Windows 7 Pro can't connect to Windows 2000 Pro Workstation

Question

I recently put two new Windows 7 Professional machines into a dated network environment. The server is running Windows 2000 Professional (Workstation, not server) and I can't get the Windows 7 machine to connect to it. There is no domain for this network.

On the server (We'll call it data1, the Network share is shared with everyone (i.e., everyone who has a local account on the machine). When I go to connect to it on one of the Windows 7 machines, I get a prompt for a network password. I have tried all accounts on the server using the domain prefix like data1\user. But it doesn't connect - a "invalid username or password" error comes every time.

For a stopgap solution while I get this worked out, I built a new server of off Windows Server 2003. All machines can connect to it (Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows 7).

Is it just that Windows 2000 is too old to connect to Windows 7? Thanks for your help.

Solution 1

LmCompatibilityLevel as already suggested plus look at secpol.msc -> local policies -> security options -> lan manager auth level. as far as I remember Win7 uses NTLM2 by default, try setting it to "LM & NTLM, NTLM2 if available" or so.

Solution 2

I think this is to do with the LmCompatibilityLevel.

I have had to add this to our new Windows 7 clients to enable them to access the NAS as it runs an older version of Samba that doesn't support the version of NTLM that Windows 7 is trying to connect with.

Try adding a DWORD value of "LmCompatibilityLevel" with a value of "1" to:

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa

It won't exist so you'll have to make it. Restart machine and you should be good to go.

This is the registry hack mentioned by Nick.

Solution 3

Why don't you just continue to use the Windows 2003 Server instead of the Windows 2000 Workstation?

You already have it built...

Solution 4

Are the computers in an Active Directory Domain, or are they in a workgroup?

If they're in a workgroup, then read this: Accessing a Shared Folder or Printer with Windows Vista. I know it says Vista, but it's the same thing! (shh!!!)

As discussed. Make sure that your windows 2000 client supports NTLMv2 (latest service pack should help) or you can break windows 7 so that it will support NTLMv1 via a registry hack.

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Comments

[Dscoduc]

+1 The NTLM Level is most likely the problem... Good call...

[MrGigu]

Because it won't help anyone else who comes accross this question in 3 months time with the same situation

[Neptune Systems]

Doesn't even need a reboot. Net Use works immediately after policy update.