Microsoft Networking dialog box on ISP sign-in

I'd be grateful for a bit of advice please. I'm running Windows 98SE. Following a few PC problems I've recently done a system recovery which restored many of the default settings. All is very nearly back to normal now, as I've changed a few things to what I want, except for the fact that each time I connect to my ISP (AOL using a dial-up connection) a dialog box appears saying:

"Microsoft Networking
No domain server was available to validate your password. You may not be able to gain access to some network resources "

User Name: Default
Password: **** (the screen shows asterisks)
Domain: Workgroup "

This annoyance will eventually go away when cancelled each time. This is a stand alone PC & I am the only user. I don't use a password for anything except AOL (which the logon 'remembers'). I don't use Microsoft Networking & don't intend to. I've never set up a password for Microsoft Networking & couldn't begin to guess what the password asked for could be.

I've looked at IE Properties, Connections, etc & the home page is shown as being AOL, as it should be. All other details seem OK.

Another idea I had was to use Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs but there's nothing on the list for Microsoft Networking or MSN or anything similar.

I've tried the on-screen help for this problem but it seems to cover everything except what I want. Internet connection was problem-free prior to the system recovery, so I'm assuming that something was installed or changed during that process which has caused this problem (it seems a bit of a coincidence otherwise).

Does anyone know what's happened and, more importantly, how I can get rid of this problem?

I'll be very grateful for your help. Thank you.

 

Hi Martin.

This is certainly a configuration issue and you posted it in a good place but I'm gonna move the thread anyway.

I wish I had 98 handy to poke around myself and give a fix but I don't and not sure if any of the 98 Guru folks are looking at this section. I'm moving it to the networking section for better exposure.

 

Thanks for your interest, Newt. However, as it's now been a week since I posted & no-one's replied, would you consider moving (or copying) this thread to another section of the board?

As it's not a network issue in the way that most people understand the term 'network' (LANs, WANs, etc) but rather, I think, to do with what M$ calls 'Microsoft Network' (MSN and .net Passports etc) the members who know about the Internet or maybe Windows98 might be in a better position to help.

I shall leave the matter of where to place this topic to your skill and judgement, of course, but would hope to receive some input fairly soon!

 

Thanks Tony, you obviously know what you're talking about. Unfortunately, I don't. Is there any chance you could give me a step-by-step guide to what to change & how to do it, in terms fit for a simpleton?

In Control Panel > Network, the "configuration" tab lists the following:

Client for Microsoft Networks
Microsoft Family Logon
Dial-Up Adapter
Dial-Up Adapter #2 (VPN Support)
WAN Miniport (ATW)
NDISWAN -> WAN Miniport (ATW)
TCP/IP -> Dial-Up Adapter
TCP/IP -> Dial-Up Adapter #2 (VPN Support)

and in the box below, 'Primary Network Logon': Windows Logon

The 'Identification' tab shows:

Computer name: W98SysRec
Workgroup: WORKGROUP
Computer description: System Recovery

The 'Access Control' tab has the radio button for 'Share level access control' selected.

You mention that I should reconfigure the TCP propertiers. What should I reconfigurethem to? Also, what is Netbeui bound and how do I install it to the Client & F-P sharing as you suggest?

As you can probably gather, it's all so much gobbledegook to me and I really would appreciate a step-by-step guide as I'm worried I'll make the problem worse by altering things!

Thanks very much for your time and trouble.

 

As you can see from my previous post I didn't feel technically competent to try tinkering as advised by TonyT. As he didn't get back to me, I've asked around and, in case it may help anyone else in future, here's how I fixed it:


Open Start > Settings > Control Panel
Double-click on the Network icon
Select Client For Microsoft Networks and click Properties
Uncheck Log on to Windows NT domain
Click OK and reboot the computer

I'm no longer prompted for a password, so that's one irritation removed!

Thanks,