Problems logging in to network server with Windows 7

[eschelar]

OK, well since the guy who usually takes care of our network has left the company, I have been thrust rather abruptly into this position. I'm fairly computer savvy, but I've never done much network administration.

So I've been upgrading a few computers to Windows 7 Ultimate and after a fair bit of wrangling, managed to get them all taken care of (except who knew that Win7 Home couldn't access a simple network... wtf?).

But I've got my boss's brand new rig all set up and loaded with all the software necessary, but for some reason, I can't get it to log in to the server for the life of me.

I have used identical settings as on the old XP box and have double checked net passwords on the server side. I followed the exact same procedure to set up the network as on the other machines. But no dice.

Problem #1 - There is no login window. Actually, it did come up a few times and I'm not sure why, but right now it just automatically logs in and then says that it doesn't have permission, without actually giving me a login window to enter my ID and Password.

I have gone into the credentials, erased them, created them, changed them. Everything under the sun, but right now, I can't even get a simple login.

Unknown factor - when it did give me a login window a couple of times, it showed me the name of the path as <usernamedragon>, which is what I set the computer to so I could access the internet to build the system while the boss was still working with his old box without creating a conflict.

Unfortunately, I have a sneaking suspicion that this is what is causing my problems. So I took steps to change this, but I can't actually see this name anywhere (I've changed the computer name the easy way, but it hasn't changed the computer PROFILE). I took some steps to try to change this, but I can't see if they took effect because there is no login window. The login window was the ONLY place that showed me this path.

I can't see that this would be a legitimate problem, but it's hard to say.

Problem #2 - I don't know why it won't log in correctly. I've set all the other settings correctly and these settings have worked on 2 other computers built over the past week and worked just fine for 3 other computers I built before.

The password is correct, the computer name is correct. The id is correct. The IP settings are all identical.

What the heck am I doing wrong?

I've got a professional network specialist coming in in a couple of hours, but even he is kind of stumped.

I need to get this thing fixed tonight while the office is shut down because come Monday morning, the boss ain't gonna be too happy.

Thanks for your assistance.

 

[richnrockville]

Eschelar, Welcome to the windows 7 forums.
1. Are you trying to logon to the server via Active Directory?
2. Is the boss's computer joined to the domain?
3. Have you setup the network as a work network?
4. Have you setup the network discovery to yes?

Questions..

Rich

 

[eschelar]

Actually, the server expert was able to figure out the problem quite quickly. I had actually come very close to the correct solution but didn't quite have it.

Just to give answers to your questions so you can have an idea where I was:

1 - I believe so. The account was set up in Server 2003 using Active Directory. I used that program to verify that the password was correct.

2 - yes, the computer was joined to the workgroup, I was able to enter the server main via explorer, just no permission to view any folders.

3 - yes, the network was a work network.

4 - yes, one of the first things I checked was the network discovery. On our company's slipstreamed windows install disc, network discovery is default to on.

***
The solution to the problem was actually with the identity of the computer itself.

I had earlier attempted to get around this by setting up a second account on the windows 7 machine and changing the names so it looked like I had a clean machine name, Machine ID and account name, all correctly set up.

What I failed to do was erase the original account that was somehow overriding the setting and calling up the incorrect machine name.

Once the server expert deleted that original account, it started working instantly.

I had actually checked another alternate setting which was in the gpedit.msc with the LM & NTLM sends problem, but I am still unclear as to whether that was needed or not.

I'll find that out on the next computer upgrade I do.

Whee.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read and respond Rich!

 

[richnrockville]

Eschelar, your more than welcome. that's what these forums are about. helping..

Rich