XP Pro does not connect network drives at first attempt.

[Andy Fielding]

Hi all,

I have a bit of a problem (well, obviously!!) connecting
my XP Pro PC to my home network.

I have three mapped drives on a PC running Windows XP Pro
which worked perfectly until I purchased a new computer
and therefore uninstalled most of the programs and
various hardware (USB drives etc) before letting my son
use it.

I have mapped the same three drives on my new PC and they
wall work fine.

However, every time my son boots up his pc and tries to
access a file on the network he gets the message that
Windows is unable to locate the file. In Windows Explorer
the drives are shown as disconnected. If he tries to
access the file a second time it is there!

For example his .pst file used by Outlook is stored on
one of my network drives. I have added a shortcut to
Outlook in his Startup directory. When he boots he gets
the message that Outlook is unable to locate xxx.pst and
then a browse window pops up showing the directory and
his .pst file that it couldn't fine a mere second
earlier. Once selected it works fine, as do all other
files on the network, until the PC is rebooted then it
happens again.

I know that something must have got slightly screwed when
uninstalling some of my hardware / software prior to
giving him the machine, but I don't really want to
reformat and reinstall for such a relatively minor
problem unless I can really help it.

Any advice or assistance would be gratefully received.

Thanking you all in advance.

 

[Andy Fielding]

Anyone?

 

[Shanti]

While mapping a network drive, there is a check box named "Reconnect at
Logon" or something like it. You should check it to automatically reconnect
when you logon to your computer. But the other machnine must be on before
you login to your machine.

ThanQ...