Networks

Ask something
Question Locked

Shared folder access forgets "Saved Password"

0 helpful
12 replies

by it support desk

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

Hi:
We have a new customer who had a recently had workgroup XP network upgraded to a Win2k3 Server with AD installed on it.
The individual who deployed the Win2k3 server setup 1 user account (username1) and two shared folders (data1 and data2) with full access to the shared folders for username1.

The mapped drives to \\sbs2k3\data1 and \\sbs2k3\data work fine for a little while until a computer is rebooted.

Furthermore, the client computers have not joined the domain and are still using their workgroup names.

However, the problem is as follows:
I can map using the username1 account until a computer is rebooted or logged off. Then, the shared drive is present but require input of the username and password again.
I've assigned full access and "everyone" to the shared folders so that the end-users would not have to be entering a username and password to authenticate to the mapped drive each time they reboot or turn on their computers.
The company does not want to change over to a full Active Directory domain if it doesn't have to. They just need their software to be access the database on the mapped drives w/out Windows XP losing the password.
When re-authenticating to the mapped drives, Windows XP no longer has the option to "Save Password".

Can someone provide a tip or two that I can use to work around constant Username and Password prompts to the mapped drives each time a computer is rebooted? Perhaps a policy that would allow the desktops to access the data folder freely.
The customer made it well known that they do not want to much change in their work environment and I am trying to keep this as simple as possible.

Thank you for your help in advance.

12 replies

by pser

A single user id for everyone to access the same data/domain!?!? That's crazy talk I tellsya!! :)

Your problem (well one of them) is between the user ids on the local machines and the Domain user id.

How big is the site? Setting up the Domain should not be to difficult (depending on the size) or time consuming. As well, everyone and everything will be a whole lot 'safer'! I would try and talk them into setting up AD the way it needs to be in stead of looking for a workaround ... but that's just me.

Luck!

by it support desk

The server checks those stored crednetials, it see it's incorrect, prompts the user to provide the correct ones, once provided it remember the correct one, but after restart the correct ones are gone and the stored incorrect ones are used again, right!
To erase any old saved passwords from the WinXP Box, do this:
Start - > Run -> control userpasswords2 -> switch to advanced -> manage passwords -> remove all entries. Add new ones.

The site has 16 computers and "shouldn't" take very long connecting them to the domain. It's migrating data to the new AD client profile that can get messy/sticky (e-mail, favorites, documents, desktop icons/shortcuts then there is their personal tweaks to the old profile that don't necessarily migrate over.
Trust me, I know the security risks involved but "Change" is truly hard to accept for some and it has been made clear by this customer's principal! :)

by cmiller5400

It does not take but 30 seconds to join a PC to a domain once it is logged in... Just try and convince them to do it. The one time setup is the pain, then it is a lot easier to manage.

by pser

putting it mildly! Centralized management of AD is a whole heck of a lot more attractive than managing indavidual users, workstations, printers, et cetra, et cetra, et cetra!!! Uhhhhhgggggg!!!

by w2ktechman

when mapping the drive choose to use alternate credentials, and plug in the username/PW that can access the shares.
set it to reconnect using these credentials.

It should map and use those credentials from now on.

Another thought would be to specify which computer/users and plug those in with permissions to the share and remove the everyone.

BUT
Now ther is a new issue (or one that was not thought out very well). Having the same username/PW for everyone that logs in is a bad idea, especially if they have full control to the shares.

by jdclyde

I can set this up on four systems, and three will remember the password. No rhyme or reason, thanks to XPsp2.

SOMETIMES if you make the windows loggin password the same as the password for the mapped drives, it will remember them.

This has been an issue I never found an answer for, and because our servers are all linux, AD is not an option.

by pser

I've seen this issue with my Citrix Farm. Have a few users that map from within a trusted Domain. The trusted domain user id's were the same format until someone on the other side decided to change their naming convention. They could still access the drives but since the id's changed all they had was read access. Gotta love inter-agency communication!

But this guy or gal reaaaallly needs to convince these people to correctly setup AD. IMHO

by the scummy one

Since the ones that I work on are all on a domain, the only
time credentials are needed (if mapped as using another
account) is when the other accounts PW changes.

Sorry, I thought it would work the same if it was put in as
computername/username or mapped as %user account on
the svr%

by absolutely

... how funny your multiple aliases are?

Every single time I see you refer to yourself, a previous message in the same thread by a different alias, I think of some confused n00b going back and forth, and "wtf???" for 10 minutes, before finally realizing you're the same guy. Some times it's less obvious than others, but always makes me smile.

by the scummy one

I hadnt given it much thought :^0

I was using Opera on Vista which has (I finally
remembered W2K's PW) w2k profile. But due to hang ups
(even after blocking cookies) I went back to Safari on Vista
(no TR problems here) which has the Scummy Ones
profile...

Didnt even give it a thought...LOL

This discussion is closed to new replies.