Member Avatar for nukabolhi

I already installed windows 7 copy to a system and try to connect the share drive windows 2003 server. All other computer can connect share drive but this is first time it refuse to authenticate.

I try to connect share drive with domain/username + password as same way I connected other pcs but without error it fails to connect.

Appreciate your solution for this problem.

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Given ’s symptoms (one Windows 7 client can ping/RDP to the Server 2003 file server but fails only when authenticating to the share) and ’s note about account scope and permissions, the fastest path is to prove whether this is a client-state problem (cached/incorrect credentials, existing SMB session) or a server-side policy/firewall/account issue. The steps below are a focused, evidence-gathering workflow.

On the Windows 7 client:

  • Open an elevated command prompt and clear any existing SMB sessions:
net use * /delete
  • Remove any stored network credentials (Control Panel → Credential Manager).
  • Test explicit authentication to the server’s IPC$ to force a logon event, then map the share (use server name or IP and a test account created on the server):
net use \\SERVER_IP\IPC$ /user:SERVERNAME\testacct
net use Z: \\SERVER_IP\ShareName /user:SERVERNAME\testacct Password /persistent:no

Successful IPC$ auth means authentication worked but something about permissions or cached state prevented the original map.

On the Server 2003 side:

  • Check Security and System event logs at the exact timestamps of the client attempts. Note account name, source workstation/IP, and failure reason (account lockout, bad password, guest/anonymous, etc.).
  • Verify account lockout status and whether the server firewall or any ACL limits SMB from that client IP.
  • Confirm share and NTFS permissions (expand on ’s point) and verify the Local Security Policy option “Network access: Sharing and security model for local accounts” is set appropriately (Classic vs Guest). If the share lives on a domain controller, remember local accounts won’t apply.

Additional notes:

  • Windows will refuse a second set of credentials for the same server until existing sessions are cleared — always clear prior connections first.
  • For domain authentication, confirm the Windows 7 machine is domain‑joined and clock skew is within tolerance for Kerberos.
    Collect the exact Explorer error text and the server Security log entry timestamps/account names for a definitive next step.

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Member Avatar for JorgeM

You should be connecting using this format domain\username, not domain/username. Also, are you able to connect while logged on a different PC? I assume that your Win 7 computer is joined to the domain? If so, you should not be prompted unless the account you are logged on does not have enough permissions to access the resource. Go back to the resource check your Share and NTFS permissions.

Here's a guide to Share vs NTFS Permissions

Member Avatar for nukabolhi

That is a typo error. I am using common user / password for the share drive and everyone is local user just I shared the drive and its successfully done for more than 20 computers. However today this problem happen.

Member Avatar for JorgeM

everyone is local user

So if there is no domain, then the user account would need to be created on the source as well as the target computer with the exact same username and password. You would not be supplying domain\username. If the username and password is the same on both computers, you would not be prompted.

Member Avatar for nukabolhi

Any idea to track this issue from server side. I use both ways, domain users and local users. before that it work for me only this computer it happen. Do you think any restriction for the IP from switch/router or server side. but I can ping and remotely connect from same password to the windows server 2003 domain/share server and I didnt change any policy from serverside. Even I confirm from another PC and change the ip of this system, still authentication fails.

Edited by nukabolhi
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