Removing a mapped network share in 'My Computer'

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Hi,

I just established a direct cable connection between a new XP and a dying
'98, to transfer files while I still can.

I followed all of the procedures, and seem to have stumbled on the very last
one. I called my host 98 PC 'Norman98', and apparantly got the syntax
incorrect when mapping it in the XP's 'My Computer'. It offered me local
drive 'Z', and I put:

//Norman98/c (apparently I should have put '//Norman98/share', but as a
first-timer this is still unclear to me). The host is set to share the whole
C: drive.

Anyway, I'm able to successfully connect but when I try to open the host
drive from XP's 'My Computer', I get:

'An error occured while reconnecting Z: to //Norman98/c'

and below that:

'Microsoft Windows Network: The local device name is already in use. This
connection has not been restored.' (The 'Detail' box in 'My Computer' shows
the proper size of my 98 hard drive -- total size and space used -- so it
'did' connect, I just can't open it to access files).

I've looked up solutions on the MS website, which told me to remove the
mapped drive, but not how to do so.

My two questions are:

1. How do I removed the mapped Z: drive
2. When I re-map the network drive, what is the proper syntax for the C:
drive on Norman98?
 
To delete the mapping net use Z: /delete

If the full C drive is shared and the share name is c map it by net use
\\Norman98\c
Note the backslashes (you typed forward slashes in your message). Also, on
the 98 machine look at sharing properties to verify the share name.
 
Hi,

Thanks for your reply. I did as you suggested (checking the share name),
copied the syntax exactly, and still get the message that the local device
name is in use.

Any other ideas?
 
I have a few questions for you.

- What service pack level is your XP? (I ask because there were a few bug
fixes in SP2 related to this issue).
- Is a firewall running on either machine? If so is it configured correctly
for sharing?
- Is file and printer sharing properly enabled on both machines?
- Did you try using a different drive letter or no drive letter for the
mapping?
- Can you map the other way (from the 98 machine)? (This may require a bit
more configuration depending on XP Home or Pro etc.)
--
 
Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

GTS said:
I have a few questions for you.

- What service pack level is your XP? (I ask because there were a few bug
fixes in SP2 related to this issue).
SP2

- Is a firewall running on either machine? If so is it configured correctly
for sharing?
Click to expand...

Although I believe the firewall running on the XP machine (McAfee) was
configured properly, I tried connecting with the firewall disabled...I still
get the message that the local device name is in use.
- Is file and printer sharing properly enabled on both machines?
Yes.

- Did you try using a different drive letter or no drive letter for the
mapping?
Click to expand...

Tried both...no luck.
- Can you map the other way (from the 98 machine)? (This may require a bit
more configuration depending on XP Home or Pro etc.)
Click to expand...

That's a bit beyond me at the moment (time-wise and expertise-wise). Someone
on another forum made the suggestion since I'll be reformatting the 98 drive
once I get my data off of it, that the best way to go would be to install the
98 drive temporarily into the XP machine, transfer everything to a directory
there, and just bypass this headache of trying to transfer through the direct
connection.

Do you share (pun intended) this opinion at this point?

Thanks,

Norman
 
Norman said:
Hi,

Thanks for your reply.



Although I believe the firewall running on the XP machine (McAfee) was
configured properly, I tried connecting with the firewall disabled...I
still
get the message that the local device name is in use.


Tried both...no luck.


That's a bit beyond me at the moment (time-wise and expertise-wise).
Someone
on another forum made the suggestion since I'll be reformatting the 98
drive
once I get my data off of it, that the best way to go would be to install
the
98 drive temporarily into the XP machine, transfer everything to a
directory
there, and just bypass this headache of trying to transfer through the
direct
connection.

Do you share (pun intended) this opinion at this point?

Thanks,

Norman
Click to expand...

That's a viable option. On rereading your original post I see you refer to
Direct Cable Connection. I've been thinking Ethernet with a cross over
cable. How are you connecting? I have a few further thoughts, but won't
elaborate if you would just a soon do the drive swap. There's certainly
nothing wrong with that if you're comfortable with the hardware.
 
Hi
That's a viable option. On rereading your original post I see you refer to
Direct Cable Connection. I've been thinking Ethernet with a cross over
cable. How are you connecting? I have a few further thoughts, but won't
elaborate if you would just a soon do the drive swap. There's certainly
nothing wrong with that if you're comfortable with the hardware.
Click to expand...

I connecting using a serial cable (I know that parrallel is faster, but I
*thought* this was going to be easy, in order to get a few critical files,
and I happened to have a serial cable).

I've never done much with hardware, so even if that's the best long-term
solution for getting *everything* over to the XP, I'll have to study up about
it. Consequently, if you still have any suggestions for the direct cable
route, I'm definitely interested. Here, by the way, were the suggestions of
the person on the other forum. I'd appreciate your assessment of them:

"I usually install the hard drive from the old computer in the new computer
to copy the files over. The copying is much quicker than over a cable.
Usually the hard drive in the new computer is much larger than the one from
the old computer. Make a folder called something like "Old Computer" and
copy the entire contents. You never know what files you may need. Make sure
you have an antivirus program set to autoscan the files as they are being
copied. Once the files are copied you can reinstall the drive in the old
computer. After a month or so when you are sure you have all the files you
need the folder can be safely deleted.

Temporarily installing the drive in the new computer is probably the
quickest and easiest way. You can use xcopy with the /c switch to ignore
errors. This will copy whatever Windows can read. Also it is less stress on
a dying drive as you just need to do one copy operation rather than booting
to Windows, configuring networking, possibly rebooting etc.

In answer to your original question, yes, you can share the c drive. First
right click on My Computer in XP. Pick Disconnect network drive and pick Z.
Then double click on My Computer in 98. Right click on drive c: and make
sure it is shared. Reboot both computers. Right click on My Computer in XP
and pick Map network drive. Pick a letter other than Z. If this doesn't work
something is wrong with the 98 installation or with the network setup on one
or both of the computers. Thus my suggestion of installing the drive in the
XP computer.

I am assuming both drives are PATA drives, IDE drives using a 40 pin, 80
wire cable. If the new computer has a SATA drive then the process is
different. First make sure both computers are unplugged from the AC power.
Next make sure the jumpers for the drive in the XP computer are set for
Master operation. Next make sure the jumpers for the drive from the 98
computer are set for Slave operation. Most drives have a diagram on the
drive explaining how to set the jumpers. Hook up both drives on the same
cable in the XP computer. Depending on how the BIOS in the new computer
works the 98 drive may or may not be automatically recognized. Most new
computers are set to automatically find any connected drives. When you boot
up the new computer with both drives installed the XP drive should be c: and
the 98 drive should be d:. You can copy files at will. Windows 98 drives are
formatted with the FAT32 file system so there are no issues with file
ownership or permissions. If the 98 drive doesn't show up in Windows XP you
may have to go into the BIOS before Windows boots up and tell the BIOS to
find the drive. Every manufacturer seems to have a different way to do this.
You will have to look in the computer or motherboard manual for how to do it
for your system. If you are hesitant then ask a friend who knows something
about computers or take both computers to a shop and ask then to transfer
the files. It is possible to cause a computer to not boot by making the
wrong changes in the BIOS. It is also possible to cause permanent damage by
hooking things up wrong. This is unlikely but it is possible."

Thanks again!

Regards,

Norman
 
Norman said:
Hi


I connecting using a serial cable (I know that parrallel is faster, but I
*thought* this was going to be easy, in order to get a few critical files,
and I happened to have a serial cable).

I've never done much with hardware, so even if that's the best long-term
solution for getting *everything* over to the XP, I'll have to study up
about
it. Consequently, if you still have any suggestions for the direct cable
route, I'm definitely interested. Here, by the way, were the suggestions
of
the person on the other forum. I'd appreciate your assessment of them:

"I usually install the hard drive from the old computer in the new
computer
to copy the files over. The copying is much quicker than over a cable.
Usually the hard drive in the new computer is much larger than the one
from
the old computer. Make a folder called something like "Old Computer" and
copy the entire contents. You never know what files you may need. Make
sure
you have an antivirus program set to autoscan the files as they are being
copied. Once the files are copied you can reinstall the drive in the old
computer. After a month or so when you are sure you have all the files you
need the folder can be safely deleted.

Temporarily installing the drive in the new computer is probably the
quickest and easiest way. You can use xcopy with the /c switch to ignore
errors. This will copy whatever Windows can read. Also it is less stress
on
a dying drive as you just need to do one copy operation rather than
booting
to Windows, configuring networking, possibly rebooting etc.

In answer to your original question, yes, you can share the c drive. First
right click on My Computer in XP. Pick Disconnect network drive and pick
Z.
Then double click on My Computer in 98. Right click on drive c: and make
sure it is shared. Reboot both computers. Right click on My Computer in XP
and pick Map network drive. Pick a letter other than Z. If this doesn't
work
something is wrong with the 98 installation or with the network setup on
one
or both of the computers. Thus my suggestion of installing the drive in
the
XP computer.

I am assuming both drives are PATA drives, IDE drives using a 40 pin, 80
wire cable. If the new computer has a SATA drive then the process is
different. First make sure both computers are unplugged from the AC power.
Next make sure the jumpers for the drive in the XP computer are set for
Master operation. Next make sure the jumpers for the drive from the 98
computer are set for Slave operation. Most drives have a diagram on the
drive explaining how to set the jumpers. Hook up both drives on the same
cable in the XP computer. Depending on how the BIOS in the new computer
works the 98 drive may or may not be automatically recognized. Most new
computers are set to automatically find any connected drives. When you
boot
up the new computer with both drives installed the XP drive should be c:
and
the 98 drive should be d:. You can copy files at will. Windows 98 drives
are
formatted with the FAT32 file system so there are no issues with file
ownership or permissions. If the 98 drive doesn't show up in Windows XP
you
may have to go into the BIOS before Windows boots up and tell the BIOS to
find the drive. Every manufacturer seems to have a different way to do
this.
You will have to look in the computer or motherboard manual for how to do
it
for your system. If you are hesitant then ask a friend who knows something
about computers or take both computers to a shop and ask then to transfer
the files. It is possible to cause a computer to not boot by making the
wrong changes in the BIOS. It is also possible to cause permanent damage
by
hooking things up wrong. This is unlikely but it is possible."

Thanks again!

Regards,

Norman
Click to expand...

The explanation as far as slaving the drive is OK (though there are a few
possible variations it doesn't cover), but I concur with the writer that if
your not all that comfortable with this, perhaps getting some help, if
possible, is a good idea.

I haven't used Direct Connection in a long item, and am not sure at this
point what's causing the "local device name" problem. Do both PC's have
Ethernet ports? If so, using a Ethernet Crossover cable is usually a
better option.

I know you already looked as MS, but in case it's of interest, this link
will bring up a page with links to quite a few articles on Direct
Connection. http://tinyurl.com/dcgns Perhaps something there will help.
 
Thanks very much for all of your suggestions. I'll look at the link you've
suggested and also try my hand at the hard drive switch. At this point, if I
can't get the direct cable to work through the serial ports, I think I'll
devote my attention to learning about doing the drive move, rather than
learning about using ethernet ports.

Thanks again!

--
Regards,

Norman


:
 
You're welcome. Good luck!

--

Norman said:
Thanks very much for all of your suggestions. I'll look at the link you've
suggested and also try my hand at the hard drive switch. At this point, if
I
can't get the direct cable to work through the serial ports, I think I'll
devote my attention to learning about doing the drive move, rather than
learning about using ethernet ports.

Thanks again!

--
Regards,

Norman


:
Click to expand...
 
Back
Top