FAQ: Accessing files from external computers and NAS drives on your home network

[Paul]

Problem:

If you have a problem where Mezzmo server does not list or cannot stream files from network computers or NAS drives, then this can be fixed by managing your passwords in Windows.

Background:

Mezzmo server runs as a (Local System) Windows service on your computer. If you have media files on an external NAS drive or another computer, and the NAS drive or other computer has password access, then (Local System) Windows services cannot access these external network resources since Local System services only have access to your computer.

Fix:

To fix this, you need to manage your passwords in Windows to allow the Windows service (i.e. Mezzmo server) to access these folders and files on the external NAS drives and computers.

Below are instructions for the various Windows operating systems that you have Mezzmo installed.

Quick links:

Windows 8
Windows 7
Windows Vista
Windows XP
Windows Server 2008
Windows Server 2003

Additional Information:

Some users report that the following Windows setting also helps fix accessing files on NAS drives. In Windows, go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Administrative Tools and run 'Local Security Policy'. Under 'Local Policies', you will find 'Security Options' and under this, you should see a setting called 'Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console logon only'. Turn this setting off.

[Paul]

In Windows 8, go to Control Panel -> Credential Manager and click 'Add a Windows credential'. Enter the user names and passwords that provide access to your external NAS drives and computers. This will allow the Mezzmo server Windows (Local System) service to access files and folders on your external NAS drives and computers.



To access these credentials you may need to change the Mezzmo server Windows service from using the Local System account to log on using the user account where you added these credentials. To do this, go to Windows Services (via Administrative Tools) and display the Properties window for the Mezzmo Windows service. On the Log On tab, you will see the following:



Select "This account" and enter the user name and password that provides access to your account (If it is a LIVE account you will need to enter the username and not the email address you use to logon, to find the username look in c:\users to see the name of the folder used for your profile). This will allow the Mezzmo server Windows service to access files and folders using your stored credentials

[Paul]

In Windows Vista, go to Control Panel -> User Accounts. Click Manage User Accounts and go to the Advanced tab. Click Manage Passwords. Click Add to enter the user names and passwords that provide access to your external NAS drives and computers. This will allow the Mezzmo server Windows (Local System) service to access files and folders on your external NAS drives and computers.



To access these credentials you may need to change the Mezzmo server Windows service from using the Local System account to log on using the user account where you added these credentials. To do this, go to Windows Services (via Administrative Tools) and display the Properties window for the Mezzmo Windows service. On the Log On tab, you will see the following:



Select "This account" and enter the user name and password that provides access to your account. This will allow the Mezzmo server Windows service to access files and folders using your stored credentials

[Paul]

In Windows XP, go to Control Panel -> User Accounts. Click Manage User Accounts and go to the Advanced tab. Click Manage Passwords. Click Add to enter the user names and passwords that provide access to your external NAS drives and computers. This will allow the Mezzmo server Windows (Local System) service to access files and folders on your external NAS drives and computers.



To access these credentials you may need to change the Mezzmo server Windows service from using the Local System account to log on using the user account where you added these credentials. To do this, go to Windows Services (via Administrative Tools) and display the Properties window for the Mezzmo Windows service. On the Log On tab, you will see the following:



Select "This account" and enter the user name and password that provides access to your account. This will allow the Mezzmo server Windows service to access files and folders using your stored credentials

[Paul]

In Windows Server 2003, go to Control Panel -> Stored User Names And Passwords. Click Add to enter the user names and passwords that provide access to your external NAS drives and computers. This will allow the Mezzmo server Windows (Local System) service to access files and folders on your external NAS drives and computers.



To access these credentials you may need to change the Mezzmo server Windows service from using the Local System account to log on using the user account where you added these credentials. To do this, go to Windows Services (via Administrative Tools) and display the Properties window for the Mezzmo Windows service. On the Log On tab, you will see the following:



Select "This account" and enter the user name and password that provides access to your account. This will allow the Mezzmo server Windows service to access files and folders using your stored credentials

[Paul]

In Windows Server 2008, go to Control Panel -> Credential Manager and click 'Add a Windows credential'. Enter the user names and passwords that provide access to your external NAS drives and computers. This will allow the Mezzmo server Windows (Local System) service to access files and folders on your external NAS drives and computers.



To access these credentials you may need to change the Mezzmo server Windows service from using the Local System account to log on using the user account where you added these credentials. To do this, go to Windows Services (via Administrative Tools) and display the Properties window for the Mezzmo Windows service. On the Log On tab, you will see the following:



Select "This account" and enter the user name and password that provides access to your account. This will allow the Mezzmo server Windows service to access files and folders using your stored credentials

[Paul]

In Windows 7, go to Control Panel -> Credential Manager and click 'Add a Windows credential'. Enter the user names and passwords that provide access to your external NAS drives and computers. This will allow the Mezzmo server Windows (Local System) service to access files and folders on your external NAS drives and computers.



To access these credentials you may need to change the Mezzmo server Windows service from using the Local System account to log on using the user account where you added these credentials. To do this, go to Windows Services (via Administrative Tools) and display the Properties window for the Mezzmo Windows service. On the Log On tab, you will see the following:



Select "This account" and enter the user name and password that provides access to your account. This will allow the Mezzmo server Windows service to access files and folders using your stored credentials.