2 Problems with Windows 11 on a new laptop

kentmpetersen · Jan 3, 2022

During the setup of Windows 11 on my new laptop, I followed the recommendation to use the "Hello" logon and specified a PIN for use during logon. It works well and is quick (though I don't understand how this is more secure than a Password). However, when I use this method to logon, I cannot connect to a shared drive on a file server on the network. If I logoff and back on again using my Microsoft Office 365 password, I can then access the shared drive. Is there a way that I can use the shared drive while logged in with the PIN?

Secondly, I used the registry setting (adding key of "29" to Shell Icons with a value of "%windir%\System32\shell32.dll,-50"). All of my desktop Icons now have a black square:

I have tried all 3 methods to rebuild the icon database but it has not solved the problem.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

The-Hive · Jan 3, 2022

For the black squares, download Shortcut arrow eliminator (still works in 11) or Ultimate Windows Tweaker that has a feature as well. It appears to be the shortcut overlay

The-Hive · Jan 3, 2022

Your Password can be used on any machine to access your MS account but a pin will on work on the machine it is set up on. so to use your pin to access your MS account they would need to steal your computer whereas your password can be used on any machine

cereberus · Jan 3, 2022

kentmpetersen said:
During the setup of Windows 11 on my new laptop, I followed the recommendation to use the "Hello" logon and specified a PIN for use during logon. It works well and is quick (though I don't understand how this is more secure than a Password). However, when I use this method to logon, I cannot connect to a shared drive on a file server on the network. If I logoff and back on again using my Microsoft Office 365 password, I can then access the shared drive. Is there a way that I can use the shared drive while logged in with the PIN?

Secondly, I used the registry setting (adding key of "29" to Shell Icons with a value of "%windir%\System32\shell32.dll,-50"). All of my desktop Icons now have a black square:
View attachment 17511

I have tried all 3 methods to rebuild the icon database but it has not solved the problem.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

If you have a TPM chip (as needed for W11), a pin is more secure as a password can be harvested by online hackers. To access pc via pin, they need physical access to pc.

The-Hive · Jan 3, 2022

@cereberus I think we replied together

kentmpetersen · Jan 3, 2022

The-Hive, thanks. The Ultimate Windows Tweaker solved the problem with the black square over the icons. I read the several posts about the security of the PIN and that makes sense.
Any way to be able to access the network shared drives while logged in with the PIN?

The-Hive · Jan 3, 2022

That one is too cleaver for me with the shared network access

Winuser · Jan 3, 2022

Try asking in this forum. Network and Internet

Spunk · Jan 3, 2022

to login to your network shares, it's like any other Windows OS.
Press the Windows Key+R and in the Run box type the Computer name or IP address of the shared computer (ie) \\ComputerName, or \\192.168.1.xx.
To share your Windows 11 computer If you are having problems accessing it the way it is now Right click your Shares, choose Properties/Sharing tab/Advanced Sharing/Permissions button/ click the Add button and you can add your User Name from the other computers then set the permission level, such as Full Control Less secure but easier to configure, you can add the Everyone Group. Apply and OK. You may need to restart both computers for it take effect.

kentmpetersen · Jan 4, 2022

Spunk, Thanks for the response, however, when I've logged into my computer with the PIN logon, trying to connect to the share at the commend prompt asks for a PIN to log into the file server. My credentials for the file sever are a username and password.

Dru2 · Jan 4, 2022

kentmpetersen said:
Spunk, Thanks for the response, however, when I've logged into my computer with the PIN logon, trying to connect to the share at the commend prompt asks for a PIN to log into the file server. My credentials for the file sever are a username and password.

Ok, but have you tried to use the pin anyway? Perhaps it's the system's way of asking to verify user first (aka asking for the pin)?