Configuring the authentification for network access under windows xp

Question

I'm currently configuring the network authentification on a few windows xp machines. There I found that there are some differences in the display where I'm not sure if something needs to be done or not.

Some machines have 3 tabs at their connectin properties: General, Authentication, Advanced. While others have 2 tabs.

For those with the 3 tabs I need to go to authentication and modify the certificate they use there.

Now the 2 tabs property window is irritating there for me. Does that mean that that is a different subversion of windows xp? Or that it does not have the option to set/change how it authentificate itself? Or is that moved to another screen?

Thus my question here summed up is: How can I change the authentification in a 2 tabs local area connection properties window (if at all)?

Answer 1

Are these Windows XP Professional machines? They may have a GPO that prevents changing those settings. I would check first if they are on a domain, and if so, I would look for a GPO that prevents access. You can output the GPOs that affect a system with the following command in CMD:

gpresult /H gpos.html

If they are not on a domain, note that there is still the possibility to set a local group policy. You can view the local Group Policy via Start > Run > gpedit.msc > OK.

I believe the policy you are looking for should be located around:

Computer Configuration\ Policies \Windows Settings\Security Settings\Wired Network (IEEE 802.3) Policies.

Answer 2

My tests has revealed that on Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 10, starting the Wired AutoConfig service (also known as "dot3svc") exposes the authentication tab; stopping it removes the tab.

Please note that starting this service is required even if you enforce authentication setting using Active Directory. Without this service, the settings won't take effect.