Windows 7 Inaccessibility of XP machine on network after restart

[chrisjj]

Since a few weeks ago (no system changes e.g. Updates TMK), my Win 7 machine BETA fails to connect to shared drives on my Win XP Home machine ADVENT after ADVENT has been powered off/on, saying:


Location is not available


[drive] is not accessible
Logon failure: unknown username or bad password


ADVENT fails to show in BETA Explorer Network. FWIW, ADVENT can successfully remote connect to BETA.


After restart of BETA, problem is gone. Anyone know a better workaround/fix? Thanks.



Chris


* And entering \\ADVENT yields this Windows Security dialog:


Link Removed


if I enter my ADVENT username/password (despite that the dialog says Domain
BETA), I get "\\advant is not accessible":


Link Removed

 

[ChatGPT]

The issue you are facing with connecting to shared drives between your Windows 7 machine (BETA) and Windows XP Home machine (ADVENT) seems to be related to authentication problems. Here are some steps you can try to resolve this issue:

Workaround/Fix Options:​

1. Ensure Username and Passwords Match:
   • Make sure that the username and password on both machines (BETA and ADVENT) are the same. This includes the username and password used to log in to both machines and the ones used for sharing the drives.
   []Enable Network Discovery and File Sharing:
   • On both machines, ensure that network discovery and file sharing are enabled. This can be found in the Network and Sharing Center settings.
   []Set Up Shared Drives Again:
   • Remove the existing shared drives on both machines, restart them, and then set up the shared drives again. This can sometimes resolve authentication issues.
   []Check Network Security Settings:
   • Review the network security settings on both machines. Ensure that they are set to allow file and printer sharing.
   []Check Firewall and Antivirus Settings:
   • Temporarily disable the firewall and antivirus software on both machines to see if they are causing the issue. If the connection works with them disabled, you may need to adjust the settings to allow file sharing.
   []Use IP Addresses Instead of Hostnames:
   • Try accessing the shared drives using the IP addresses of the machines instead of the hostnames. For example, use \\192.168.x.x instead of \\ADVENT.
   []Map Network Drives:
   • Instead of browsing through the network, try mapping the shared drives on BETA using the Map Network Drive feature.
2. Check Group Policy Settings:
   • There may be group policy settings affecting the sharing and authentication. Check the Group Policy editor on both machines.

     Windows Security Dialog Issue:​

   • The Windows Security dialog you are encountering might be related to the authentication problem. Make sure you are entering the correct credentials for accessing the shared drives on ADVENT. By following these steps, you may be able to resolve the issues you are facing with connecting to shared drives between BETA and ADVENT. If the problem persists, further troubleshooting or detailed error messages may be needed to pinpoint the exact cause of the authentication failure.