I came across this in another forum when trying to figure out why suddenly my working password protected shares were giving me a "Login Fail" message. It turns out the culprit was Windows Live Essentials, which if you use Live Messenger or anything else "Live" will stop your Patriot from being able to communicate with Windows.

The explanation is this: When you install WLE 2011, it turns off some of Windows ability to utilize Legacy connection methods. Legacy is just a fancy way of saying "The older ways". Most devices, including the PBO require these legacy connection methods to be enabled in Windows in order to communicate.

I found the following registry settings on another forum that will re-enable the Legacy connection methods in Windows without having to uninstall Windows Live Essentials.

Navigate to the following location in the registry editor:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Lsa
1. On the right side Double Click on everyoneincludesanonymous and in the window that pops up, change the value data from a 0 value to a 1
2. Double Click on NoLmHash and in the window that pops up, change the Value Data from a 1 value to a 0

Go to this next location in the registry editor:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\LanManServer\Parameters
1. Double Click on restrictnullsessaccess and change the 1 value to a 0
2. Close the registry editor and restart the computer.

This solved everything for me, I didn't have as many problems at first setting it all up and working with passwords, but once I installed Live Essentials, my shares were inaccessible from my PBO and a few other network devices in my home.

I hope it helps someone out.