When I turn off password protected sharing in the network and sharing center's advanced settings, I save settings but when I go back in, it's turned on again. Turning it off doesn't stick. This is what seess to be forcing a password and prevents me from setting up a backup to a network share drive. Any ideas?

You may have to unjoin the Homegroup and join the net shared workgroupRating posts helps other users Mark L. Ferguson MS-MVP

Same problem, I don't use a homegroup since the other computers in the network are XP systems and could not get the homegroup to work before My customer is running Windows 7 Profesional upgraded from Home Premium. It was working before but it stopped working a couple of days ago.

I noticed there is loads of stuff about problems with Networking Win 7 and XP/2000 PCs etc. I also couldnt get Password Protected sharing OFF to stick and had problems with Win 7/XP machines loosing sight of each other, when a Win 7 PC was added to a Network. I saw some comments about the Guest Account - needs to be about with blank password but the password prot off may not like thatSo, I enabled it, set a blank password on it but turned it Off!!.And, as if by magic, Password Protected Sharing OFF engaged OK. First, Using the console. Windows Start - type mmc in search box, select mmc.exe which appears at top of Start Window. On the console window do File - Add/remove Snap ins - select Local Users and groups - Add - Local computer.Add other snap ins if you wish then OK. File Save to save your console setup with a 'name'.msc - use the 'name' in the Windows Start search box next time. In the console window.Expand Local Users and groups, select User folder, Select Guest Acct, Rt Click - PropertiesTicked - User Cannot Change Password and Password Never ExpiresUnticked - User must change password, Account is disabled, Account is locked outApply then OK Select Guest Account - Rt Click - Set Password - Proceed - ensure password fields are blank - OK Windows Start - Control Panel - User Accounts - Add or Remove User AccountSelect the Guest Account and Turn it Off Control Panel - Network and Sharing Center - Change Advanced Sharing Settings Expand Home or Work Network Discovery ONFile and printer sharing ONPublic Folder Sharing ONMedia Streaming OffEnable file sharing 40-56 encryption machines (if XP/2000 etc PCs in workgroup)Password Protected Sharing OFF Hope this helps; I could however be wrong about the logic but lets see what the experts say (please modify/delete as appropriate)!!I must admit the 'connectivity' on my Network has improved; PCs not loosing each other. Good Luck Steve Regards Steve

and..... even with password protected sharing off on my Win 7 PC, the Networked XP/2000 PCs cant use the printer connected to that Win 7 machine without first logging into it. Obviously something else needed on the settings. On the Win 7 box, when I look at the Printer Properties Security tab, the Everyone user has the ability to Print. However, do I also need the Anonymous Login permitted?? Regards Steve

STEVE!!!!!. Finally something that has allowed me to connect to my PC from my Buffalo LT-V100 media player. So elated am I that I would even consider intimate requests from you. For info I found that disabling the media streaming is the key and what's more you can then re-enable it once you have logged into the PC and setup a shortcut. Mate, I have been after an answer to this problem for weeks - THANKS.

I just bought a new machine with Windows 7 Premium, and am now having trouble connecting to it through my Buffalo LT-V100 media player. The Buffalo and see the PC in the WORKGROUP, but it keeps asking for a password to Login. I've tried part of the solution above, but to no avail. Windows 7 Preimum won't let do 'On the console window do File - Add/remove Snap ins - select Local Users and groups - Add - Local computer.' It won't let me add the Local Computer. Says I should use the User Accounts option in the control panel. Any ideas? I'm totally at a loss as to how to get it working again. Ta Pilkojr

Pilkojr, have you done this: Go to Registry Editor In HKEY_Local_Machine System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\everyoneIncludesanonymous change the value from 0 to 1 In HKEY_Local_Machine System\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanManServer\Parameters\restrictnullsessaccess change value from 1 to 0