Microsoft KB Archive/934539

= Error message when a system service on a Windows Vista-based computer connects to a system service on another Windows Vista-based computer: &quot;cannot connect to machine&quot; =

Article ID: 934539

Article Last Modified on 4/23/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Windows Vista Ultimate
 * Windows Vista Business
 * Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Business N
 * Windows Vista Business N 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Enterprise
 * Windows Vista Home Basic
 * Windows Vista Home Basic N
 * Windows Vista Home Basic N 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Home Premium
 * Windows Vista Starter

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Important This article contains information that shows you how to help lower security settings or how to turn off security features on a computer. You can make these changes to work around a specific problem. Before you make these changes, we recommend that you evaluate the risks that are associated with implementing this workaround in your particular environment. If you implement this workaround, take any appropriate additional steps to help protect the computer.



SYMPTOMS
A system service on a Windows Vista-based computer uses named pipes to connect to a system service on another Windows Vista-based computer. Both services run under the local system account. However, when the system service on the first computer tries to connect to the system service on the second computer, you receive one of the following error messages:

Error message 1



Error message 2





WORKAROUND
Warning This workaround may make a computer or a network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We do not recommend this workaround but are providing this information so that you can implement this workaround at your own discretion. Use this workaround at your own risk.

To resolve this issue, follow these steps on the first computer:
 * 1) Click Start vistastartbutton.jpg], and then type policy in the Start Search box.
 * 2) Right-click Local Security Policy, and then click Run as administrator.
 * 3) Expand Local Policies.
 * 4) Click Security Options.
 * 5) In the Policy list, double-click Network Access: Named Pipes that can be accessed anonymously.
 * 6) On the Local Policy Setting tab, type the name of the second computer. This is the   name in the error message that you received.
 * 7) Click OK.
 * 8) Double-click Network access: Let Everyone permissions apply to anonymous users.
 * 9) Click Enabled, and then click OK.



MORE INFORMATION
By default, the Network access: Let Everyone permissions apply to anonymous users policy setting is disabled.

Windows Vista lets anonymous users perform certain activities, such as enumerating the names of domain accounts and the names of network shares. For example, Windows Vista lets an administrator grant access to users in a trusted domain that does not maintain a reciprocal trust. By default, the Everyone security identifier (SID) is removed from the token that is created for anonymous connections. Therefore, permissions that are granted to the Everyone group do not apply to anonymous users. Anonymous users may access only those resources for which the anonymous user has been explicitly granted permissions.

By default, the Network access: Named pipes that can be accessed anonymously policy setting is None. This security setting determines whether named pipes have attributes and permissions that enable anonymous access. If the Network access: Named pipes that can be accessed anonymously policy is enabled, the Everyone SID is added to the token that is created for anonymous connections. In this case, an anonymous user may access any resource for which the Everyone group has been granted permissions.

