New Windows 10 PC: credentials to access others on network

ixodid · 21 Jan 2017

Hi, I'm setting up a new Windows 10 Home Premium PC and I have it connected to my router with an Ethernet cable.

I have my old Windows 7 machine also connected to the router with a cable.

When I try to access the Win7 PC from the Win10 PC, I'm asked to Enter network credentials. It won't accept the usernames and passwords I've tried.

I found this thread that may have the answer but I didn't understand how to implement the solution: Network Credentials

Previously, an IT guy told me to use the same ID and password for all machines on my network to avoid problems like I'm having (as may be mentioned in the above referenced thread) but I don't understand how one identifies between the different computers on the network when they have the same names.

Assistance to allow me to use my new Windows 10 machine on my network would be greatly appreciated.

Caledon Ken · 21 Jan 2017

Welcome to the TenForums @ixodid

Head to your Win 7 machine, right click on the network icon in systray (lower right), click on Open Network and Sharing, upper left click change advance sharing settings. You should be in Private Network section. Last entry in this section, Homegroup Connections, click use accounts and passwords.

Then on Windows 10 machine enter the user name from your Windows 7 machine, like John or Owner, and then enter the password you use to sign into that machine.

Your old IT guy want you to use the same user name and password, not necessarily the same Computer name. My computer name is desktop31, my user name is Ken.

Cliff S · 21 Jan 2017

I was having the problem that my machines(3 hardware, 1 VM) could not see each other, or even them selves in Network inside of File Explorer.
Long Story shortened to avoid any confusion:
I eventually figured out, to run the setup for Homegroup on each machine, they then saw each other without being "connected" via the password. I then shut off Homegroup on all the machines, and they remained in Network in file explorer, so I could send and delete files back and forth, even run installers from another machine.

ixodid · 21 Jan 2017

Hi Ken, I appreciate your response.

I followed your instructions on the Win 7 machine. Now it's asking for a password to login. I've never had to log in before and I don't have a password. How can I get back into the Win 7 machine?

And is there a way to do this without using HomeGroup? I was advised not to use HomeGroup and since did additional research and found some compelling reasons to not use HomeGroup.

Thank you

Caledon Ken · 21 Jan 2017

What user name name and password were you trying if you didn't have a password? Not understanding.

If you don't have a password you could just try hitting enter. The route you were going does not use Homegroup. Not sure what you read about Homegroup, lots of people use.