University Computer Help Desk

How to troubleshoot mapping network drives in Windows XP/Vista

These troubleshooting suggestions will solve most common problems associated with mapping a network drive in Windows XP and Windows Vista.

There are several reasons why you may be unable to map network drives in Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7. Refer to these troubleshooting suggestions to resolve the problem.

Off-campus requires VPN

To map network drives from off campus, you need to first establish a VPN connection using either the Cisco VPN Client or Network Connect in WebVPN.

Make sure your computer name is unique

To map network drives, your computer name must be unique. Follow these steps to verify your computer name.

  1. Click on your Start button.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • In Windows XP, right-click on My Computer and select Properties from the pop-up menu.
    • In Windows Vista, right-click on Computer and select Properties from the pop-up menu.
    • In Windows 7, right-click on Computer and select Properties from the pop-up menu.
  3. Do one of the following:
    • In Windows XP, click on the Computer Name tab.
    • In Windows Vista, click the Change settings link on the right.
    • In Windows 7, click on the Change settings link on the right.
  4. Click the Change button.
  5. The box labeled Computer name: must contain a unique computer name. In other words, your computer name should be something no one else on campus would use as a computer name. We recommend using your ULID (i.e. the first part of your email address) as your computer name because it is unique.
  6. If you believe your computer name may not be unique, type a new one in the Computer name: box.
  7. Click OK.
  8. Restart your computer and try to map network drives again.

Remove firewall software

If you have firewall software installed, it may prevent you from mapping network drives. If you have a firewall installed, remove it to see if that fixes your problem.

  1. Click Start > Control Panel.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • In Windows XP, double-click on Add or Remove Programs.
    • In Windows Vista, click the Uninstall a program link.
    • In Windows 7, click the Uninstall a program link.
  3. Look for any programs that include the words "firewall" or "internet security" in their names. Here is a list of common firewalls:
    • Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security
    • Zone Alarm
    • McAfee Personal Firewall
    • Norton Personal Firewall
    • Norton Internet Security
    • Sygate Personal Firewall Pro
    • Outpost Firewall Pro
    • BlackICE PC Protection
  4. If any of these firewalls are found, click on Change/Remove and go through the uninstall process.
  5. After uninstalling the firewall, restart your computer and try to map the network drive again.

Check your NetBIOS settings

When you map network drives, your computer uses NetBIOS over TCP/IP. Windows XP should be configured with the default option for NetBIOS. Verify the proper settings by following the instructions below.

  1. Click Start > Control Panel.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • In Windows XP, click Network and Internet Connections; then click Network Connections.
    • In Windows Vista, click View network status and tasks; then click Manage network connections.
    • In Windows 7, click View network status and tasks; then click Change adapter settings.
  3. Right-click on Local Area Connection and select Properties. (If you are having problems mapping network drives using another connection, such as your wireless connection, go to the properties of that connection instead).
  4. Do one of the following:
    • In Windows XP, double-click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
    • In Windows Vista, double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
    • In Windows 7, double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
  5. Click the Advanced... button.
  6. Click the WINS tab.
  7. In the section labeled NetBIOS Setting, select Default:.
  8. Click OK several times until you are back to your desktop.
  9. Restart your computer and try to map the network drive again.

Apply registry fix — Windows Vista and Windows 7 Only

If you use Windows Vista or Windows 7, you must apply a fix before you can map network drives to network shares on older Samba servers. This fix is not required to connect to Datastore. Do not apply this registry fix to Windows XP.

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