Solved Network sharing suddenly asks for username and password

[thekidaci]

I have 3 Windows 7 (Home Premium 64 bit) machines on a peer to peer network. I have an accounting package that stores the files on one machine (I’ll call it Box1). On the another machine (Box2) I have mapped the data files on Box1 as \\Box1\datafiles (Z. Everything’s been working fine for several months until yesterday afternoon when the lights flickered. My monitor flickered also but Box2 wasn’t affected as best I could see. Nobody was around Box1 at that time, but when they came in this morning, it was off (we normally leave them on all night) and they got the “not properly shut down” message and selected “Start Windows Normally”. Later when I tried to start the accounting app (from Box2), I got an error message saying it couldn’t connect to the data location. The network and all three computers show in Explorer. So does the mapped drive (with a big red X). When I try to look at Box1 it asks for a Network Password, and has the user account Box2\Box2. I’ve tried every password anybody in the building (3 of us) has ever used on anything, and nothing works. When I select “use another account” and enter Box1’s owner’s login (owner1) and password there is a note under the password box that says “Domain: Box2” and after I click OK it asks for the Network Password again, but then has the user account of Box2\owner1. I shared a folder on the 3rd computer (Box3) (access to “everyone”) and Box2 can see the machine and some public folders but the others say I don’t have permission for them.

Box1 and Box3 can see and access shared folders on my machine (Box2)
Box1 and Box2 are wired connections to a Dlink router. Box3 is a wireless connection to that router
I am not part of any Homegroup.
Location is Work network on all machines.
All three machines have the same Workgroup (BOXUSERS) in Computer Properties
Network and Sharing Center shows “Work network” and “Access type: Internet” for all three Boxes
Box1 and Box3 show “Connection: BOXUSERS”, but Box2 shows “Connection: Local Area Connection”
I’ve tried connecting/disconnecting, etc several times, but it won’t show BOXUSER
Guest Account is off on all Boxes
on: network discovery
on: file and print sharing
off -> on: public folder sharing(thought that would fix the issue)
off: password protected sharing.
Windows and Bios times are all the same and correct.
ipconfig/all shows no differences other than the computer addresses

I suspect it has something to do with the Workgroup, but can’t find out if it is in the workgroup since I can’t find the equivalent of “My Network Places/Network Tasks/View workgroup computers” is in Windows 7

I apologize for the length of the explanation, but does anybody have any suggestions?

 

[Ztruker]

I would run chkdsk /r to correct any possible file system errors on Box1 then do a System Restore to before the power flicker, see if that resolves it.

If you can't boot normally, see if you can boot to Safe Mode and run chkdsk from there:

• Boot to Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key when the computer first starts booting, as soon as you see the manufacturers logo. Continue to press it every second or so until you get the Windows Advanced Options menu.
• Select Safe Mode using the arrow key on your keyboard and press Enter.
• Login as Administrator (no password unless you added one. If so, enter that password).
• Open My Computer.
• Right click on drive: and select Properties (drive: is your boot drive, usually C:)
• Click on the Tools tab then the Check now button.
• Check the Automatically fix File System errors box.

Alternatively, you can click on Start then Run, type chkdsk c: /r and press Enter.

For your boot drive (usually C:), you will get a window that says the check could not be performed ....
Do you want to schedule this disk check to run the next time you restart the computer?
Click on Yes.

Shutdown and reboot. Chkdsk will start. It can take an hour or more to run depending on the size of your hard drive.

Be patient and let it complete undisturbed.

If that doesn't fix it then run System File Checker:

For Vista and Windows 7 only:

• Click on Start, type command prompt.
• Right click on Command Prompt at the top of the window and select Run as Administrator.

For XP only:

• Click on Start, All Programs, Accessories.
• Click on Command Prompt

For XP, Vista and Windows 7:

• In the Command Prompt Window, type (or copy and paste) sfc /scannow and press Enter.

Vista and Windows 7 tell you if there were any problems, XP does not. You can examine the SFC results as follows:

Open a Command Prompt (does not have to be as Administrator):

• Type (or copy and paste) findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%\logs\cbs\cbs.log >sfcdetails.txt and press Enter.
• Type (or copy and paste) notepad sfcdetails.txt and press Enter.

 

[thekidaci]

I'm still not sure what the problem was, but I disconnected Box2 from the router, on Box1 I logged into the router and deleted Box2's MAC address from the Access List, shut Box2 and the router down, and disconnected the LAN cable from Box2. Restarted everything, plugged the cable back in and re-entered Box2's MAC address in the router, rebooted Box2, and now it can see the files on Box1, and the accounting app can too.

 

[Ztruker]

Can't argue with success.