Vista: How to connect to Samba or Mac

Window Vista not able to connect to Samba by default. If you want to connect Vista to Samba server (or Mac), you need special setting. The problem with Vista and Samba is that Ms Vista no longer use LM or NTLM authentication by default but only NTLMv2. Samba v1 and v2 is using LM and NTLM, so Vista will not be able to connect to Samba v1 and v2.

For Vista to connect to Samba, follow the steps below:-

For Vista Home Edition

Click Start -> Run -> type “regedit” and press enter.
In registry, look for \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SYSTEM\ CurrentControlSet\ Control\ Lsa
In the right panel, right click on LmCompatibilityLevel and select Modify and modify it’s value to 1

* if LmCompatibilityLevel doesn’t exists, right click on the right panel and select Create -> DWORD -> named LmCompatibilityLevel and set value to 1
Close the registry
Perform a reboot

For Vista Business, Vista Enterprise and Vista Ultimate editions version

Click Start -> Control Panel -> System and Maintenance -> Administrative Tools -> Local Security Policy
In the Left Panel, click on he triangle next to the Local Policy -> select “Security Options”
Go to the right panel and double click for “Network Security: LAN Manager authentication level”
“Network Security: LAN manager authentication level properties” window will pop up and now u select “Send LM & NTLM - use NTLMv2 session security if negotiated” from the drop down box and click OK.
Restart your PC and your Vista will be able to connect to Samba or Mac