XP Network No Longer Accessible

[vash1979]

I can no longer access my network through either of my computers.  They are both running XP home.  I never had a problem until today.  I went to access one from the other and it asked for a password.  I have NEVER been asked that before.  The only thing that is different about my computers is that I installed a time usage limiting program for my kids internet usage.  I can't imagine that would be the problem, but who knows?  If anyone could help, I would be extremely appreciative.  BTW, I'm a bit stupid when it comes to home networking, so if you could, would you please dumb it down a bit for me.  LOL.  Not too much... I'm not technologically retarded or anything.  Thanks everyone!

[guestolo]

Can you view any of the computers shared folders when you click on
"View Workgroup computers"

Have you installed any new security software recently?
Are you sharing at least one folder on each computer?

Are you in the same workgroup with each with a different Computer name?

I installed a time usage limiting program for my kids internet usage.

Can you supply the exact name and version of this program please

[vash1979]

I can see the computers, but cannot access them without the password it now asks for.

No new security software in the past few months... everything worked until recently.

Yes, I am sharing multiple files on each computer.

Yes, I am in the same workgroup (HOME) and different names for the computers (NEC) and (KIRA)

The exact name and version of the programs is Time Monitor by Piranha Designs and it is version 1.1.2

Basically, I just want to get rid of this stupid password screen it pops up in the attachment I provided earlier.  We liked being able to just jump right into file sharing.  None of the passwords I tried today worked and besides... it's a pain in the @$ too.  So, in short, the workgroup shared files/folders/printers are visible, but no longer accessible.

[vash1979]

Okay, so basically, I've concluded that yes, it is Time Monitor that is restricting my access to the workgroup.  I figured it out by uninstalling it off of Computer A.  Once it was uninstalled, Computer B was able to access files and folders immediately.  So now, my main concern is this:  Is there a way to keep Time Monitor on Computer B, yet be able to still access it from Computer A?  Any permissions that could be changed or a sneaky little work-around would be great.

[guestolo]

I'm sorry, I don't have that software installed, but there must be a setting or something to allow computer access within it, anything in the HELP file?
Possibly setting to allow computer access permanently, if no password is set on specific computer
Leave it blank

[guestolo]

I don't have time right now, but I may be able to install a trial copy of Time Monitor  later on tonight on my test box and check settings
From what I see so far on thier site, it looks as if you may have to give the computer access

[vash1979]

That would be great... please, Please, PLEASE let me know if you figure something out.  It would be a great help to be able to access our network while at the same time, keeping our kids time on the computer limited when we're not around.  Thank you.

[guestolo]

I haven't had that much time with the program, but so far, I've added a password to my testbox, and removed password
I have no access to the computer with Time Monitor installed unless I uniinstall the software
I could keep trying, but it seems you and I are either missing something, or there are not enough options to enable networking in the program itself
I even removed the possibility of Firewall interference

Do you just want to restrict Internet access on the computer
Do you have a Router?
Have you checked options within the router itself?
Supplying MAC address and filtering time specifications online are usually a basic setup with Router config.

[vash1979]

Okay, the computer with Time Monitor installed is our main computer and is directly connected to the internet.  The other computer (the one I uninstalled Time Monitor from) is hooked to the internet through a wireless router (Linksys WRT54G).  I'm not wanting to restrict internet access on either computer.  I am just using the program to limit the amount of time certain profiles are allowed to use the computer altogether.  The program just basically logs the person off when a certain time limit has been reached.  I've gone through all of the options in the program and found nothing that would hamper the network.  Before this program, I never had any network problems.  I know I could just get rid of the program to remedy the problem, but as much as me and my gf are out and about, we need a program like this to limit the amount of time that our children use the computer.

[time monitor tech support]

Hello,

The issue you are experiencing is due to Windows security when being accessed remotely.  Piranha Designs Time Monitor software is designed to limit kids computer time and thus imposes time restrictions on all accounts as configured by the system administrator.  The issue this user is experiencing is due to the monitoring of the Windows Guest account which is used when accessing the remote machine.  When Time Monitor is installed it configures Windows to not enable local or remote access by the guest account unless the administrator overrides the time settings from the Time Monitor Administrator program.

We first recommend that you are running the latest version of Time Monitor v1.2.2. You can download the software from our website at http://www.time-monitor.com/downloads.html

The following 3 steps are to be done on the computer you wish to access.

Step 1
Run Time Monitor Administrator, make sure the Guest account is not disabled, and to permit logon at all hours.  The following screenshot shows this:


Step 2
By default Windows home networking grants quite a bit of rights when Simple File Sharing is enabled.  The user is attaching to a computer named NEC using the Guest account.  This user wishes to connect without providing a password.  This is possible but not recommended as it grants read/write access to the machine without any auditing capabilities thus allowing anyone, or any program, to make changes to the shared folder.  The following screen shows the security privileges of a shared folder when Simple File Shaing is enabled:


If you wish to disable the Simple File Sharing and can manage creating shared folders, assigning rights, and mapping drives then to disable the Simple File Sharing run Windows Explorer then select from the menu Tools->Folder Options->View and disable Simple Shared Networking:


Step 3
To allow Guest access to the shared folder(s) without requiring a password go to Control Panel -> User Accounts, select the Guest account and choose the "Remove password" option:


Step 4
This is the final step and must be performed on the computer that wishes to access the remote computer.

Using Windows Explorer to map a network drive to the remote computer select Tools->Map network drive and provide the appropriate information.  Please note that you must click the connect using a different username link first and supply the following information:

Make sure your username is COMPUTERNAME\USERNAME format (eg. NEC\Guest), leave the password blank, and click OK.

Finally, make sure "Reconnect at logon" is enabled and that the \\COMPUTERNAME\SHARENAME is correct (eg \\NEC\YOURSHAREDFOLDERNAME) then click OK.

Now, whenver you logon to Windows the password prompt to access the remote machine will appear but you simply click OK to connect as Guest.

Hope this helps!

Sincerely,
Time Monitor Tech Support
Piranha Designs, LLC

[time monitor tech support]

For more detailed information from Microsoft regarding file sharing issues you may read http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040
Hope this helps!

Sincerely,
Time Monitor Tech Support
Piranha Designs, LLC