Passwords in XP

**tk421** · April 5th, 2002, 12:42 PM

I'm realizing that XP doesn't like it when you use null passwords. I have one customer with a peer to peer network, with an xp pro machine as the "server". i made user accounts on the server so that everyone could access the files. (oh yeah by the way, you have to have user accounts specified on the xp box if 98 clients are going to access it.)

it seemed to be working fine, but then the other day one of the 98 clients stopped being able to access the server. the password was blank, so i changed it to his first name, and then it worked like usual.

just thought i'd pass that on, maybe save someone the moments of head scratching that i went though.

**AlienDyne** · April 6th, 2002, 01:14 AM

I think it would be better if this topic was on the Tech Tips forum.

Thanks!

**WebHead** · April 6th, 2002, 02:58 AM

Hey tk421,
Just a couple of thoughts. First of all, on a P2P network, there is no server. Second of all, I thought XP (Pro or Home) was a client OS which means you can't make user accounts for any machine other than the machine that XP is installed on. Anyway, this is why your server is not working properly. Yes, you can use any OS you want as a server, but if you want a real, secure, server,... then you should install a server OS such as Windows 2000 Server. Otherwise, if you're just dedicated to a P2P network, then you have no server, which essentially ends all discussion on this topic. I hope that makes sense to you.

**tk421** · April 6th, 2002, 10:16 AM

that's why i said "server". besides, a server by definition is a machine that provides a service to the network. so in that sense it IS a server, since it provides a data center to the entire network. regardless of whether it is using a true server os.

the reason that i wrote the post was because i thought it interesting that you had to create user accounts for users accessing the xp machine. i thought that was unnecessary as well. turns out it isn't.

**WindBlowzXP Professional** · April 16th, 2002, 12:30 PM

Windows XP sucks !!!! I love Windows 2000 =)

**Stalemate** · April 16th, 2002, 02:03 PM

[quote]Originally posted by Randolph:
Windows XP sucks !!!! I love Windows 2000 =)

<hr></blockquote>

Blasphemer!

**+Daemon+** · April 16th, 2002, 02:09 PM

[quote]Originally posted by WebHead:
Hey tk421,
Just a couple of thoughts. First of all, on a P2P network, there is no server. Second of all, I thought XP (Pro or Home) was a client OS which means you can't make user accounts for any machine other than the machine that XP is installed on. Anyway, this is why your server is not working properly. Yes, you can use any OS you want as a server, but if you want a real, secure, server,... then you should install a server OS such as Windows 2000 Server. Otherwise, if you're just dedicated to a P2P network, then you have no server, which essentially ends all discussion on this topic. I hope that makes sense to you.

<hr></blockquote>

peer to peer
============

There must be a server and a client or how could there be peer to peer? Just that all systems are the server and the client thats all.

Windows Xp Pro if you add it to a domain it will work just like Windows 2000 Pro. Adding users, adding security to olders and files.

Oh but if you want a secure server Windows will not work im sorry

**Darren Wilson** · April 16th, 2002, 02:29 PM

[quote]Originally posted by tk421:
that's why i said "server". besides, a the reason that i wrote the post was because i thought it interesting that you had to create user accounts for users accessing the xp machine. i thought that was unnecessary as well. turns out it isn't.<hr></blockquote>

you have to do the same under Win2K as well unless you turn on the 'Guest' account (which you can do in XP also).

**SuBz** · April 16th, 2002, 08:36 PM

There are a few settings you have to change in XP in order to allow "anonymous" clients to connect. Enable the guest account, and set the password to null (click set password on guest and hit ok without typing). In user right assignments change "Deny access to computer from network" and remove the Guest entry. Lastly, in security options, change "Network access: Let Everyone permissions apply to anonymous users" to enabled.

Also note, that if your client machine is on 9x and is logged in with a username that exists on the XP machine, then it will fail unless the passwords match too. On NT/2k/XP it will simply ask for a different user/pass. Put in anything, and it will revert to anonymous.

One more thing, I'm sure some of you do know this, but local security policies in NTFS files take precedence(?) over network sharing. So if you have everyone is able to read on network sharing, but you have local security securiity set so "everyone" cannot access, then it wont work.

Sorry for the long post.

**tk421** · April 18th, 2002, 11:25 AM

thanks, that is good info.

**Mr_Miyagi** · May 7th, 2002, 04:17 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by tk421:
that's why i said "server". besides, a server by definition is a machine that provides a service to the network. so in that sense it IS a server, since it provides a data center to the entire network. regardless of whether it is using a true server os.

the reason that i wrote the post was because i thought it interesting that you had to create user accounts for users accessing the xp machine. i thought that was unnecessary as well. turns out it isn't.<hr /></blockquote>same for 2k too!

**Gollo** · May 7th, 2002, 08:47 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Darren Wilson:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by tk421:
that's why i said "server". besides, a the reason that i wrote the post was because i thought it interesting that you had to create user accounts for users accessing the xp machine. i thought that was unnecessary as well. turns out it isn't.<hr /></blockquote>you have to do the same under Win2K as well unless you turn on the 'Guest' account (which you can do in XP also).<hr /></blockquote>Wanna know what really blows though? You can't access the document settings, program files or windows folders in either xp home or pro even if you have the same user or password. It sucks.

**Cygnus** · May 7th, 2002, 08:55 AM

I run a P2P network at home similar to this (im on it right now). I havent had any problems with users accessing the files on the XP machine and I use it for file storage from the other machines as well.

Hmmm...

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