Askng for Domain creds when we have no domain

[EricKei]

Odd sitch at the office just popped up (newspaper):

Our work network is pretty basic - Gig ethernet, mostly hardwired, set up to work on wireless as needed. No Domain, no server per se (running off of a gigabit router with a wireless unit attached), tho the Layout comp serves as the primary data storage unit (primary backup is another comp; a NAS is on our wishlist).

Layout: win8 pro (no password; yes, I know, bad idea -- no "user sensitive" data is on our network anywhere)
Backup/graphics: xp pro (the poor thing can't handle much more -- it's next in line for an upgrade when we buy more comps) -- note that this comp DOES have a password
Most everything else: win7 pro or home, all not passworded

All of the above are hardwired. All on the same workgroup

Plus the occasional laptop connecting via wireless.

The boss has brought his win 8 pro laptop in, connects via wireless; has a password on it. Gets internet just fine. Can connect to shares on the Graphics machine just fine with no issues.

BUT, while he can see every other comp on the network, he cannot connect to Shares on any other comp -- without which we cannot do much of use. They all prompt him for a username and password, displaying a Domain name of something like Inspiron#### -- nobody in the office has one of those (he doesn't either, before you ask ). I have confirmed that he is connecting to our wireless network (thick brick building, he'd have trouble connecting to any other even if he wanted to). I have confirmed that he is NOT on a Domain, and that his Workgroup name matches ours. Only his comp manifests this behavior.

Can anyone offer an idea as to why it would be doing this?

[cleorose]

This is a guess, but usually the wireless network is named for the first computer or router its hooked up to. The inspirion name MIGHT be what the old network was called before stuff got updated. You would need to talk to the tech guy and see how to log into the router settings which is probably where the password and such come into play. I know my router has a password and certain brands like CISCO require that you log in to change or adjust settings. Its not enough to know the router pw you have to know the designated password.

[EricKei]

This network is a brand new office as of a month ago, with all-new network hardware, including the wireless. No Inspiron anythings on the network. Really odd.

Side note -- Boss bought the laptop second-hand (wiped with windows on it and plenty of bloatware for me to get rid of)...We've since discovered that the copy of Windows on there may be less than legit x.x Would that have an effect? And of course, no luck contacting the seller.

[otakuneko]

Prepend a \ before the username to logon without the domain in the way. BUT......

Side note -- Boss bought the laptop second-hand (wiped with windows on it and plenty of bloatware for me to get rid of)...We've since discovered that the copy of Windows on there may be less than legit x.x Would that have an effect? And of course, no luck contacting the seller.

Based on this, nuke 'n pave this laptop. It may be perfectly fine and dandy to go and use a pirated OS at home and have no problems at all, it may even be perfectly clean. But bring that unlicensed OS to the office and you've got a huge potential liability on your hands.

DBAN that sucker and get a legit installation prior to any further troubleshooting.

[EricKei]

I will see if I can dig up a legit copy of the OS -- I think his lappy has the original keycode sticker still on there. I don't think it has a Restore Partition, which would make this vastly simpler.

As for the username -- that's the issue. There IS no username to enter. It's asking for user/pass when trying to access comps that have only the default primary/global Admin user set up. I will try using the localuser profile names with the \ and no pass tho, once boss gets back into Monday. If it still demands a password at that point...well... I have ways of making computers talk

Thanks!

[dalesys]

... I have ways of making computers talk

Lappie, This is Mr. Brick. He will be monitoring your performance closely.

[sms001]

I'd go with NFO as well. the legitimacy thing is reason enough, but it sounds to me like there are some access rights from a previous LAN that would be tedious to kill.

[otakuneko]

As for the username -- that's the issue. There IS no username to enter.

Simple File Sharing?

For shame.

[Geek King]

Have you tried 'admin' and a blank password? That is the default administration login on a lot of systems, and a surprising number of people don't bother changing it.

[EricKei]

GK - Yeh, no luck.

otakuneko - Heck, we don't even have a proper server, nor do we really need one that badly. They're not to worried about locking the place down beyond having passworded wifi and the usual precautions such as antivirus and Spybot, as there's nothing 'sensitive' on our systems beyond the one comp that runs QuickBooks, and even that is used strictly for accounting, not payments.

Boss has decided to go the easy route -- Bought an refurb'd laptop from an actual proper vendor and consigned the problematic one to home use. I already Activated it just to be sure. And it works with the network, yaaaaaaaaaay!