So, so more specifically this is exactly what i did...

I set a folder in my shared documents folder (/videos) to be shared over the network as well as a videos folder on an external hard drive i attach to my hard drive on occasion. Everything worked fine.

Then I manually typed "\\Computer_Name\C$" in the explorer to see if my root was being shared (this is all on the same laptop I was setting up).

Now when I look in My Network Places folder, in addition to my shared folders I see a drive marked "C$ on Computer Name" in the "Local Network" section of "My Network Places".

When I click on this icon I see the contents of my C:\

When I look at the C:\ icon in "My Computer", the is no sharing hand icon and the "share this folder" check box is not checked.

When on another computer I see the folders but not the C$ drive icon.

When I manually type "\\Computer_Name\C$" on another computer on the network I get the login.

Now this same thing happens with all shared folders on the desktop PC that's having the same problem, but even with shared folders.

Now, I'm not trying to get around the password. I'm trying to understand why it's doing this and how to set the password. The laptop is getting reformatted so I can set up the password from the beginning if I know how to get to the option, but the desktop is not (which isn't a huge deal). But if I can understand what's going on and how that password was created I may be able to remember putting the password in or reset it.

I am most concerned about the desktop since it won't share anything. The laptop is a curiosity because it half-works.

I hope this is more clear. It is 4:17am here :/