'Connection Failed' error when connecting to a Windows machine (4264779)

When connecting with Spotlight on Windows to a machine which is normally accessible on the network, the following message appears:

Message:
Connection failed for MACHINE_NAME.

Details:
Windows Performance Counter Datasource:

The registry on MACHINE_NAME is not accessible. You need to connect to this machine with an account with privileges to retrieve server information, query the registry and access WMI and performance monitor objects.

An account with administrative rights to the target machine will allow this.


The Windows user is an Administrator, and the connection being made in Spotlight is also an Administrator user. In the same instance of Spotlight, it is possible to connect to and monitor other machines. It is also not possible to enable StealthConnect for the connection.

If the PC which is being connected to is running in a simplified mode for sharing and security (the Use simple file sharing option is ticked), this issue can occur. Therefore, the Administrator account is not fully activated.

To turn off Simple File Sharing:

1. Open My Computer.
2. Select Folder options ... under the Tools menu.
3. Select the View tab in the Folder Options dialog window.
4. Un-check the Use simple file sharing option.

Once this is unticked, the connection in Spotlight on Windows will be possible and also it will be possible to enable StealthConnect for the connection.