Windows 7 ask's "enter network password" when accessing Window XP Machine

I'm just trying to get into OUTLOOK on my Windows 7 machine, but the message ENTER NETWORD PASSWORD (incoming and outgoing) keeps popping up, and the password that I enter does not permit access. What do I do now, please? THANKS!

I love your post Fred.   I have contributed to this post several times in the past and I feel your frustration.  My conclusion was, and still is, that if the system is asking for a password then there ought to be a way of setting, or resetting, the damn thing.  Having said that, in view of the lack of support from Microsoft themselves, you can't blame people for trying to get round the problem.  It seemed to me that the variety of workrounds is simply due to the various operating systems around.  It seems that the professional versions have it best, leaving the poor Home Version users, like myself, to flounder around looking for something that works.   I have found the best solution that works for me and that is a USB memory stick.  I run up and down stairs with the stick in hand swapping files as and when I need to.

I have a final question.  Do Microsoft ever read these posts ?  Do they care ?  Yes, I know, that's two questions - no one will notice !

I have to say that the world of computing, but especially anything from Microsoft, has become increasingly bizzarre, as nobody really seems to know what they are talking about any more. Everyone is just 'guessing' or working from a perspective of "well I did this, and it seemed to work, I have no dea why or whether it will work for anyone else but this must be the answer" - ?????

A very good example of this is the ubiquitous "Enter Network Password" window that pops up now and then when trying to access another computer, NAS or other network device. What is a "Network Password", and why is it that there is no password that I can possibly enter that works - I installed and configured all my computers and my network. I set up all my passwords (for user accounts, router, whatever.....) but I don't have a freakin' clue what a "Network Password" is or what I need to enter to make it happy.

I've read countless posts about this issue which include all kinds of apparent solutions or work arounds from "enter your router network key" to "stand on one leg, stick your left index finger in your right ear and cough twice".......but I have not read anything that "definitively" tells me that anyone knows wtf a "Network Password" is. What the **** is going on at Microsoft any more - is everybody down to guessing what it is but nobody actually knows????

One thing I do know is that it has nothing to do with a wireless router connection or the wireless key, because it occurs even on my workstation that connects only with a hardwired network connection. I really wish that people who don't really understand the issue would stop volunteering solutions. If you don't know, don't offer your "well have you tried this or tried that". Just don't bother wasting "airwaves".

So if anyone REALLY does know wtf this "Network Password" **** is about maybe you could enlighten the rest of us idiots who don't have a freakin' clue.