Windows 7 prompts for Network Password when file sharing - please help

[Adam]

New ASUS laptop with Windows 7 Home Premium keeps
prompting for Network Password when accessing shared files on
another system on the home network. Unfortunately,
the seller (Amazon.com) forgot to let customers know the network password.

I've been googling for a solution with no luck.

System: ASUS N61JQ-X1 16-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop ...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00352LQZS/ref=oss_product

 

[Char Jackson]

New ASUS laptop with Windows 7 Home Premium keeps
prompting for Network Password when accessing shared files on
another system on the home network. Unfortunately,
the seller (Amazon.com) forgot to let customers know the network password.

I've been googling for a solution with no luck.

System: ASUS N61JQ-X1 16-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop ...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00352LQZS/ref=oss_product

I think you have it backwards. It's the other system that's asking for
a password before allowing you to access its files. Apparently, the
other computer has password protected sharing enabled, so you'd have
to enter a valid username and password that's recognized by the other
computer.

The whole thing should be seamless if you add a new user on the other
computer and give it the credentials that you use on the Asus. The
next time you try to access the other computer, your Asus computer
will send your credentials, and since they'll match a user account on
the other computer, you'll be allowed access.

There are a few other ways to do it, so post back if this method isn't
what you want.

 

[Adam]

I think you have it backwards. It's the other system that's asking for
a password before allowing you to access its files. Apparently, the
other computer has password protected sharing enabled, so you'd have
to enter a valid username and password that's recognized by the other
computer.

The whole thing should be seamless if you add a new user on the other
computer and give it the credentials that you use on the Asus. The
next time you try to access the other computer, your Asus computer
will send your credentials, and since they'll match a user account on
the other computer, you'll be allowed access.

There are a few other ways to do it, so post back if this method isn't
what you want.

The drive is shared and has "Access Type" set to "Full" so
no password is required to access the shared drive/files.

Under Windows 7, Windows Security dialog is asking for
a "Network Password" as soon as I click on the shared drive in Windows Explorer.

 

[Char Jackson]

The drive is shared and has "Access Type" set to "Full" so
no password is required to access the shared drive/files.

Under Windows 7, Windows Security dialog is asking for
a "Network Password" as soon as I click on the shared drive in Windows Explorer.

Focus on the other computer. That's where the issue is. What OS is it
running? Is password protected sharing enabled, or does it use
'Simple' sharing (what they call it in XP), or what? Is the firewall
on that system configured to allow file sharing? Can you access other
folders and files (especially any folders that are shared by default)
on that system from your Asus computer?

 

[Adam]

Focus on the other computer. That's where the issue is. What OS is it
running? Is password protected sharing enabled, or does it use
'Simple' sharing (what they call it in XP), or what? Is the firewall
on that system configured to allow file sharing? Can you access other
folders and files (especially any folders that are shared by default)
on that system from your Asus computer?

The other system is running Win98SE (old, I know).
Since it's on a home network, I recall entering an empty password way back so
that I didn't have to deal with entering user name and password.
I think this may be the key to the solution. How do I do the same for
the new ASUS/Windows 7 system? I "know" that the Win98SE setup is
not the problem since file sharing does work with an old Win98SE laptop.
I successfully changed ZoneAlarm this morning so that
the new ASUS/Windows 7 can see other systems on the home network and vice versa.
I need to find out how to enter an empty password when prompted under
Windows 7 so that the prompt just goes away forever (just like it did for
Win98SE).
Does that make sense?

 

[Char Jackson]

The other system is running Win98SE (old, I know).
Since it's on a home network, I recall entering an empty password way back so
that I didn't have to deal with entering user name and password.
I think this may be the key to the solution. How do I do the same for
the new ASUS/Windows 7 system? I "know" that the Win98SE setup is
not the problem since file sharing does work with an old Win98SE laptop.
I successfully changed ZoneAlarm this morning so that
the new ASUS/Windows 7 can see other systems on the home network and vice versa.
I need to find out how to enter an empty password when prompted under
Windows 7 so that the prompt just goes away forever (just like it did for
Win98SE).
Does that make sense?

Maybe someone else will jump in. I've never used ZoneAlarm and don't
know anything about it.

 

[Peter Foldes]

Adam

Start\Run or Command Prompt and enter "control userpasswords2" without explanation
marks

On the Users tab, clear the Users Must Enter A User Name And Password To Use This
Computer check box and then
click OK.

--
Peter
Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

[Adam]

Adam

Start\Run or Command Prompt and enter "control userpasswords2" without explanation
marks

On the Users tab, clear the Users Must Enter A User Name And Password To Use This
Computer check box and then
click OK.

--
Peter
Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

Done, but I still have the Network Password prompt when accessing shared files
problem.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Done, but I still have the Network Password prompt when accessing shared files
problem.

Mostly because you're not listening to Char Jackson.

Also, if the Win 7 computer is set up as a HomeGroup, then the older
systems won't work with it. Set up a regular home network on the Win 7
computer.

Then you can set up a matching account on the other computers as
described by Char Jackson.

 

[Adam]

Mostly because you're not listening to Char Jackson.

Also, if the Win 7 computer is set up as a HomeGroup, then the older
systems won't work with it. Set up a regular home network on the Win 7
computer.

Then you can set up a matching account on the other computers as
described by Char Jackson.

Yes, I am still digesting Char Jackson's words. And no, Win7 is
"not" setup as a HomeGroup but as a regular home network.
Many new concepts in Win7 that I'm still digesting.
Win7 has shown quite a few blue screens already. Not good.

 

[Seth]

The drive is shared and has "Access Type" set to "Full" so
no password is required to access the shared drive/files.

That doesn't mean what you think it means. AccessType=Full is not the same
as no password required. It just means those that do gain access have full
control (as opposed to read-only for example).

 

[Adam]

That doesn't mean what you think it means. AccessType=Full is not the same
as no password required. It just means those that do gain access have full
control (as opposed to read-only for example).

Bingo!! That did the trick. Thanks!

 

[Char Jackson]

On Thu, 10 Feb 2011 16:32:23 -0800, Adam wrote:

Mostly because you're not listening to Char Jackson.

Also, if the Win 7 computer is set up as a HomeGroup, then the older
systems won't work with it. Set up a regular home network on the Win 7
computer.

Then you can set up a matching account on the other computers as
described by Char Jackson.

Thanks for the backup. ;-) I know I didn't cover everything but
hopefully we've collectively nudged him in the right direction.

 

[Ken Blake]

Also, if the Win 7 computer is set up as a HomeGroup, then the older
systems won't work with it. Set up a regular home network on the Win 7
computer.

A clarification: when you say "regular home network," I assume you
mean what's called a "workgroup."

 

[Lewis]

On Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:24:36 -0800, "Gene E. Bloch"

A clarification: when you say "regular home network," I assume you
mean what's called a "workgroup."

I'd say it's a poor choice of words.

HomeGroup: Windows 7 only

Workgroup: Win 7 or XP

(I have no idea what advantages HomeGroup has, if any. Or what other
disadvantages it has other than not talking to XP)


--
Personal isn't the same as important. What sort of person could think
like that? And it dawned on him that while Ankh in the past had had its
share of evil rulers, and simply bad rulers, it had never yet come under
the heel of a good ruler. That might be the most terrifying prospect of
all. --Men at Arms

 

[Ken Blake]

I'd say it's a poor choice of words.

HomeGroup: Windows 7 only

Workgroup: Win 7 or XP

Sorry, that's not correct. Workgroups can be used on Windows for
Workgroups and Windows NT as well as on Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP,
Vista, and Windows 7. It had long been the standard for peer-to-peer
networking until Windows 7 came out, so calling it "regular" isn't at
all a poor choice of words.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Sorry, that's not correct. Workgroups can be used on Windows for
Workgroups and Windows NT as well as on Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP,
Vista, and Windows 7. It had long been the standard for peer-to-peer
networking until Windows 7 came out, so calling it "regular" isn't at
all a poor choice of words.

IIRC, Windows 3.1 was called "Windows for Workgroups". 'Nuff said?

And yes, going back a post or three, I did mean "Workgroup". Sorry - it
was a minor brainquake.

 

[Ken Blake]

IIRC, Windows 3.1 was called "Windows for Workgroups". 'Nuff said?

No, you're thinking of Windows 3.11. But even that, despite the many
people who thought 3.11 meant WFWG, wasn't just WFWG. There was *both*
a regular Windows 3.11 and WFWG 3.11.

And yes, going back a post or three, I did mean "Workgroup". Sorry - it
was a minor brainquake.

Yes, I was sure you knew that.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

No, you're thinking of Windows 3.11. But even that, despite the many
people who thought 3.11 meant WFWG, wasn't just WFWG. There was *both*
a regular Windows 3.11 and WFWG 3.11.

Come on, it was only a 0.32% error!

Yes, you're right - I had WFWG 3.11, but I didn't remember the
distinction, so many years later...

But then there's the point I was trying to make: in Windows, "workgroup"
is a term that goes back well before the list in the post I replied to.

 

[Ken Blake]

Come on, it was only a 0.32% error!

Yes, you're right - I had WFWG 3.11, but I didn't remember the
distinction, so many years later...

LOL. Many people didn't remember it even way back then.

But then there's the point I was trying to make: in Windows, "workgroup"
is a term that goes back well before the list in the post I replied to.

Yep, I'm with you completely on that.