The setup: -A Win2003 server at a hosting site, configured for VPN access. -The Win2003 server has 2 users configured, e.g. Bill and Fred. Each has the 'Allow access' selection for "Remote Access Permission (Dial-in or VPN)" on their individual properties page. -The Win2003 server has 3 shared folders, with share names "Everybody", "Bills Folder", and "Freds Folder", as implied, the 'Everyone' group has read access via the 'Permissions' settings of the shared directory properties. Bill and Fred each have full control via the Permissions settings individually to their respective shared folders. -3 different client computers attempt to access these shared folders via VPN setup: John (Win XP), Mary (Vista), and Louise (Windows 7). Note that the individual login/pws for these clients DO NOT EXIST on the Win2003 server. In each case, they connect to the Win2003 server using either Bill or Fred's login/pw as setup via Remote Desktop directly on the Win2003 server. Observed Behaviors: -All 3 client PC users can successfully connect to the Win2003 server via the VPN, using either Bill or Fred login/pw for the VPN, and when prompted in Windows Explorer, and all 3 shared folders appear in their Windows Explorer under the 'Network' folder icon. In addition, all 3 can double-click and view the contents of the "Everybody" folder. -HOWEVER, only the XP and Windows7 clients can successfully double-click on "Bills Folder" or "Freds Folder" (depending on which was used to log into the VPN and when prompted by Win Explorer. The Vista client ALWAYS gets an access denied message when attempting to access either "Bills Folder" or "Freds Folder". -IF, however, the Windows2003 server is configured with a user that matches the Vista user's Vista PC login, and that user is given access to either "Bills Folder" or "Freds Folder", then the Vista client CAN view the folder contents. Reviewing the Win2003 servers Security log in its Event View shows that the Vista client, compared to the other two, seems to only use the Vista login credentials when the attempt to access the shared folder is made, whereas the other two clients seem to use the credentials supplied in the dialog that appears when the first shared access attempt is made. Does this seem like an accurate assessment of what's going on, and, if so and more importantly, is there any way to avoid having to create a matching user on the Win2003 server for each Vista client? Thanks enormously for any insights and suggestions...

You are posting in a Windows 7 forum. Since your problems are restricted to Vista, asking the experts in a Vista forum would be your best bet.