delete links to obsolete network resources

[windsurferLA]

I have two machines, a WinXP-pro and a WinXP-home on the same hardwired
Ethernet LAN. When I go to "My Network Places" on the WinXP-pro, it
lists obsolete directories (that used to be shared) that are no longer
on the WinXP-home machine. I would like to delete those shortcuts/links,
as the invalid shortcuts/links are easily confused with the valid links.
MY PROBLEM is how to delete those links.

Shortcuts and links to directories can normally be deleted by right
clicking on the undesired shortcut or link and selecting delete. If
while on the WinXP-pro machine, I right click on the links to the
obsolete directories on the WinXP-home machine, there is no "delete"
option. HOW DO I DELETE THOSE INVALID LINKS.

Is there some tool that will look at all of the shortcuts and links on
my machine and automatically delete those that no longer bring up a
valid directory or application? I realize such a tool would have to be
used with care, as one might not want to delete all shortcuts to a
particular computer on the LAN merely because that specific computer
happened to be off-line when the application was run.

Windsurfer.

 

[Newbie Coder]

Windy,

Do you mean cached mapped drived?

If so:

START | RUN | Type regedit & press ENTER

Navigate to:

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\Map Network Drive

Highlight the 'Map Network Drive' key (on the left) & delete everything in the right
except DEFAULT

Close the registry editor & restart

The list should have now disappeared

If you are thinking of something else then let me know

 

[John John]

What happens if you press F5? Do these shares persist through a reboot?
Are they shares or are they mapped items? At a command prompt do you
see these shares when you use the NET SHARE command? Or do you see them
when you use the NET USE command?

John

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Click Start, Run and type:

shell:nethood

Press {ENTER}

See if you're able to delete the links from the Nethood folder.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


I have two machines, a WinXP-pro and a WinXP-home on the same hardwired
Ethernet LAN. When I go to "My Network Places" on the WinXP-pro, it
lists obsolete directories (that used to be shared) that are no longer
on the WinXP-home machine. I would like to delete those shortcuts/links,
as the invalid shortcuts/links are easily confused with the valid links.
MY PROBLEM is how to delete those links.

Shortcuts and links to directories can normally be deleted by right
clicking on the undesired shortcut or link and selecting delete. If
while on the WinXP-pro machine, I right click on the links to the
obsolete directories on the WinXP-home machine, there is no "delete"
option. HOW DO I DELETE THOSE INVALID LINKS.

Is there some tool that will look at all of the shortcuts and links on
my machine and automatically delete those that no longer bring up a
valid directory or application? I realize such a tool would have to be
used with care, as one might not want to delete all shortcuts to a
particular computer on the LAN merely because that specific computer
happened to be off-line when the application was run.

Windsurfer.

 

[windsurferLA]

To review, I have two machines on a wire Ethernet LAN, one I'll call
WinXP-pro which is looking out at the network, and one I'll call
WinXP-home which is a LapTop supporting an external USB hard drive.

The Icons and their descriptions that I wish to delete (but seemingly
can't delete) appear on the WinXP-pro machine under:
"My Network Places" | "Entire Network" | "Microsoft Windows Network" |
"HomeNetwork" | "LapTop700"

Also see response to John John.

You asked, "Do you mean cached mapped drived?"
I don't think so. It I go into the registry as you suggest, and look at
Explorer | Map Network Drive |
There are six items listed: "(Default)", "a", "b",
"c", "d", "MRUList" . There is nothing that suggest a link to the
second computer.

Thanks for help. WindsurferLA

 

[windsurferLA]

To review, I have two machines on a wire Ethernet LAN, one I'll call
WinXP-pro which is looking out at the network, and one I'll call
WinXP-home which is a LapTop supporting an external USB hard drive.

The Icons and their descriptions that I wish to delete (but seemingly
can't delete) appear on the WinXP-pro machine under:
"My Network Places" | "Entire Network" | "Microsoft Windows Network" |
"HomeNetwork" | "LapTop700"

The Icons look like open file folders, an appearance consistent with
their previous designation as folders to be shared. They became visible
in the WinXP-pro machine's directory after they were designated for
sharing on the WinXP-home LapTop machine. The now-obsolete icons
provided a short cut to directories previously located on the external
USB hard drive connected to the WinXP-home LapTop. When one tries to
access the resource represented by the icon, the error message, "xxx is
not accessible. ... " comes up.

Pressing F5 does not change the situation. Turning one or both computers
OFF and back ON does not change the situation. NET SHARE only shows the
shared items on the inquiring computer, in this case the WinXP-pro. NET
USE shows the shared items on the WinXP-home machine, but not those
shared directories on the USB hard drive connected to the WinXP-home
LapTop.

As a side note, those Icons that represent valid directories on the
external USB hard drive attached to the XP-home LapTop computer do work
and provide quick access.

Thanks for help.. WindsurferLA

 

[windsurferLA]

Click Start, Run and type:

shell:nethood

Press {ENTER}

See if you're able to delete the links from the Nethood folder.

Interesting tip ... thanks... I've got to read more about shell:nethood.

shell:nethood worked for deleting one of the obsolete shortcuts, but not
for another. I need to see when happens after I reboot machines.

 

[windsurferLA]

Problem Solved..
After pondering the various suggestions, I realized that an approach
for deleting the obsolete links would be to delete all of the
links/shortcuts, and then to let WinXP reconstruct the currently valid
links/shortcuts. It is described at the Microsoft FAQ
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/northrup_restoreperf.mspx

Simple go to "My Computer"|"Tools"|"Disconnect Network Drive"

Do so not only eliminates obsolete links/shortcuts but also may possibly
speed up the boot-up process by eliminating connections checked by WinXP
when initiating applications.

Thanks to those that offered suggestions. WindsurferLA.