"Logon failure: unknown user name or bad password" even with correct credentials

Modify_inc

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I have networked PCs before many times successfully, so this is not my first time trying to network PCs in a home environment. Though I’m wondering if Windows 8.1 is part of the problem. I would have thought that for sure, until one of the new laptops running W8.1 would not connect to any of the other three PCs/Laptops running W8.1. Yet these other three W8.1 PCs/Laptops CAN connect to this laptop. Then it gets a little more interesting: this same laptop that couldn’t connect to those three W8.1 PCs/Laptops, CAN connect to a Windows 7 desktop, and a XP Laptop, and those two can also connect back to it without issue. It’s almost like my network is divided in half, and only half can talk to each other. But then when I thought it couldn’t get any more interesting, I realized the first three W8.1 PCs/Laptops can talk to the others, it’s just that the others (W8.1 Laptop, W7 Desktop, XP Laptop) can’t talk back to them without getting the error, "Logon failure: unknown user name or bad password” even though the username and password are 100% correct.

I don’t fully understand this error, because on the surface, it’s just WRONG! My username and password are correct, but it appears something somewhere is interfering or hijacking the authentication process. Three of the computers (laptops) are brand new, just purchased last week and setup this week. The HostPC is also fairly new, just purchased last month.

I am not using a HomeGroup, and have removed all computers that were part of a HomeGroup. I have enabled file sharing and network discovery and enabled “Use user accounts and passwords to connect to other computers” on all PCs.

I have DSL and am using the wireless modem provided by my ISP which has router functionality built into it. It is a Sagemcom Model: F@ST 1704N.

All computers are connected wirelessly. Time is correct on all PCs. I cannot use Group Policy, since they're all Standard or Home edition. DHCP is enabled and all computers are on the same subnet, using the 192.168.254.x range of ip addresses.

The six computers are as follows: (I figured this may make is easier to visualize the layout)

HostPC: HP Desktop W8.1
PC Name: DrsBlend
U/N: DrsBlend p/w: 123456 (not showing my real password)

PC1: HP Laptop W8.1
PC Name: DrsBlend-1
U/N: DrsBlend P/W: 123456

PC2: HP Laptop W8.1
PC Name: DrsBlend-2
U/N: DrsBlend P/W: 123456

PC3: HP Laptop W8.1
PC Name: DrsBlend-3
U/N: DrsBlend P/W: 123456

PC4: HP Desktop W7 SP1
PC Name: DrsBlend-4
U/N: DrsBlend P/W: 123456

PC5: Dell Laptop XP SP3
PC Name: DrsBlend-5
U/N: DrsBlend P/W: 123456

Every PC stated above has the same user name and password and is logged-in with the username, DrsBlend and the password 123456. The "Logon failure: unknown user name or bad password” happens when trying to access HostPC, PC1, or PC2 from PC3, PC4, or PC5.

The HostPC can see and connect to all the PCs, but only PC1 and PC2 can talk back or access the HostPC. It’s like the HostPC and PC1, and PC2 are in their own little clique, and can talk back and forth to each other. Those three PCs can also talk to PC3, PC4, and PC5 as well, but PC3, PC4, and PC5 cannot talk back to them (HostPC, PC1, PC2).

Profile corruption? I would have entertained that thought, but the fact the first three PCs can access and talk to one another kind of defeats that idea, and the fact the PCs were just recently setup.

Firewall? Disabled, and disabled TrendMicro with no change. With them on/off, the first three PCs can still talk to each other and the rest of the PCs.

Anyone have any additional suggestions?

 
Solution

mbreslin1954

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Just a thought, but even though you have the same userid and password for each PC, they each have their own "domain" based on the name of the PC. So the user on the PC with the PC name of "DrsBlend" is really "DrsBlend\DrsBlend" with PW=123456. The 2nd PC has a username of
"DrsBlend-1\DrsBlend" with the same password. The 3rd PC has a username of "DrsBlend-2\DrsBlend", etc.

So if you are prompted for a userid to DrsBlend when trying to access a resource from PC DrsBlend-5, you would need to specify it in the form "DrsBlend\DrsBlend", because if you just give it the username of "DrsBlend" then by default it will come over in the form of "DrsBlend-5\DrsBlend" and the computer DrsBlend will not recognize it as a valid userid.

Not sure if this is causing your problem, but it is a problem you should be aware of.
 

Modify_inc

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Sep 6, 2011
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Thanks for the suggestion, but I finally figured it out. It was probably as easy, or easier than syncing the clocks fix.

Prior, I had changed the original username from Drs Blend to DrsBlend on the W8.1 PCs, well except for the last one (PC4). I created a new account for it, using DrsBlend.

So when I entered the old username, Drs Blend (with a space), I was connected. No more Failed Logons :))

I'm still puzzled by this: why does Windows fail to mention this when you rename a username? I would have thought this to be a big deal. When you rename something, you assume the new name is permanent. If I rename a file or a folder, I don't expect to enter the old name in a search box when searching for them. But then they're not associated with a SID either, I get it...

Just saying, it would've been nice to know this, via a popup message or something, while renaming my username.
 
Solution