Windows 10 update changed the network sharing settings and mucked up access

[#1]

All of a sudden it demanded a username and password when connecting from my Win 7 computer

Solution

Go into the network sharing centre and reset the permissions to what they were before - note I don't use the Home Group Feature

I hate Microsoft - why do they have to fiddle

[#2]

Windows has never, to my knowledge, had a 'Restore default settings' option.  So it is quite easy to go astray by accident (or by the action of computer malware) and not be able to get back.  The major ('feature') updates to Windows 10 do tend to restore settings back to their default values and at first I was annoyed by this too but I can see it does have some advantages if the computer is returned to a standard state.

[#3]

not when I have to spend time sorting it out - and the fact that my better half wouldn't have a clue how to do it so that my automatic Acronis backups work

[#4]

I agree totally @Oldjim - if I spend time getting my machine to run the way I want it, Microsoft nor anyone else has the right to decide I'm doing something 'wrong'.

Which reminds me - must re-adjust my mums' machine.

[#5]

well it appears to have happened again

my better half's pc has just upgraded to build 1709 and it is no longer accessible on the network

Edit

Just disabled Sync Centre on this Win 10 machine rebooted and they are accessible again - most odd