Enter Network PW

I was happily running a shared network with a few laptops and desktops when one day they all started wanting a user name and PW to share stuff. I've managed to find the PW under Network Sharing|View or Print PW, but I have no clue what the user name is that it wants. I have entered every name in the house from everyone's PCs but that doesn't work. Is there a way to reset this mess or turn it off? I don't even want PWs on here and don't know how they got assigned, even though it IS my personal PW being used.

you need to:

control panel >> network and internet >> choose homegroup and sharing options (even if you don't use homegroups) >> change advanced sharing settings... >> home or work >> scroll down a bit.

you'll need to do it for all your machines.

Where do I find that on a Vista PC?

Thanks. I actually found it after posting that and then I edited my message to say thanks for the help, but it apparently didn't stick.

I wonder why tho did the girlfriend's laptop have PW set when she wouldn't have set it and it was actually the PW I use...and I don't think I set it up on her laptop to use my PW. Doesn't make sense, but it works now.

Ok, now can anyone tell me why it keeps resetting itself to ON after I turn it off? I turn it off and it works fine, then today it's back on again, wanting a PW and I had to go turn it off again and it stopped asking. WHY???

Madwand said:

Ok, now can anyone tell me why it keeps resetting itself to ON after I turn it off? I turn it off and it works fine, then today it's back on again, wanting a PW and I had to go turn it off again and it stopped asking. WHY???

This behavior can be caused by certain anti-viruses and firewall programs. Please temporary disable the security programs, and then try to turn off Password Protected again.

If the issue persists, please let me know if you have enabled The Guest account. If it is already enabled, but has a password set, then Guest account doesn't play the guest account role consequently, which can cause Password Protected Sharing fail to turn off.

To resolve this issue, try following the steps to ensure no password has been set.

1. Right-click Computer and click Manage.
2. Under Local Users and Groups, click Users.
3. Right-click Guest, click Set Password, and then click Proceed.
4. Leave the Password fields blank and click Ok. This will ensure no password has been set.
5. After that, try turning off Password Protected Sharing and see if it works then.

Or you can try.

Go to Start –> Run –> compmgmt.msc
From the left hand pane, select Local Users And Groups –> Users
In the right hand pane, right click Guest and go to properties.
Check “Account is disabled” option.