Workgroup and Authentication?

Question

.:.EMERGENCY.:.
(Needed for tomorrow !)

Hey
i have a small (8 client-no server) workgroup.
today i installed a new fresh windows in all systems and i set the same user (administrator) and pass for all of computers.
but whenever i went to use a shared source, i got an access denied message indicate that blank password or account restriction !!
then i create and use a second account with admin privilege and same passowrd, this time by providing authentication, sharing access was success,
i want users to use sharing without providing authentication (user-pass).
in addition users are into habit to use "my network places" - it's hard for them to use \\Name-IP

What Can I Do ...!?

Answer 1

First, dont have the users run as admin. Set up a username. That name can indeed be the same on all eight workstations if you want, but have them login using a name and a password (which can also be the same) other than administrator.

Authentication is something you actually want even if you dont think you do. If the username and password (other than administration) is given to all network shares then all of them should connect without issue and without having to re-enter the information (as long as that is the username and password they used when they signed into windows.

If this is Vista then the UAC may keep all this from doing what you want and you will have to either disable UAC (not a good idea) or get them used to the Vista way of doing things.