HELP!! - Mapped Network Drive Empty

[ToaDz]

Hi All,

We are currently experiencing some issues with Mapped network drives.

We have two servers:

- SERVER1
- SERVER2

The following shares have been configured

- \\SERVER1\general$ as G:
- \\SERVER1\projects$ as K:
- \\SERVER2\admin$ as S:

Every now and then, users are stating that whenever they try and access the
G: drive via Windows Explorer, the 'flash light' icon moves around (as if it
was searching) and eventually the screen finishes loading, however, it is
completely blank - Ie. No folders or files are displayed.

All other network drives such as K: (same Server as G and S: are
accessible without any problems. It seems as if they have 'dropped off' the
network somehow? The strange thing is, PING times to SERVER1 are fine and
all other network services, such as Internet connectivity and e-mail are OK.

The following troubleshooting has been done without much success:

1. Disconnecting and reconnecting the \\SERVER1\general$ drive as G: (On the
spot, without rebooting or logging off) - This sometimes rectifies the
issue, in most cases this does not

2. Logging off and logging back on the PC (Re-running the login script to
map the drive) - This sometimes rectifies the issue, in most cases it does
not

3. Rebooting the PC (Re-running the login script to map the drive) - In most
cases this rectifies the issue

4. Refreshing the view (F5) in Windows Explorer - Does not resolve the issue

5. Closing Windows Explorer and accessing G: drive again - Does not resolve
the issue

6. IPCONFIG /release and /renew - Does not resolve the issue

7. Network cable and data port tested OK

8. Share and access permissions are OK

All clients are running Windows XP Professional SP1 or SP2 in a Domain
environment. All the file servers mentioned above are running Windows 2000
Server SP4

Does anyone there have any suggestions? It is driving us mad! Some days G:
drive is accessible without any problems, but then all of a sudden this
re-occurs... Strange indeed!!

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers!

 

[mark]

Are you using offline file caching on any shares on this server? Next
time you see this issue, check on that workstation whether the little
icon appears in the system tray that indicates you're working offline.
When you're in offline mode for any single share on a server, the
workstation service blocks online access to all shares on the same
server, which would give you the behavior you see.

If this is the case, users can force reconnection by clicking the
offline mode icon in system tray and selecting Synchronize.