I have a network with 70 computers. All the computers run Windows XP Professional. When I give the command from "Run" = \x.x.x.xc$ (the default share) to a remote computer in my Windows network, it asks me for the password. However, I am the only person who installed or configured any of the computers on this network and I never put in a password. Why has my network suddenly become password encrypted?
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Margie Semilof, Editorial Director
I don't think your network has become "password encrypted." You didn't say whether you were running an AD domain -- but I suspect you're not. This is actually normal password security behavior in Windows XP Pro. Any time you try to authenticate to a system drive in this way (as opposed to a share), you're going to be prompted. You could always tell Windows to save your password so you only have to do it once. A better solution may be to create shares on each drive to which only you have share/file permissions.
This was first published in October 2007