2 windows 7 computers in Lan

first of all, im new on the forums, user of w7 since January and loving it.

i have 1 laptop with 7620 and the desktop with RTM, the issue is taht when i do

\\computer\c$

i get the prompt saying taht i need to enter a user and password when i could do it before without entering it.

in XP having both accounts with the same name and password and some register magic solved the problem, but W7 is different many aspects so i need help.

i can bypass this error by sharing all my drives but... i dont want to left my laptop with the legs open, or well turning on and off the sharing option.

the homegroup is working, though only shares what it want and i will not mess with it (too many files in both hardrives to having access to one zone of the partition).

Windows 7 isn't any different with regard to networking. It's exactly the same for years and years. There is Homegroup but we are not considering that.

When you map a drive, you have the option to set different credentials (user/pass of remote machine you're connecting to.) You can choose to have Windows remember these credentials and you could also have Windows remap with these credentials upon every boot.

Same user/pass on each machine not necessary, but if they are same, Windows will never ask and just grant permission.

Open Windows explorer | click map network drive

There are two check boxes describing the actions available as I've described.

When you're sharing a folder from a machine, to make it simple as possible, grant everyone permission by actually typing out everyone.

In Windows Explorer, it's a good idea to click organize, folder and search options, view tab. Scroll to bottom. Uncheck the box for "Use Sharing Wizard (Recommended)"

Hit ok.

Further info: All attached HDD are automatically shared with a $ after their drive letter. $ makes them hidden on network and not viewable in network maps.

So C: is shared as C$, D: as D$

Command prompt, type net share, hit enter to see your shares from any machine.

A good security measure is to make sure your router does not allow incoming netbios ports 137-139 or 445 from outside internet.

Passwords on account must be set and not non-existant. If they don't exist, you are not going to share. It's a built-in security measure.

Another good measure is to enter line in hosts file for each machine on network and set static ips. C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc\hosts

If ComputerA has static ip 192.168.0.30
ComputerB has static ip 192.168.0.31
enter a lines as:

192.168.0.30 ComputerA
192.168.0.31 ComputerB
etc...

Enter line for each machine. Save hosts. Go to your other pcs and do the same for the remote machines to it.

If anyone has any questions regarding any of this, please feel free to speak up.

the fun thing is that i actually manage to connect the desktop to the laptop, but if i reboot the laptop it starts to ask credentials... even if i made a new account it will keep asking for them.

(im using the \\computername\drive$ command), i will try restarting again. still this is rare

edit: nope it works whenever it wants

those option are like that by default, and to make a network harddrive i must share the drive, sure it give me full access but i have to turn the sharing on, on the fun side i can connect with the desktop to the laptop but not vice-versa, on the desktop it works when it wants or when i fix teh credentials on teh windows credentials manager when i do it on the laptop i dont get out of the next screen

and it will loop in asking me the credentials, i dont which version have problems with the credentials and connecting to another computer, but it will be a nice ride when i get the rest of my harddrives and the external dvd-drive for the laptop