Solved: password control for network

Tech Support Guy System Info Utility version 1.0.0.2
OS Version: Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 3, 32 bit
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E4400 @ 2.00GHz, x86 Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 13
Processor Count: 2
RAM: 2038 Mb
Graphics Card: Intel(R) 946GZ Express Chipset Family, 128 Mb
Hard Drives: C: Total - 76316 MB, Free - 33798 MB; E: Total - 80003 MB, Free - 48976 MB; F: Total - 149997 MB, Free - 50195 MB; G: Total - 99998 MB, Free - 15365 MB; H: Total - 146938 MB, Free - 76456 MB;
Motherboard: LENOVO, LENOVO
Antivirus: AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 2012, Updated: Yes, On-Demand Scanner: Enabled
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Background: Desire to access from one laptop to my desktop (this XP unit). When I tried it, it came back with a requirement for a network userid and password. This occured when I tried to perform a system recovery. I had the backup on a remote portabal HD. I wanted simply to get the laptop to recognize the portable HD so I could use the backup file for recovery. That did not work so I connected via USB to this XP machine. When I tried to connect the "recovery" machine via the network to access that b/u file it asked for a password. I do not recall ever setting up a p/w. I have connected to other PC's on my home network and never required a p/w.

Help I require: 1) either have a way when I do a restore on the laptop I can access the portable HD via USB or
2) get rid of the network p/w so I can link into the XP and see the portable drive that way so I can retireve the system image backed up.

Thanks in advance.:)