Ubuntu
nautilus package

I am asked for a password to look at files on another workgroup computer

Asked by cliff sur

When trying to view shared files on a Windows network, On one machine with shared files I can open them OK, on another machine with shared files I am asked for a password.
I have tried to enter the password which I use to sign in to the machine containing the shared files, but it doesn't like it.
The machine which I can see into OK does not have a sign-on password.

On both Windows machines, the shares are set to allow "everyone" access. THe only difference between the two windows machines is that one requires a password to sign on, the other does not.
I can "see" both machines from the Ubuntu machine within the windows network.

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu nautilus Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Solved by:
actionparsnip
Solved:
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
Best actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

Read this, it explains a lot:
http://thelinuxexperiment.com/linux/accessing-windows-7-shares-from-ubuntu-is-a-pain/

I'm guessing you are accessing Windows7. Win7 uses a new Samba which has extra authentication steps which have not been disclosed. Microsoft actively helped develop Samba and the current Sambe is the Samba developed. Microsoft then did what they do best and change stuff as they wish and now users get issues. Windows XP will access your shares fine as that too uses the standard Samba.

Revision history for this message
cliff sur (cliff-bizdata) said : 		#2

Ah! Thank you for the reply
I am indeed using Windows 7. On both my other networked machines. The difference between them is that the one which works fine is the 32 bit version of Win7 and the one which won't authenticate is the 64 bit version of Win 7.
However, since I no longer have anything running XP, then it looks like I may just end up with a problem and not a solution. Perhaps a new Samba will be available in the near future, in the meantime I now have less functionality than I used to have.

I saw this comment on a Linux site which is most apposite. "When you open Windows, BUGS fly in"

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#3

Read the link I gave

Revision history for this message
cliff sur (cliff-bizdata) said : 		#4

Thanks ActionParsnip.
I could not find the Windows Live sign in assistant on my Win 7 64 bit machine, so I uninstalled Windows Live Messenger completely. This didn't make any difference. I am still being asked for a password when I try to access my shares from my Ubuntu laptop.
I subsequently reinstalled the WLM software as it is not a Beta product
There is a file in the list of programs called windows live sync, but when I tried to remove this it said that the file does not reside on the machine and I had no idea where else to look for it. So I drew a blank there

I should add that my Windows network is not a client/server set up. It is just a collection of individual machines (2 actually) which are joined to the same workgroup. The Ubuntu machine is the 3rd machine. It is not joined to the workgroup, but is networked wirelessly to the same router as the others.

Reading that article certainly suggests that most people have been able to access their files by making changes to WLM, so I would have though that it's complete removal would have solved the problem for me too, but no such luck. It still seems strange that I can see files on a standard installation of 32 bit Win 7, but not a 64 bit installation. All my machines have just a single operating system installed.

Revision history for this message
cliff sur (cliff-bizdata) said : 		#5

I removed windows live sync, didn't get a error msg this time, but still can't open any shares

Revision history for this message
cliff sur (cliff-bizdata) said : 		#6

OK, I now removed all parts of Windows live essentials from the 64 bit machine. I still get asked for a password, but now when I enter the sign on password for the 64 bit machine, I get access to the files.
I don't know what other functions live essentials carries out on Windows 7, but at least I can now get all 3 machines to share files.
Thanks for your help

Revision history for this message
cliff sur (cliff-bizdata) said : 		#7

Thanks actionparsnip, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#8

Glad you got the gold, this is entirely Microsoft's fault