Windows 10: Password protection turned off, Windows keep asking about credentials.

Situation and configuration:
Home network with 6 computers. All with Windows 10, newest update 1909. The settings are the same on all computers: network set as private, password protected sharing turned off, each computer has an „Exchange” folder shared for „everyone” group with read/write privileges. Each computer is in the same workgroup. Each has ip 192.168.0.X. Unfortunately, it does not work as intended:

• Computer #1 can access all other computers and none of them are asking for credentials.
• Computer #1 can be accessed from all other computers without asking for credentials.
• Computers #2, #3, #4, #5, #6: without asking for credentials can access only themselves and computer #1. Trying to access any other computer results in the credentials window popping up. After entering credentials access is granted.
• I have no account on computer #1 and #3. I do have on all others. But i think it is not relevant here

I would like to have just a simple situation: everything works like computer #1 does now. Where is the problem? I start to believe it is a kind of magic, but maybe you have a logical explanation? Additionally one strange thing: To access computer #2 form computer #3 #4 #5 or #6 I need to use credentials of local account of computer #2. Trying to access it using Microsoft account username and password does not work. I get an error message “wrong username or password”. I use Microsoft account on computer #2 since… a very long time. Years, I think

One hint: On some computers folder “Users” is not shared. It should be shared by default, but I think I unshared it once. Can it have an influence?

:)

 

Network Sharing prompts for password (Password protected sharing turned off) - Windows 10

Hi,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.



As you’ve already turned off password protected sharing, this issue could be due to the incorrect cached credentials stored on the PC. I suggest you to try the steps listed below and check if it works.

• Open Control Panel and categorize to view by
  small icons.
  
• Click on User Accounts and choose your
  User Name.
  
• On the left pane, click on Manage your credentials.
  Under Windows Credentials, remove the shared computer credentials and save the changes.
  
• Exit Control Panel and restart the machine to see if the issue persists.
  

Let us know how it goes.

Regards,

 

Asking for Network Credentials when trying to access computer on the network

Hi,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.



I understand that you are being asked for credentials when trying to access computers on the network. I’ll certainly help you with the issue.



Ideally, when you are asked for credentials, you will need to enter the username and password of the computer which you are trying to access. If you are on a secured network, you can turn off password protected sharing under Network and sharing options
and you will not be prompted for a password.



If you are unable to access the computer by entering the username and password of the computer, one of thing that I can suggest you is to try entering the Device name and password when you receive the prompt. To check for the Device name, go to
Start >> Settings >> System >> About.



If that doesn’t work, try the steps mentioned below:

1. On the computer for which you are being asked for password, type
   command prompt in the search bar on the Taskbar.
   
2. Right click on the command prompt icon, and select
   Run as administrator.
   
3. Now, type whoami and hit
   Enter.
   

You will get the name of the device, try using the name as the username and use the computer password.



Let us know the results, we will be glad to help you further.



Regards,

Nikhar Khare

Microsoft Community - Moderator

 

Password Protecting Sensitive Data

If you use bitlocker to encrypt the folder then it uses your Windows credentials to unlock the certificate store and allow you access to the folder. This means that they have to know your Windows password to log into Windows to gain access to the folder. Also, if they use one of those 3rd party password reset tools to change or reset your password the certificate store will reject the new credentials and not allow access to the folder. The same goes if they try to put the drive in another computer, there would be no way for them to read the encrypted folder. The only way this method would fail would be if you left your computer on and logged in, and someone walked up to it and started using it.

As for an encrypted Zip file using 7-zip, there is no way to access the data in the file without the password.