Solved Win 7 asking for non-existant password

[sorapp]

I have 3 computers on my home network. All are wired via gigabit connections. I have Windows 7 Professional installed on computers 1 & 2 and Windows 7 Home Premium on computer #3. All 3 computers see each other in the network display. All are set up for sharing and all can access the drives on the other computers except computer 2 & 3 cannot access computer #1. All 3 were set up without a password.
When access to computer #1 is attempted from either computer 2 or 3, a popup occurs stating that an invalid user ID or password was entered. In actuality no password was requested nor entered. Accessing the computers #2 & #3 never requires a password. I have tried adding a password to computer #1 but the error persists. I have re-installed Windows on computer #1 making sure no passwords were entered during the install. After installation it still requests a password.
There is one difference between the installs that may be significant. Computers #2 & #3 have OEM versions of Windows 7 while computer #1 has a retail version of Windows 7.
It should also be noted that computer #1 previously had an OEM vrsion of Windows Vista which did not have this issue. It has only begun with the install of Windows 7. Also note that the Windows 7 install was clean not an upgrade.
I am at a loss as to how to resolve this.

 

[WebMattR]

I would just put a password on all three machines, and then log in that way. It's simple, efficient, and it's secure.

 

[sorapp]

Thanks for the suggestion. The problem is that I tried that and it still does not work. This also does not allow me to run without a password.

 

[DocBrown]

In advanced Network & sharing options is sharing checked as turned off ?

Also does each computer have a different unique name ?

 

[sorapp]

Yes sharing is turned ON and each computer has a unique name. Furthermore I have verified that the Advanced Settings are the same for all 3 computers.

 

[Britton30]

Have you turned OFF Password Protected sharing on all PC's? If not, change it and reboot all.

 

[sorapp]

Yes, Password Protected Sharing is turned off, on all 3 computers.

 

[Britton30]

I'm sorry I have no other ideas, however I will see if someone more knowledgeable can check on this.

 

[JoniW]

My husband and I are having the exact issue. When ever I try to look into my laptop (pc running windows xp) this machine running Windows 7 Prof. asks for a password. Same thing when trying to get into my Mac.

I've done everything you've suggested to the previous person. Nothing helps.

We just installed Windows 7 Professional and he said he never entered a password for "administrator"

 

[WebMattR]

Did you try my suggestion, of just putting a password on all machines involved?

 

[HammerHead]

Home Group

Are you looking for the home group password.

If so go here
Control Panel
Network and Sharing Center
Home Group
View or Print the Homegroup Password

 

[JoniW]

I think my husband is trying to set up a workgroup now to avoid this issue altogether but, I've seen many problem issues with win 7 workgroups not accessing win 2000 or xp OS or Mac easily either. So, no it wasn't a workgroup password issue. Unless... that's IS the issue? I'll have to have him re-investiage how he has us connected.

We were connect on a home network. That is what my concerns were.

 

[JoniW]

I apologize, the only machine asking for a password of any kind it the Win 7. My XP and Mac just can't see the win 7 at all no matter what I've done.

I have to wonder if this isn't a ploy to force us all into win 7, period.:sarc:

 

[marsmimar]

Don't know if this will be relevant but there might be a few things to check out.

Add Windows 7 PC to Workgroup - Cannot see XP machines

set up network between xp and windows 7 - Microsoft Answers

Also, welcome to SevenForums.

 

[JoniW]

Thank you!! I will definitely be sharing those with my husband!

 

[marsmimar]

Please let us know how things turn out so others can benefit from your experiences.

 

[JoniW]

I certainly will!! We discovered that we have a mess to clean up before we can do anything. We have both a conventional "network" and homegroup. So we really need to determine which will work best with other non Win 7, OS's and a MAC. This isn't going to be easy. :shock:

 

[WebMattR]

If you've machines that aren't Windows 7 or Vista, you want a workgroup, not a homegroup (the former being the "conventional network" as you put it above).

 

[JoniW]

Apparently, a homegroup has been set up that we didn't need. We are removing that today so that are no "enter your password" issues. We are going off our network, which has a "workgroup name" which if we click on we see at least the Win xp machine. The mac is now my issue. Which cannot see either machines. So I thank you.

unless you all know how to get my mac to see both the xp and win 7?

Thank you for your help!

 

[JoniW]

OH for heaven sakes!!!

Was is really this simple?
After hundreds of hours to fix this, we finally decided, to create a login password to user name on Win 7 machine.

That fixed the whole problem. Win 7 assumes you made a password and just demands it. If you try this, and I hope it works... this is the simplest fix I've ever seen.

I can also now, see my Mac on the Win 7 machine... still can't get my mac to see the Win 7 or the XP

but that's a MAC problem.