Network Nightmare

[Procrastinus]

I have a fresh install of El Capitan on a 2007 A1224 iMac. All works but I cannot network with my Windows 10 machines for love or money.
The Win machines are visible in Finder, I go to Connect with Server with the correct IP address (i.e. smb://192.168.x.xxx) and then I am asked for a Registered User name and password. Which name is to be used - my Mac name, Windows email name , I have tried every name I have ever used on either machines?. The same with Password - which one - I have no general MS account password and again I have tried all combinations?
VERY frustrating! I would appreciate help as I am a newbie with Macs.

 

[ferrarr]

Usually, you need to put the Windows user name and password in those boxes.

Did you set up both the macOS & winOS for sharing?

 

[Procrastinus]

Thanks for your reply
That worked well for the machine that has a password to enter, but did not work on the other which does not have a password to enter. Leaving the password section blank also did not work.
The iMac is new to the household and the Windows network was already up and running.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Macs don't allow you to connect without a password over SMB. You might have better luck with NFS. The other option is to use a password on the Windows machines and then save the password on the keychain in the iMac to not have to enter it each time.

 

[Procrastinus]

Thanks Raz0rEdge for your reply. The NFS solution did not work, but creating a password in the Windows machine did!I
i did not realise that passwords were essential for SMB to connect

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Since SMB is a Microsoft created protocol, it behaves a little differently between Windows and other OS'. Linux/Mac tend to require credentials while Windows seems to allow you to go without passwords and rely on other settings.

NFS is generic network solution supported by all 3 OS' which provides the ability to connect without passwords when setup appropriately.

Finally, AFP is Apple's protocol which likely works best on Macs than Windows or Linux.