Specified Network Provider name is invalid

Question

I have set the local security policy to: "Send LM & NTLM responses" and I belong to a homegroup.

Still, however, I continue to get the "Specified Network Provider Name is Invalid" error.

Can anyone help.

Thanks

Answer 1

Hi

In the Network & Sharing center, click on the left Icon under View Your Active Networks.

A windows would open with a link (down left) to Merge and or delete Networks.

http://www.ezlan.net/Win7/delete-net.jpg

Or and, Disable, or remove the Network cards, and boot the computer one time with No Network cards.

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Jack-MVP Windows Networking. WWW.EZLAN.NET

Answer 2

Thanks for all the ideas.  I tried them all, and sadly, still same error.

One thing of note:  You suggested setting the win7 to "work" location, as contrasted with the windows training video which suggested "home".  Never the less, I followed your recommendation, rebooted all computers and rebooted the router.  When they all came up, the vista was able to communicate nicely with the win7, but the win7 still reports the same error when I try to connect with the vista.  The 7 still sucessfully pings the vista but I cannot access the files.

I hope you have more ideas.

Answer 3

Hi

You already did most of the good steps that are necessary in order to share.

The post here is rather long, and you know most of it, just pick what you need from it.

Getting rid of Norton (see here in the middle of the page), http://forum.kaspersky.com/index.php?showtopic=5233

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Win7 when configured on peer-to-peer Network has three types of Sharing configurations.

HomeGroup Network = Works only between Win 7 computers. This type of configuration makes it very easy to Entry Level Users to start Network sharing.

 Work Network = Basically similar to the previous methods of sharing that let you control what, how, and to whom folders would be shared with.

Public Sharing = Public Network (like Internet cafe) to reduce security risks.

 For best results log to each computer's System Screen and set all the computers to be on a Network with the same name while each computer has its own unique name.

http://www.ezlan.net/Win7/net_name.jpg

Make sure that the Software Firewall on each computer allows free local traffic. If you use 3rd party Firewall On, Vista/XP Native Firewall should be Off, and the active Firewall has to adjusted to your Network IP numbers on what is some time called the Trusted Zone (consult your 3rd Party Firewall instructions

General example,  http://www.ezlan.net/faq.html#trusted

Please Note that some 3rd party Software Firewalls keep blocking aspects of Local Traffic even it they are turned Off (disabled). If possible configure the Firewall correctly, or totally uninstall it to allow clean flow of local network traffic. If the 3rd party software is uninstalled or disables, make sure that Windows native Firewall is On .

Since you have a Network with Win 7 and other version of Windows you need to configure Win 7 as Work Network.

In the Network Center, clicking on the Network type opens the window to the right.

Choose your type of Network. Notice the check mark at the bottom, and check/uncheck it according to your needs.

http://www.ezlan.net/Win7/net_type.jpg

Win 7 - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Networking-home-computers-running-different-versions-of-Windows

Win 7  Work Network specific folder sharing - http://www.onecomputerguy.com/windows7/windows7_sharing.htm

Vista File and Printer Sharing- http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx

Windows XP File Sharing - http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304040

Printer Sharing XP - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/honeycutt_july2.mspx

Windows Native Firewall setting for Sharing XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357

Windows XP patch for Sharing with Vista (Not need for XP-SP3) - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922120

When finished with the setting of the system it is advisable to Reboot all the hardware including the Router and all computers involved.

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If needed check specifically the Permission/Security settings.

Point to the a Folder that meant to  to be share. Right click and choose properties.

In the properties

Click on the Security tab shown in the pic bellow to the right) and check that the users and their permission (shown in the pic bellow center and left) are correctly configured. Then do the same to the Permission tab.

This screen shot is from Win 7, Vista's menus are similar.

http://www.ezlan.net/Win7/Permission-Security.jpg

In both the Security panel, and the Permission panel you have to highlight each User/Group and examine that the Permission Controls are checked correctly.

When everything is OK, Reboot the Network (Router, and computer).

Please Note that the Groups and Users shown in the screen shoot are just an example. Your list will look the way your system is configured.

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*Note. Some of the processes described above are done Not for Windows sake but to compensate for different Routers and the way their firmware works and stores the info about the computers that are Networked.

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Jack-MVP Windows Networking. WWW.EZLAN.NET

Answer 4

Thanks for your help.

I have two laptops I want to network:

1: vista 32 bit,

2: win 7, 64 bit,

both communicating on same wireless router.

Both have windows firewall turned off,  Neither have Norton anti-virus or any other anti-virus.  My win7 came with a trial Norton, and I uninstalled it, however nothing more.  There is some talk that more has to be done to get rid of Norton, but this is just a maybe.

both have a user created with the same name and password.

Network discovery & file sharing is turned on for both.

The user account on the vista machine  has network privileges to access the shared resource.

From win7 I can successfully ping vista, and from vista I can successfully ping win7.

Problem: from win7, start> computer> network shows vista, however when I click on it, I get:  (computer name) isnot accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resourse.  Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions.  The specified nework provider name is invalid.

Clues: I do have two wireless networks that both machines know about.  The first is a standard verizon DSL modem/router.  The second is a verizon Mifi mobile hotspot.    On both machines I am connected to the internet (and each other) via the DSL modem/router.

Thanks,

redfalcon51

Answer 5

Hey Redfalcon51,

When do you get this error message?

Without knowing what this error message is related to, it is hard for us to come up with a troubleshooting method. Please describe the problem you’re facing so that we can help you with the issue.

For the time being, turn off your antivirus or firewall and check if the problem persists. If the problem disappears, you will have to configure certain settings within the firewall.

Note: Running the computer without firewall or the anti-virus software is a potential threat to the computer; make sure to enable the security software after completing the troubleshooting steps and after identifying the issue.

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Regards,

Shinmila H - Microsoft Support

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