Still not logging on to network drive at boot-up?

[aprisa]

I've asked the question before but am still none the wiser.

My PC will not re-connect to a network drive that contains the data for our controlling software at logon, it will see the drive straight away when I click on it in explorer and then the software will run OK.

This has been fine until now I want to run our auto-email system on startup and because it cannot see the drive straight away it crashes and re-sets to default drive C:.

Running XP pro on a straight windows network with the drive set to reconnect at logon.

Any help much appreciated.

Nick

[Plotloss]

So do you have a logon script thats got a net use command in it?

[Aprisa]

Plotloss said:

So do you have a logon script thats got a net use command in it?

If I could undestand what this means I could probably sort it out myself

[Plotloss]

Whats happening is that the software is executing before the drive is mapped.

How is the software executing?

[Aprisa]

But the drive does not map even with no programs trying to start?

Will only map when I look for the drive manually?

Nick

[Plotloss]

So when you say get to it manually, are you executing a Tools>Map Network Drive command or are you navigating to it via My Network Places?

[Aprisa]

Its already mapped, so I just go to explorer and click on the drive letter (N) and the contents appear, ten access is no hassle.

Nick

[Plotloss]

So the mapping is working, the software is executing before the map has occurred.

In the software thats looking for this remote data instead of using N:\path\file use a UNC \machinename\shareddrive

This way, as soon as the network connection is made, the software will be able to see the data.

[aprisa]

But the other machines on the network just map the drive at startup without intervention, why does this one not do so?

[aldi]

I think I know what you're seeing, the drive's got a big red X on it until you click on it in explorer?

[aprisa]

It doesn't even have that, it is just listed as a network drive in either my computer or explorer but just does not seem accessable until you click on it?

[Plotloss]

Is it a restricted share? i.e requires a username and password?

[Aprisa]

No, as I say all you have to do is click on it and then you have full access?

[Plotloss]

If its a restricted share secured by the same network login and password as the account you are logging into that machine with, XP Pro sends the credentials on your behalf.

Try logging in as Guest, if you get the same behaviour as your software does, thats your problem.

[BliarOut]

Where are you starting the e-mail software from, the registry or the startup folder?

[Aprisa]

We don't have any logon passwords or any resricted access, the drive is shared to anyone on the wokgroup and so is the folder I need to access?

I don't think I can make it any less secure?

Nick

[Aprisa]

BliarOut said:

Where are you starting the e-mail software from, the registry or the startup folder?

Startup folder, its an add-on email program that sends our job notifications to the mail server.

[BliarOut]

It's a fudge, but how about writing a simple batch file that does a dir on the mapped drive in question (which will force the connection) and then run the e-mail software.....

Scripting would be neater, but I haven't got around to learning windows scripting yet.

[Aprisa]

If you could spell it out in language that a four year old would understand then I'll do it

[Plotloss]

Thats odd, because start up is the last thing to execute in the machine start up sequence.

Batch would be the fudge of choice I reckon, execute the net use \\machine\folder n: and then execute the program.