Can't access one networked computer

[Peter Kinross]

I am having problems accessing one of my 4 networked computers; called ‘BPF’. Only 1 computer, called ‘Tow’ can even see it in Explorer, but asks for Username & Password to access it. I have entered these many times only to be told that they are not correct. I get the same thing from my synching software that is on Computer O1; it can see BPF but can’t access it because the username & password are supposedly incorrect. I have been to BPF and changed the password to what it should be. I have done this several times, so I am certain that the username and password are indeed correct. Yet 2 of my network computers cannot even see it, the one that can, can’t access it and my synch software can see it but can’t access it.
Tow is Win 7, all the others are Win 10. All are up to date.
My network mapping software can see BPF.
I can ping BPF from all computers.
This is driving me up the wall, so any help will keep me out of the funny farm for a bit longer.

[Peter Kinross]

Ha ha - another Microsoft gotcha.
I changed the password on BPF using netplwiz (quite a few times). After the above post I thought I would check it using Ctl + Alt + Del. What do you know? Changing it with netplwiz doesn't actually change it. Ctrl + Alt + Del didn't recognize the new password. So now I am stuck with a computer whose password I do not know. No idea how that happened.
Any clues on how to easily get around this gotcha would be seriously appreciated.
Fortunately I had to resurrect an expired password for my daughter some time ago. But that was for her computer that wouldn't open due to the expired password. that process took some time, so I would like to avoid it. However, if no clues are forthcoming, I will try that back door approach.

[HansV]

Do you use a Microsoft account to log in on BPF, or a local account?

[Peter Kinross]

Not sure as it has auto logon - no password needed to log on. (Just as well as I have no idea what the password is).
How do I find out?
My MS password is the same. So I am guessing that it isn't a MS logon.

[HansV]

No password needed?

See if the second part of How to reset your forgotten password in Windows 10 helps (the first part is about resetting the password for a Microsoft account).

[DaveA]

Peter,
It appears to me that the password that being asked for the one with the auto login.
I have found that if one is to have an Window users Admin account with the same name and password, on ALL networked computer, things run much smother.
This account does not have to be logged into, just heave been fully set up and checked out that the user name and password do allow one to login to the machine. This account can also be used a backdoor in case of a clobbered user account.

Also NOTE, that the Windows networking does not like the use of "Auto Login".

[Peter Kinross]

Thanks Hans. That is the technique I used with my daughters computer and the one I planned to use. Problem is that this BPF computer is a Win 10 stick computer whose sole purpose in life is to run a screensaver as a digital picture frame. That computer has no disk. I have just gone down to the store and purchased a 5 Gig USB stick. I will give that a go.
Thanks Dave, I DID have all 4 networked computers with the same username & password. Somehow this one has had it's password changed. Although maybe I originally set this one using netplwiz, but I can't recall.

[Peter Kinross]

Another Gotcha!
The stick computer has only 1 USB slot, which is used for the keyboard dongle. So I can't put in the USB Win 10 thing.
So unless there is some software that I can run from the computer to change the password, I am pretty well stuffed.
On top of that, even if I could somehow get the USB stick going, I have no idea if it would even boot from an USB, as there is no provision in the bios to boot from an USB, and no where to add it. Doubly stuffed.

[Leif]

Another Gotcha!
The stick computer has only 1 USB slot...
Doubly stuffed.

Quadruply fixed:

USB Hub.jpg

[Peter Kinross]

Thanks Leif.
Can't believe I didn't think of an USB hub. I already have a couple of those. Will try that.
Thanks again.

[Peter Kinross]

Gotchas continued. Overcame the lack of bios boot options. Turns out pressing F7 on re-start bypasses bios setup and gets me straight to boot options. That part works just fine.
The USB hub also works a treat. 2 out of 3 so far is great.
But when I get to Win 10 setup and go to the command prompt (which I need to reset the password), the backslash (\) on the keyboard gives a hash (#) instead. I tried 2 keyboards, an USB wireless mini one and a full size USB plug in one - same result. Back in Win 10 - Notepad, the backslash worked as it should - backslashes galore. Tried Win 10 - command prompt, backslash worked just fine.
The computer manufacturer said I probably had a UK keyboard installed. Checked and no, all I had installed was US keyboard. I removed that and installed US International keyboard. Still no backslash in Win 10 setup - command prompt.

[HansV]

Does Alt+92 (or Alt+092) produce a backslash?
(Using the numeric keypad, with Num Lock turned on)

[Peter Kinross]

Yep Hans, it sure does! How do you know all this incredible stuff?
Changed the password. I now can access that computer from my network.
Once again:

ThanksHansStamp.gif

[Rudi]

Hey Peter, how much do those stamps sell for?
It might be useful to dish them out to other loungers!!

[Peter Kinross]

Many years ago, before Eileen, tongue in cheek, I expressed a need for such a stamp because of the incredible assistance Hans had been on a continual and continuing basis. (things haven't changed have they?). I think it was Leif who made it, and I have been using it ever since.
So Leif gets one too.

ThanksLeifStamp.gif

we will probably need a Rudi one as well.

[Rudi]

I have a long ways to go before i get immortalized like that!!!

[HansV]

Here is one for you...

S1781.png

[Rudi]

Looks clean and concise.

[Peter Kinross]

Clean and precise AND thoroughly deserved.

[Peter Kinross]

Here it is LESS 'clean & precise'.

ThanksRudiStamp.png