[seberle]

I seem to have constant network problems. Today my Vista desktop computer is requesting a User Name and Password when I try to connect to my XP laptop. I do not know what to put. It has not needed a user name and password to connect in the past. I tried putting the account name and logon password (the only name/password I use anywhere), but this was rejected. I also tried leaving it blank. I just need to move some files between the computers.

What does Vista want?

[TerryNet]

XP Home or Pro? If Pro are you using Simple File Sharing?

[seberle]

The laptop has XP Home. I am not sure what "Simple File Sharing" is. In another thread a couple of months ago, I resolved another network problem by discovering that something in the XP laptop keeps turning File and Printer Sharing off every so often. I have never figured out what keeps turning it off, but I keep an eye on it and turn it back on whenever it goes off now.

[JohnWill]

Do this on the XP machine.


Create a file in notepad named FIXANON.REG with the following contents:

You should have 3 boxes on the bottom in NOTEPAD.
1)Filename : FIXANON.REG
2)Save as type: all files
3)Encoding: ANSI
If you do not change it from txt type to All files type, then the file will actually be FIXANON.REG.txt, this won't accomplish the desired result.

------------------- Use text after this line -------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa]
"restrictanonymous"=dword:00000000
------------------- Use text before this line -----------------

Double click on the file and say Yes to the merge into registry question.

Reboot the computer.

[seberle]

Thanks for the tip, JohnWill. I checked my registry and the "restrictanonymous" keyword you suggested changing is already set to 0, so unless I'm missing something, your suggestion won't change anything.

In the past, this Vista box asking me for a user name and password whenever I try to connect has come and gone. Vista has been asking me for this information for two days now, so I have not been able to transfer my files. I'd really like to understand why Vista does this and how I can stop it (or answer Vista's question). I'm a bit new to Vista and didn't have this problem with XP.

[JohnWill]

Take a look at PC Chuck's Windows XP And Vista On The LAN Together.

[seberle]

Originally Posted by JohnWill

Take a look at PC Chuck's Windows XP And Vista On The LAN Together.

Thanks again, JohnWill. I skimmed the article, but I'm not sure which part might apply to my problem.

The problem is that I have been successfully using the network connection between Vista and XP, so I suppose it is set up correctly(?). But when the network was working, Vista did not ask me for a user name and password. Now it wants to know these things (why?) and I simply don't know what to put. I have not set up any special user name and password for the network connection. The help tip for this input box gives for the User Name "Examples: User Name; username@domain; DOMAIN\username". I'm really not sure what to make of this. When I type "seberle" it changes it to "Main\seberle" which is the wrong computer, so I tried typing "THINKPADT60\seberle", with and without the only password I have anywhere, but it does not accept this.

When Vista is working correctly, what does it want in this UserName/Password input box? Or is the problem that there is no answer for my setup and Vista should not be asking me?

This is not the first time Vista has asked me for these things. In the past, it has quit asking me after a while. What causes this eratic behavior? Nothing is changing on either computer that I am aware of.

[TerryNet]

Simple File Sharing is the only option with XP Home.

The computer you are using (the Vista) is not asking for a user/password because of anything on it; it is asking on behave of the remote (XP) computer. If it were XP Pro using Advanced File Sharing it would be normal for you to have to supply the user/password of an account on the XP machine.

However, XP Home should never ask for user/password. When it does it means something is messed up. We know how to fix restrictanonymous (John's post).

You said, "... something in the XP laptop keeps turning File and Printer Sharing off every so often." That clearly shouldn't be happening. You may have to do a fresh XP install, or at least a Repair Install, to resolve these issues.