Start > Run > secpol.msc
This doesn't work on win7 Home Premium. But, after searching on NTLM and secpol.msc I was able to find the answer:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa
(WTF? forum software is inserting an erroneous space between the "o" and "l")
create a new DWORD value LmCompatibilityLevel and set it to 1
Now I can access my files, thanks for your help
Some people say you just have to accept changes when OS's are upgraded.. I understand all that, but why change something that has proven to work and has already become a "standard" in Windows world.
The biggest problem is probably that they are trying to gain market share among clueless newbs. Folks that are already familiar with the tried and true ways are a "given" because they are invested in MS products. So there is little to lose by making arbitrary changes for the sake of flashiness. Aside from that, I wonder if most of the developers are in a young age group, and hence they haven't gotten tired yet of seeing the wheel be reinvented over and over. My two cents...