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

The method used was this: "\

"Permitting Network Access Without a Password

To allow users to log onto their computers without a password and then access the XP Professional machine without a password, you must make a security policy change:

1. Go to Control Panel | Performance and Maintenance | Administrative Tools | Local Security Policy.
2. Expand Local Policies | Security Options.
3. Double-click Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console login only, which is enabled by default. Disable this option and click OK.

this stopped the network access dialog box appearing when tryin to access my xp machine from windows 7 ! !"

What is a "Network Password"

In this context, the Network Password is your windows sign-in and password.  

Let's call the computer you are on C1 and the computer you are trying to access C2.

The username and password you are to use, the credentials, are the ones on the one you are trying to access, not the one you are currently using.  So if your window's account on C2 is Bubba and your password on C2 is GetErDone, from C1 you enter that information into the pop-up box to access C2.  If C2 doesn't have a password, just enter the account's username. It's also good, if you are on private computers, to save the information to avoid having to enter it again.

And FYI, the sign-in is not the same as the computer's name, unless you set them both the same.

The biggest problem I seem to find is that there are too many things with similar names, and Microsoft doesn't seem to make it easy to understand which is which, without a lot of research.

What is a "Network Password"

In this context, the Network Password is your windows sign-in and password.  

Let's call the computer you are on C1 and the computer you are trying to access C2.

The username and password you are to use, the credentials, are the ones on the one you are trying to access, not the one you are currently using.  So if your window's account on C2 is Bubba and your password on C2 is GetErDone, from C1 you enter that information into the pop-up box to access C2.  If C2 doesn't have a password, just enter the account's username. It's also good, if you are on private computers, to save the information to avoid having to enter it again.

And FYI, the sign-in is not the same as the computer's name, unless you set them both the same.

The biggest problem I seem to find is that there are too many things with similar names, and Microsoft doesn't seem to make it easy to understand which is which, without a lot of research.

Sorry, but this is just more of the (all so typical in these forums) good intentioned anecdotal information which is not based on documented information or fact.  To my knowledge there was no documented definition by Microsoft of such a thing as a "Network Password" until Windows 7.  This much I know:

I can confirm that when I get the message "Enter Network Password" in a pop up window with "Network Security" showing in the ribbon banner, that no password on God's green earth (including any of the established userids and passwords for that device) will get me into the computer (or in my case a Linux based Network Attached Storage device) that I am attempting to browse.

At present I have managed to access the Linksys NAS referred to from my XP box, from my VISTA box, and from one of my Windows 7 boxes - but am not able to access it from one my other Windows 7 boxes. 

The issue has nothing to do with a router wireless password/key, because I have even encountered this issue while using a computer which is "hardwired" only with an RJ45 100baseT connection to my network.

There do seem to be a variety of "fiddling around" efforts (numerous of which are expounded upon in this and other forums) which seem to "make things work" - sometimes - on some computers - in some cases, for no logical reason.

However, I continue to be amazed (or am I reallly?) that no one at Microsoft with absolute first hand knowledge of this issue has definitively addressed this issue.  I have spoken to numerous "Tech Support" people at Microsoft (bless their sweet hearts) and they don't even seem to acknowledge that awareness of the issue let alone have any understanding of how to deal with it (however, they're happy to charge you to investigage it and then come back with nothing).

What prompted some programmer at Microsoft to create this pop up window occurrence, what "really" are the conditions which trigger it and what, if any, input is required to satisfy it (and possibly even - what was the programmer smoking when he coded this event).

And lastly, ya know what?  I don't even care if I get an answer to what bright boy or girl created this monster - if I could only get someone to tell me what possible "password" would work I would say "OK screw it, who cares what genius thought up this nightmare - at least I can get past it".  HAS ANYONE EVER BEEN ABLE TO ENTER A PASSWORD AT THIS PROMPT WHICH IS ACCEPTED???  I have set up all the computers on my network and I (obviously) know all the passwords for all devices on the network and none of them satisfy this prompt.

....and so the saga continues.

What is a "Network Password"

In this context, the Network Password is your windows sign-in and password.  

Let's call the computer you are on C1 and the computer you are trying to access C2.

The username and password you are to use, the credentials, are the ones on the one you are trying to access, not the one you are currently using.  So if your window's account on C2 is Bubba and your password on C2 is GetErDone, from C1 you enter that information into the pop-up box to access C2.  If C2 doesn't have a password, just enter the account's username. It's also good, if you are on private computers, to save the information to avoid having to enter it again.

And FYI, the sign-in is not the same as the computer's name, unless you set them both the same.

The biggest problem I seem to find is that there are too many things with similar names, and Microsoft doesn't seem to make it easy to understand which is which, without a lot of research.

 

Sorry, but this is just more of the (all so typical in these forums) good intentioned anecdotal information which is not based on documented information or fact.  To my knowledge there was no documented definition by Microsoft of such a thing as a "Network Password" until Windows 7.  This much I know:

 

I can confirm that when I get the message "Enter Network Password" in a pop up window with "Network Security" showing in the ribbon banner, that no password on God's green earth (including any of the established userids and passwords for that device) will get me into the computer (or in my case a Linux based Network Attached Storage device) that I am attempting to browse.

 

At present I have managed to access the Linksys NAS referred to from my XP box, from my VISTA box, and from one of my Windows 7 boxes - but am not able to access it from one my other Windows 7 boxes. 

 

The issue has nothing to do with a router wireless password/key, because I have even encountered this issue while using a computer which is "hardwired" only with an RJ45 100baseT connection to my network.

 

There do seem to be a variety of "fiddling around" efforts (numerous of which are expounded upon in this and other forums) which seem to "make things work" - sometimes - on some computers - in some cases, for no logical reason.

 

However, I continue to be amazed (or am I reallly?) that no one at Microsoft with absolute first hand knowledge of this issue has definitively addressed this issue.  I have spoken to numerous "Tech Support" people at Microsoft (bless their sweet hearts) and they don't even seem to acknowledge that awareness of the issue let alone have any understanding of how to deal with it (however, they're happy to charge you to investigage it and then come back with nothing).

 

What prompted some programmer at Microsoft to create this pop up window occurrence, what "really" are the conditions which trigger it and what, if any, input is required to satisfy it (and possibly even - what was the programmer smoking when he coded this event).

 

And lastly, ya know what?  I don't even care if I get an answer to what bright boy or girl created this monster - if I could only get someone to tell me what possible "password" would work I would say "OK screw it, who cares what genius thought up this nightmare - at least I can get past it".  HAS ANYONE EVER BEEN ABLE TO ENTER A PASSWORD AT THIS PROMPT WHICH IS ACCEPTED???  I have set up all the computers on my network and I (obviously) know all the passwords for all devices on the network and none of them satisfy this prompt.

 

....and so the saga continues.

 

P.S.  I am leaning towards the suspicion that this is probably somehow related to the introduction of Microsofts bright idea of Homegroups (even though I am not and will not use homegroups in my network setup) because that is the only area where I can actually find reference to "Network Password".