When you attempt to connect to a third-party SMB server, such as DEC Pathworks or Samba, you may receive the following error message:

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This issue can occur if the non-Microsoft SMB server supports only unencrypted (plain text) passwords during authentication.

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To resolve this issue, contact the third-party SMB server manufacturer.

To work around this issue, use Regedit to enable unencrypted (plain text) passwords for the SMB client.

WARNING: When you enable unencrypted passwords, you allow unencrypted (plain text) passwords to be sent across the network when you authenticate to an SMB server that requests this option. Anyone using a packet monitoring utility on your network, such as Network Monitor, can read your password by taking a trace of network traffic.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.


To enable unencrypted passwords, add the following value and data value to the following registry key: For additional information about this issue as it applies to Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP3 or later, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

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Beginning with Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3, the SMB redirector does not send an unencrypted password during authentication to an SMB server unless you add the registry entry described in this article.

In earlier versions of Windows NT 4.0, the client automatically negotiates unencrypted (plain text) password authentication if the server requests it.

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