Solved Why do my mapped network drives keep disconnecting?

[NAS Newbie]

I've mapped several shared folders to different drives on my computer for easy access. However, the mapping rarely works after I reboot the computer. I've gotten a multitude of different error messages, with the latest being the one shown below. Once I get the error, I have to disconnect the drives and remap them. Disconnecting them does not always remove them from File Explorer; I'll have to reboot the computer again in order for the broken link to disappear. When I try to remap the drives that are now gone from Explorer, I'll frequently get messages saying I can't map a certain drive because that name already exist. If I persist in trying to map the drive several times, the message eventually goes away and I'm successful in getting the drive mapped. I tried setting my network interface to manual as suggested in this thread, but it didn't help. Any suggestions?

 

[jeyare]

what Win OS?
try this one:
Fix -The Local Device Name is already in Use

 

[NAS Newbie]

Win10 Pro 64bit

 

[jeyare]

this issue has actually been around since Windows 8 and is caused by Group Policy drives which are set to "Recreate". Windows 8/10 automatically runs Group Policy updates in the background and disconnects/reconnects the drive to Recreate it.

Change the drive to "Update" in group policy and the issue will disappear!

 

[NAS Newbie]

I'm back looking at this again. Where do I go to change this update setting? I'm not familiar with the group policy editor at all.

 

[jeyare]

Morning I will send you the steps. It is time to sleep.

 

[Gerard]

@NAS Newbie out of curiosity, what usb or storage type devices do you have plugged into the computer?

 

[NAS Newbie]

I have a caldigit thunderbolt dock that doesn't have any storage attached to it, other than that I have a usb mouse, a usb bluetooth dongle for my keyboard, and another bluetooth dongle for a different brand bluetooth mouse I use when traveling. No other external storage attached to either the NAS or the pc at this point. Why do you ask?

 

[Gerard]

I have a caldigit thunderbolt dock that doesn't have any storage attached to it, other than that I have a usb mouse, a usb bluetooth dongle for my keyboard, and another bluetooth dongle for a different brand bluetooth mouse I use when traveling. No other external storage attached to either the NAS or the pc at this point. Why do you ask?

One of my computers at work has an issue where the mapped network drives become disconnected and won’t reconnect, unless you unplug one of the usb devices. The usb device that is plugged in is for sd memory cards, it has a few slots in it. It’s weird, once we unplug that device the mapped network drive works again. It’s the exact same error message that local device name is in use.

Unplug that thunderbolt dock for some time and test this theory out.

 

[NAS Newbie]

I don't think its the dock; I have the same problem when I disconnect the laptop and carry it around the house. Once I shut it down, the drives disappear whether or not the dock is connected.

 

[Gerard]

I don't think its the dock; I have the same problem when I disconnect the laptop and carry it around the house. Once I shut it down, the drives disappear whether or not the dock is connected.

Ok. Let’s see what happens with jeyare’s gpo edit.

 

[jeyare]

Here is full description how to

If you can't find GP Management console in your W8/10, use this link

 

[NAS Newbie]

I'm struggling to get Remote Server Administration tools to show up in my Windows features as shown in your second link. The pics below show what I have for features and what I have installed for RSAT. what am I missing?

 

[NAS Newbie]

I never did get RSAT to work. I ended up checking both the checkboxes in the screenshot below. I had done the reconnect before without it making any difference, but I had not done the "connect using different credentials" because I thought it was going to ask me to enter my credentials each time. I now realize that it is more asking if the login credentials for the drives are different that the login credentials for my pc (I think). Either way, checking that box and filling in my nas login credentials has solved my problem for now.

 

[dhmiltonko]

Just tried that Fix: Mapped Drive is Disconnected After Reboot - Appuals.com and the problem is solved