Hi everyone,

I have a home wireless network that my 2 laptops share internet access from. I recently set up the networks such that both laptops can access each other's shared drives and also share printers.

However, 2 days ago, one of my laptop's HD died and I had to reinstall everything. Now, the newly installed laptop (laptop A) has no problems browsing laptop B's information.

BUT laptop B cannot access laptop A. Laptop B can see A but it keeps getting prompted for a login and password.

How can I get around this? Thank you!

p/s: Both computer use XP SP2 and the network is protected using a WEP key. And I meant to say One PC...lol

Run the Network Setup wizard on the one that can connect - then choose the option to make a network disk. Carry it over to the one that can't connect and run it on there. This'll fix it most times - if not, c'mon back and we'll work through it with you.

Hmmm...but won't network setup wizard create a new network again? Or am I just choosing the option to create a network disk?

The thing is the old computer has no problems seeing the newly installed computer. It attempts to connect, but keeps getting prompted to login.

That's a whole different ball of wax! Yes, it'll re-setup your network, but the presumption is that the default settings on the good system will carry over to the other system. This isn't a 100% solution - but it's the easiest way to start.

Are both systems using XPHome? Sometimes you can "trick" the reluctant computer by giving it a "mirrored" account to the other computer. Just establish another account on the reluctant computer that has the exact same user name and password as the one on the good computer. Check to see if you have connectivity this way (both in the new account and in the old account).

You can also "mirror" the account name from the reluctant computer on the good computer (probably has a better chance of working than the first way).

Be aware that the account name must be the same as the one shown in the Documents and Settings folder (when you rename an account, the name in Documents and Settings doesn't change).

Hey usasma,

Thanks for your suggestion. I tried the mirroring accounts and I can share now! w00t! Btw, both computers use XP pro.

But the question i have now is how do i get windows to boot straight to my desktop using the admin account? I'm slightly annoyed by having to select which account i want at the welcome screen.

Thank you!

Go to Start...Run...and type in "control userpasswords2" (without the quotes) and then press Enter.

Select the account that you want to boot with, then uncheck the box that says "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer". Then click on OK. It may prompt you for the password for the admin account at this time. Once that's done it should boot straight to your desktop on the next reboot.

NOTE: I'm not real sure why the "mirroring" trick works (except that it has to do with maintaining the correct credentials on the correct machine) but it saved my bacon at the wife's office when I couldn't get connectivity any other way.