Why my laptop thinks is part of a domain?

[VeroK]

I have my laptop, my HTPC & my hubby's desktop in a windows homegroup via the router.
All run W7.
I'm trying to set up backups on a usb drive shared in the network. But when I try to access the other computers (i.e. his Desktop) over the network (I'm doing it inside shadowprotect backup software) I get a pop-up window prompting me for my "network password". I don't know that is this about. The homegoup password doesn't work.
Then I noticed that in the window (attached) it says: "Domain: CQ-Dell_2011" Now, CQ-Dell_2011 is my laptop's name. Why now Windows thinks is a domain? Needless to say, using a user/ps from any account on his machine or mine doesn't work either. Any ideas?

 

[bradly1101]

Try just user name, no password, that's how mine works. Mine does this after a boot on the desktop machine. It only started this after I reinstalled the OS. I wish it would go away.

Edit: I have PW protected sharing set to off.

 

[VirtualLarry]

This is normal. You cannot access network resources in Windows 7 without a password.

Try using "MACHINE_NAME\user-name", where MACHINE_NAME is the name of the remote machine, and user_name is an account of that machine with a password. Enter the password field where it prompts for password.

 

[VeroK]

This is normal. You cannot access network resources in Windows 7 without a password.

But what does it mean by "network pw"?? The homegroup's pw doesn't work; the pw for the user's account or the admin account on the destination computer don't work. Is there a "Default password for the Network" somewhere on Win7?

Try using "MACHINE_NAME\user-name", where MACHINE_NAME is the name of the remote machine, and user_name is an account of that machine with a password. Enter the password field where it prompts for password.

I tried that, thanks for the suggestion, but it doesn't work. I think they key is that within this program, the systems show as if they were part of a domain and they aren't. A homegroup and a domain are different things.

btw: Be very careful about playing w/the domain setups. I once tried to connect my work laptop (W7) to my homegroup and it asked me to reboot at the end. When it came back up, it wouldn't let me login w/my regular account. It turns out that the user account's password DOES NOT work if the laptop changes domains. I had to take it to IT to be reset before I could login again.

 

[Ketchup]

So if you go into Computer Name/Domain Changes, what do you have selected in the 'Member of' Category?

 

[VirtualLarry]

But what does it mean by "network pw"??
the pw for the user's account or the admin account on the destination computer don't work.

It will work if you specify the domain as the destination computer, using the machine-name syntax as I illustrated.

 

[VeroK]

So if you go into Computer Name/Domain Changes, what do you have selected in the 'Member of' Category?

OK, it tells me that I'm part of a workgroup called "WORKGROUP". However, it also tells me elsewhere that I'm part of a homegroup. I'll have to learn more about the differences between the three.

 

[VeroK]

It will work if you specify the domain as the destination computer, using the machine-name syntax as I illustrated.

Thanks for the advice. In the ShadowProtect backup screen, where I'm trying to add a destination, it won't allow me to change the "domain name". It tells me that I'm on domain XXXXX and I should enter the network password (XXXXX is my own -source- computer).

However, on the options below, it does allow me to choose "connect using user specific credentials". There, using Machine_Name; User_name & user_pw did work! Thank you, thank you!!
The only problem I have left now is that the folders that I have access to in the destination machine are only the AppData, Music, Video & Picts. I believe that those are the folders that the homegroup allows me to share...
I'll try changing those settings from the homegroup and see if I can access the whole C drive.

Note: when I browsed trying to find the folder/s I wanted in the destination PC; before I entered the login information; the folders other than user show up as: C$, I$, etc. Does the $ (dollar sign) mean those folders are locked?? If not, do you know what the $ means?