Windows 10 NETWORK CREDENTIALS Use the hosts file to solve this problem

[RobboD]

I have spent hours trying to connect to one of my LAN computers (running Vista Professional) from a computer using Windows 10. This used to function normally but randomly a problem occurred. I guess this was caused by a Windows update. A message box demanded NETWORK CREDENTIALS and when I entered them I was told they were incorrect. I found hundreds of posts on this topic but was unable to solve the problem. Then I remembered that back in the days of Windows 98 I used a file called hosts to deal with this kind of problem. It is located here: C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc and it still works! you just type in the ip number of the computer you want to access e.g. 192.168.1.17 (you can get this by typing ipconfig after the command prompt on distant computer) followed by a space and the relevant computer name like this: 192.168.1.17 myComputerName. You can open hosts with notepad.exe. You cannot save the file in system32 so modify it and save it in your documents folder and then paste it into C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc as Administrator. It solved my problem. I hope it solves yours.

 

[nigelivey]

Your host file just forces a dns resolution (name to IP) if you know the network path you could just map it instead.

 

[RobboD]

If you mean I could have created a network drive like \\computerName\folderName well no, I couldn't. Without the modification in hosts I just get this:

Whatever I type in as user name or password is always incorrect and in fact the line in red 'The user name or password is incorrect' is displayed immediately the dialog opens!

If I put the line 192.168.1.17 [computer name] in hosts I can open the distant computer without being blocked by the security dialog box. As I mentioned previously this problem mysteriously appeared. I had not changed anything so the bug must have been created by one of the never-ending Windows updates.

 

[nigelivey]

What network are you connected to, Private, Public or Guest??

 

[RobboD]

Private