Can't access network shares

[Fokke Nauta]

Hi all,

We have a laptop with Windows 7 Home, 64b. It is wirelessly connected to our
LAN. In the LAN we have amongst other workstations a file server, running on
XP Pro, with the same account and password as the account on the laptop. All
systems have the same account/password combination. We used to be able to
work on the laptop and acces the shares on the server. On the other XP
machines on the LAN we still can access the shares, but on the laptop we can
no longer access the shares on the server. On the mapped network drives a
red cross has appeared. This is likely to have happened after a series of W7
updates took place on the laptop. We now need to enter an account name and a
password when accessing the shares, but it seems that the server refuses
access. I can't find anything in the logs on the server. In the mean time on
all other XP workstation we can access the server flawlessly, so the problem
is definitely with the laptop.
Wat can we do to regain access to the shares on the server?
Thanks in advance for your help.

With best regards,
Fokke Nauta

 

[Ed Cryer]

Hi all,

We have a laptop with Windows 7 Home, 64b. It is wirelessly connected to our
LAN. In the LAN we have amongst other workstations a file server, running on
XP Pro, with the same account and password as the account on the laptop. All
systems have the same account/password combination. We used to be able to
work on the laptop and acces the shares on the server. On the other XP
machines on the LAN we still can access the shares, but on the laptop we can
no longer access the shares on the server. On the mapped network drives a
red cross has appeared. This is likely to have happened after a series of W7
updates took place on the laptop. We now need to enter an account name and a
password when accessing the shares, but it seems that the server refuses
access. I can't find anything in the logs on the server. In the mean time on
all other XP workstation we can access the server flawlessly, so the problem
is definitely with the laptop.
Wat can we do to regain access to the shares on the server?
Thanks in advance for your help.

With best regards,
Fokke Nauta

It sounds from that as if the change has occurred on the laptop. And if
that is so, then there will probably be other changes too.
You'll have to investigate a bit further in, and let us know about other
changes.
The info you've given suggests merely that some of the previous sharing
settings have been altered, and just on the laptop.

Ed

 

[Ed Cryer]

It sounds from that as if the change has occurred on the laptop. And if
that is so, then there will probably be other changes too.
You'll have to investigate a bit further in, and let us know about other
changes.
The info you've given suggests merely that some of the previous sharing
settings have been altered, and just on the laptop.

Ed

Such as this question; can the laptop access Internet?

Ed

 

[Fokke Nauta]

Such as this question; can the laptop access Internet?

Ed

I have not seen any other changes. The laptop can access the internet. It
works fine. I can see the other machines in the LAN.
The only change I made myself is changing the static IP address (10.0.0.144)
into a dynamic IP address (DHCP lease 10.0.0.160). But the server accepts
traffic up to 10.0.0.170, so that should not be a problem.
It appears that the combination login name - password is faulty, but I don't
understand why. I haven't changed that. On the server the shares are open
only for the admin and the user with the login name - password combination.
This user account is exactly the same on all systems.
I created a new user on the server and tried to acces the shares from the
laptop with this new combination, but it did not work either.

Fokke

 

[Roy Smith]

I have not seen any other changes. The laptop can access the internet. It
works fine. I can see the other machines in the LAN.
The only change I made myself is changing the static IP address (10.0.0.144)
into a dynamic IP address (DHCP lease 10.0.0.160). But the server accepts
traffic up to 10.0.0.170, so that should not be a problem.
It appears that the combination login name - password is faulty, but I don't
understand why. I haven't changed that. On the server the shares are open
only for the admin and the user with the login name - password combination.
This user account is exactly the same on all systems.
I created a new user on the server and tried to acces the shares from the
laptop with this new combination, but it did not work either.

You might want to check out this software called Network Magic from
Cisco. It makes managing a home network so easy that a novice can do
it. You can also share printers, folders and other resources, and you
can even control when other devices have network access. It works with
all versions of Windows, and there's a free trial version available so
you can see if it meets your needs. You can get it here:

www.purenetworks.com


--

Roy Smith
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
Thunderbird 5.0
Saturday, August 13, 2011 4:58:05 AM

 

[Ed Cryer]

I have not seen any other changes. The laptop can access the internet. It
works fine. I can see the other machines in the LAN.
The only change I made myself is changing the static IP address (10.0.0.144)
into a dynamic IP address (DHCP lease 10.0.0.160). But the server accepts
traffic up to 10.0.0.170, so that should not be a problem.
It appears that the combination login name - password is faulty, but I don't
understand why. I haven't changed that. On the server the shares are open
only for the admin and the user with the login name - password combination.
This user account is exactly the same on all systems.
I created a new user on the server and tried to acces the shares from the
laptop with this new combination, but it did not work either.

Fokke

If the only problem area you're seeing is the login name and password,
then I guess that's the problem. You seem very uncertain, though, about
the matter; and that means you're getting no feedback from attempting.
That's what you need; the error message and whatever else comes with it.

If you can't get at a log file, then compare what happens when you try
to login on the laptop with what happens from another machine.

Ed

 

[meltrod]

Superb program, but not for sale in th U.K. Any Suggestions?

MeltRod

 

[GlowingBlueMist]

I have not seen any other changes. The laptop can access the internet. It
works fine. I can see the other machines in the LAN.
The only change I made myself is changing the static IP address (10.0.0.144)
into a dynamic IP address (DHCP lease 10.0.0.160). But the server accepts
traffic up to 10.0.0.170, so that should not be a problem.
It appears that the combination login name - password is faulty, but I don't
understand why. I haven't changed that. On the server the shares are open
only for the admin and the user with the login name - password combination.
This user account is exactly the same on all systems.
I created a new user on the server and tried to acces the shares from the
laptop with this new combination, but it did not work either.

Fokke

Not sure if an update would change this but right click on your
"Computer" icon on your laptop and see if the right "Workgroup" name is
there or did it switch to a Domain. Windows operating systems older
than Vista do not communicate properly with each other when a computer
uses the built in Windows 7 "Domain" option rather than "Workgroup" in a
home environment.

 

[Fokke Nauta]

Not sure if an update would change this but right click on your "Computer"
icon on your laptop and see if the right "Workgroup" name is there or did
it switch to a Domain. Windows operating systems older than Vista do not
communicate properly with each other when a computer uses the built in
Windows 7 "Domain" option rather than "Workgroup" in a home environment.

I checked this.
But it has the correct workgroup name.
I don't think the W7 Home version can login to domains anyway.

Fokke

 

[Fokke Nauta]

If the only problem area you're seeing is the login name and password,
then I guess that's the problem. You seem very uncertain, though, about
the matter; and that means you're getting no feedback from attempting.
That's what you need; the error message and whatever else comes with it.

If you can't get at a log file, then compare what happens when you try to
login on the laptop with what happens from another machine.

Ed

Hi Ed,

For a beginning - there is nothing about this in the event logs on the
server.
And while working on the laptop and trying to acces the server shares, I now
need to enter a login name (= the account name) and a password. I get the
message back that the password is incorrect, althoug on all machines the
combination loginname / password is the same. And this did not happen
before. I tried //laptopname/username as well as //server/username. Did not
make a difference, in all cases the password seems wrong.
From other machines (all XP Pro) I can access the server shares without a
problem.
With your remark "when you try to login on the laptop with what happens from
another machine" I'm nut sure what you mean.

Fokke

 

[Fokke Nauta]

You might want to check out this software called Network Magic from
Cisco. It makes managing a home network so easy that a novice can do
it. You can also share printers, folders and other resources, and you
can even control when other devices have network access. It works with
all versions of Windows, and there's a free trial version available so
you can see if it meets your needs. You can get it here:

www.purenetworks.com


--

Roy Smith
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
Thunderbird 5.0
Saturday, August 13, 2011 4:58:05 AM

I can't access the Url you mentioned.
It doesn't show up.

Fokke

 

[Ed Cryer]

Hi Ed,

For a beginning - there is nothing about this in the event logs on the
server.
And while working on the laptop and trying to acces the server shares, I now
need to enter a login name (= the account name) and a password. I get the
message back that the password is incorrect, althoug on all machines the
combination loginname / password is the same. And this did not happen
before. I tried //laptopname/username as well as //server/username. Did not
make a difference, in all cases the password seems wrong.
From other machines (all XP Pro) I can access the server shares without a
problem.
With your remark "when you try to login on the laptop with what happens from
another machine" I'm nut sure what you mean.

Fokke

We're getting closer. You seem to be on the same path as I am but can't
see as far.
What I've been leading you toward is a narrowing of the problem. And as
far as I can make out the only one is these login details.

Either they have been changed or you're entering the wrong ones.
Who looks after them? Who can check whether they're correct or not? Who
can change them, or add new users?

BTW what do you mean by "shares"? Do you mean "shared computer
facilities" or stocks & shares? In the UK the latter is what "shares" means.

Ed

P.S.That link posted by Roy Smith works for me here in the UK. And when
I click to download the free trial my download manager kicks in just fine.

 

[Fokke Nauta]

On 14/08/2011 11:02, Fokke Nauta wrote:


We're getting closer. You seem to be on the same path as I am but can't
see as far.
What I've been leading you toward is a narrowing of the problem. And as
far as I can make out the only one is these login details.

Either they have been changed or you're entering the wrong ones.
Who looks after them? Who can check whether they're correct or not? Who
can change them, or add new users?

BTW what do you mean by "shares"? Do you mean "shared computer facilities"
or stocks & shares? In the UK the latter is what "shares" means.

Ed

P.S.That link posted by Roy Smith works for me here in the UK. And when I
click to download the free trial my download manager kicks in just fine.

I took a step further. I opened a new shared directory (sorry - with
"shares" I mean shared directories, no stock market things. I should have
known!) and it had no password protection, completely open for the whole
world. I couldn't see it from the laptop. As soon as I try to open a mapped
shared directory on the server or the server itself, the password screen
kicks in.
And there is even more to it. I created shared directories on the other
machines, with the same username/password protection. On the laptop I was
able to open those shared directory straight away, no problem. So - it seems
to be an issue between the laptop and the server only. Only the shared
directories on the server are not accessable from the laptop only.

I am the only one dealing with all computers and the laptop. Didn't change
any account. The whole problem occurred after a series of updates on the
laptop, and after I changed the laptop's IP address from static to DHCP. We
also used the laptop on a different location, logged into a public network.
After I came home I noticed the problem.

I wasn't able to open the link from Roy Smith from out of my news reader
(OE), but after I copied the Url in a browser I was able to see the site. I
will download it and give it a try.

Fokke

 

[Fokke Nauta]

I can't access the Url you mentioned.
It doesn't show up.

Fokke

When I copied your Url in a browser, I was able to see the site. I will give
it a try.

Fokke

 

[Fokke Nauta]

I took a step further. I opened a new shared directory (sorry - with
"shares" I mean shared directories, no stock market things. I should have
known!) and it had no password protection, completely open for the whole
world. I couldn't see it from the laptop. As soon as I try to open a
mapped shared directory on the server or the server itself, the password
screen kicks in.
And there is even more to it. I created shared directories on the other
machines, with the same username/password protection. On the laptop I was
able to open those shared directory straight away, no problem. So - it
seems to be an issue between the laptop and the server only. Only the
shared directories on the server are not accessable from the laptop only.

I am the only one dealing with all computers and the laptop. Didn't change
any account. The whole problem occurred after a series of updates on the
laptop, and after I changed the laptop's IP address from static to DHCP.
We also used the laptop on a different location, logged into a public
network.
After I came home I noticed the problem.

I wasn't able to open the link from Roy Smith from out of my news reader
(OE), but after I copied the Url in a browser I was able to see the site.
I will download it and give it a try.

Fokke

It appears that W7 on the laptop lives its own life. After a while of
working I clicked on "Computer" and found out that all network shares
appeared to be normal. I was able to access all shared directories on the
server, as usual. Quite happy with that, I found out only half an hour later
that all was back to problems again. Red crosses on the mapped drives and
nothing on the server was accessable.
So - what's going on, I haven't got a clue.

Fokke

 

[Ed Cryer]

It appears that W7 on the laptop lives its own life. After a while of
working I clicked on "Computer" and found out that all network shares
appeared to be normal. I was able to access all shared directories on the
server, as usual. Quite happy with that, I found out only half an hour later
that all was back to problems again. Red crosses on the mapped drives and
nothing on the server was accessable.
So - what's going on, I haven't got a clue.

Fokke

I'd call in the Catholic Church and have it declared as an official
miracle! Just one more and you'll qualify for being declared a saint.

Ah,ah. Well, one of St Thomas Aquinas' official two was the "miracle of
the herrings". He was once ill in bed and somebody asked him what he
would like to eat, and he said "herrings". Those fish were unknown in
those parts, but lo and behold (Fiat lux! et lux facta est) some turned
up shortly in a local shop!

Ed

 

[Fokke Nauta]

I'd call in the Catholic Church and have it declared as an official
miracle! Just one more and you'll qualify for being declared a saint.

Ah,ah. Well, one of St Thomas Aquinas' official two was the "miracle of
the herrings". He was once ill in bed and somebody asked him what he would
like to eat, and he said "herrings". Those fish were unknown in those
parts, but lo and behold (Fiat lux! et lux facta est) some turned up
shortly in a local shop!

Ed

Well, the miracle lasted only for half an hour. If it would have sustained,
I would have contacted the pope. And Bill Gates, to tell him that at least
one of his products actually works properly.
But I'm back to square one.

Fokke

 

[Ed Cryer]

Well, the miracle lasted only for half an hour. If it would have sustained,
I would have contacted the pope. And Bill Gates, to tell him that at least
one of his products actually works properly.
But I'm back to square one.

Fokke

When it worked did it ask for password?

Ed

 

[Fokke Nauta]

On 15/08/2011 16:07, Fokke Nauta wrote:


When it worked did it ask for password?

Ed

No, not at all.
I have a few drive mappings on the laptop. The red crosses were gone, and
when I clicked on them, I was able to see the contents right away.
And when I clicked on the Server icon in the network, I could see the shared
directories as well.

Later on I noticed the red crosses on the mapped drives again. When I
clicked on one, I got the message: "Z:\ is not accessible. Unknown user name
or invalid password."

Well, that's clear, but why?
Is this Windows magic?

Fokke

 

[Ed Cryer]

No, not at all.
I have a few drive mappings on the laptop. The red crosses were gone, and
when I clicked on them, I was able to see the contents right away.
And when I clicked on the Server icon in the network, I could see the shared
directories as well.

Later on I noticed the red crosses on the mapped drives again. When I
clicked on one, I got the message: "Z:\ is not accessible. Unknown user name
or invalid password."

Well, that's clear, but why?
Is this Windows magic?

Fokke

It could be a dodgy wifi connection.

Give us a full breakdown of your network; something like this, which is
mine.

1. Desktop computer with wireless modem-router; telephone broadband.
2. Two upstairs desktop computers with wifi dongles.
3. iPad with wifi.

Ed

P.S. There's also wifi interference to consider. My front doorbell used
to ring when a neighbour used a certain car key fob.