How to disable "ForceGuest" in Windows XP Professional so that Backup Exec for Windows Servers can be installed on and can back up (protect) Windows XP computers
 
Exact Error Message
Attempting to connect to server \\%computer% failed with the following error:
The account name and/or password is invalid. Please re-enter the login information and try again.
Details:
The ability to install the product and perform backup and restore of Windows XP computers has been added to VERITAS Backup Exec (tm) starting from Backup Exec 8.6 for Windows Servers build 3878. To enable the installation of Backup Exec and to enable Backup Exec to protect computers running Microsoft Windows XP Professional, the Windows XP computer must be in a domain or must have the guest-level share access (ForceGuest) disabled. This support requirement is due to fundamental changes in the Windows sharing model, which produce insufficient access rights needed to perform administrative data protection tasks.

There are two ways to disable guest-level share access (ForceGuest) in Windows XP Professional:

I. Through the Windows XP GUI:

1. Double-click the My Computer icon on the desktop, or click Start | My Computer

2. Select Tools | Folder Options

3. Select the View tab

4. Clear the Use simple file sharing (Recommended)
 
5. Restart the Windows XP computer (it will not prompt for a reboot, but in order for Backup Exec to work properly, a reboot will be required)


II. Through the Registry:

Warning : Incorrect use of the Windows registry editor may prevent the operating system from functioning properly. Great care should be taken when making changes to a Windows registry. Registry modifications should only be carried out by persons experienced in the use of the registry editor application. It is recommended that a complete backup of the registry and workstation be made prior to making any registry changes.

1.  From the command prompt on the Windows XP computer, run Regedit.exe

2.  Double-click the registry key given below:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control/Lsa/ForceGuest

3.  Change the Value to 0

4.  Click OK

5.  Exit the registry editor

6.  Restart the Windows XP computer

For more information about Windows XP Force Guest support, please see Microsoft Article ID: Q290403 ( [url]http://www.microsoft.com[/url]).