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Mapping Drive with Blank Login Password

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by deborahmcmanus 1 view

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I am unable to map drives from a Windows 2003 server to Windows XP and Windows 2000 computers using a login with a blank password. I can map the drives to Windows 98 machines using a login with a blank password. When I use a login with a password I can map the drives on XP and 2000. I can map drives from a Windows NT server to Windows XP and Windows 2000 computers with blank passwords. I even disabled blank password restrictions by using a policy on a Windows XP machine and it still would not map with a blank password. We really need to be able to map using a login with blank passwords. Does anyone know the solution?

10 replies

by bfilmfan

Are these systems members of a domain?

Are NTFS permissions beign applied to the systems?

If either of these are true, you are not going to be able to use blank passwords, which is a truly bad idea.

by olojtd4

You will have to make sure that your users(clients) have the same ID and password set on the windows 2003 server; so that when they logon to their workstation, the system will not request a password from them.

by grebon

Sounds like you're not on a domain, so what I would do is create a generic account on the 2003 server, giving it access to only the share(s) you want to map. On the client computers open "My Computer" tools>map network drive....enter the path to the share and click the hyperlink "connect using a different name", enter the credentials for the generic account you created on the 2003 server. I usually set the password to not expire on this type of setup. Ultimately I'd install active directory, since you're running an 03 server, it doesn't cost any more and gives you so many more options for administration.

by xt john

Have you tried running a net use command with the option of persistent:yes at the end? this will enable the pc to always connect. The syntax for the net use is:

Type net use x: \\computer name\share name, where x: is the drive letter you want to assign to the shared resource.

At a command prompt type net use/? for more attributes. We were successful using this on a public account that didn't have a password, that public account was locked down tight by group policy editor and third party software.

by ds.techrepublic

The following discussion is from the Windows XP Resource Kit (http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/reskit/en-us/prdp_log_tyry.asp). While I haven't confirmed it, I'm sure the same applies to Windows Server 2003 and is the source of your problem.

To protect users who do not password-protect their accounts, Windows XP Professional accounts without passwords can only be used to log on at the physical computer console. By default, accounts with blank passwords can no longer be used to log on to the computer remotely over the network, or for any other logon activity except at the main physical console logon screen. For example, you cannot use the secondary logon service (RunAs) to start a program as a local user with a blank password.

Assigning a password to a local account removes the restriction that prevents logging on over a network and permits that account to access any resources it is authorized to access, even over a network connection.

If you want to disable the restriction against logging on to the network without a password, you can do so through Local Security Policy. The policy setting that controls blank password restriction can be modified using the Local Security Policy or Group Policy MMC snap-ins. You can use either tool to find this policy option at Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options. The name of the policy is Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console logon only. It is enabled by default.

by richard

This is the correct answer for Windows XP in a non-domain environment. You will be able to find the option mentioned by ds.techrepublic by launching GPEDIT.msc and then navigating to: Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options in the left frame and then finding: "Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console logon only" in the right frame.

by noly_big_boy

the computer and user that you are using should be a bonified member of Windows 2003 server that you want map. Ask your administrator about the rights also!

by pritchards

Why not try runas command - there is free software called SANUR on the web, which will help!

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