer because a password is required to access a share by
default on XP Pro as if you do not enforce minimum password length the user
may have set his password to blank but know what is needed to logon to the
share. --- Steve

You'll note from the scenario I laid out that there are two XP home
computers
accessing a share on a single XP Pro computer. One requires a password to
map
the share, the other doesn't. Their accounts are both administrator
accounts.
The question is: what could cause that to happen? How can it be fixed?

--Steve

XP Home will use ONLY simple file sharing which means that anyone can
access
the share on an XP Home computer as guest [anonymous] without any
credentials if everyone permissions are on the share and the folder. By
default XP Pro works the same way but if simple file sharing is disable
users will need to authenticate to a user account on the XP Pro computer
to
gain access to the share. If the user is logged onto their computer with
the
same logon/password that exists in the local users on the XP Pro computer
they should get seamless access without getting a prompt for credentials.
Also be default XP Pro requires that the user account has a password to
access a share via the network. --- Steve


I'm puzzled by a workgroup with three computers, all with the same
accounts
setup, but where accessing shares from one computer doesn't require a
password, but does from another.

The workgroup consists of the following computers:

Name OS Login Acct Other Accts Shares
A XP Pro AcctA AcctB, AcctC ShareA
B XP Home AcctB AcctA, AcctC ShareB
C XP Home AcctC AcctB, AcctA ShareC

All accounts are members of Administrators. All computers are in the
workgroup X. All Shares are owned by Administrator with Full Control
for
Administrators.

Here is the odd behavior we are seeing:

When someone on computer C attempts to map ShareA, they are presented
with
a
login window (unexpected). Entering their account (AcctC) and password
is
sufficent to get full access. However, someone on computer B who
attempts
to
map ShareA is NOT required to login (as expected).

I tried creating a NEW administrator account on computer A and C
(AcctTest).
When I then login on computer C using AcctTest and map ShareA that
works
WITHOUT presenting a login window.

I'd love an explanation of what is going on, and any suggestions as to
how
to fix the problem (with the existing accounts).

Thanks,

Steve