Missing network drives

[JMB]

Sorry if this is already in a thread somewhere.

We have Server 2008 R2, and through GPOs we have 4 network drives that are available to all staff. Obviously just folders on one of the server's hard drives. For some reason some people don't get all these drives. There's no obvious reason - they're all in the same OU, all have the same permissions, etc.

By way of example, we have 4 drives. One for staff folder, one for library, one for resources and one for student folders. The drive map set up in GP is under Domain/Managed/Users/Staff/PREF-Staff drives. The GP for it lists the drives as follows:

Student Folders (Order: 1) (Action: Create) PATH (Reconnect: No)
Staff Folder (Order: 2) (Action: Replace) PATH (Reconnect: No)
Library (Order: 3) (Action: Replace) PATH (Reconnect: No)
Resources (Order: 4) (Action: Create) PATH (Reconnect: Yes)

I've just this second created a new user, no different from any other member of staff. Logged in - one drive (Staff Folder). Logged out and back in 4 times, even tried a different PC, still just that one drive.

Grateful for any guidance, guys and girls! Thank you!

[jonnykewell1]

can you ping your server through name and IP address when logged in? sounds like an issue I had only last week.

[jonnykewell1]

Go into the network card settings on your server and make sure file and print sharing for Microsoft networks is ticked (4 up from tcp/ip settings)

[JMB]

Thanks, but it is ticked...

[jonnykewell1]

Are the shares all on one server for the different drives? If so can you connect to that server once logged in on the account?

[JMB]

Well, I tried to map the root folder on the server, and was told that I didn't have permission. So, I tried with the server's admin credentials, but it told me I wasn't allowed to continue because I'd already mapped to that server using different credentials, and that I should disconnect any drives first. So, I disconnected the one drive the PC managed to connect when I logged in and tried again, but was told I don't have permission. Which is a bit odd. I know for a fact some of our staff get access to ALL four drives when they log in. I saw it only this morning, and was heard to gasp in surprise! It's a puzzler.

[JMB]

As a little update, just to mention that a workaround I'm using (and have just tested again for argument's sake with this new user account) is to create desktop shortcuts to these folders. As all staff share their desktop shortcuts, this seemed a good workaround. But obviously it's not ideal!

[tumbleweed]

Look in Group Policy,
Computer Configuration / Policies / Admin Templates / System/Group Policy/Logging and tracing / configure X preference logging and tracing -
where X is printers / drive maps / etc.

The eventlogs and/or tracing should give you some clues as to what's actually happening.

[JMB]

Thanks Tumbleweed, I've enabled those so will see what happens!

[JMB]

Ok, I give up...now I've enabled that logging, where do I look to see the reports?!

[Michael]

This is how I do it, works everytime at multiple sites:

Map the drive using the FQDN:

\\SERVERNAME.domain.domain\Share

Specify a label (optional)

Set the Action option to Replace and Reconnect to Yes on all drives.

So long as the permissions are correct, it should work correctly.

Eveything else should be left as default. The other thing to check is you have nothing enabled on the Common tab.

[JMB]

That's unfortunately what I've already set up, and no joy. All drives set the same, only one connects. The others now have to be accessed through desktop shortcuts I've set up for people.

[bladedanny]

Are the desktop shortcuts mapped to the UNC path or the drive letter? I've had problems with mapped drives not showing because a card reader or similar had assigned the same drive letter as the mapped drive. Therefore the mapped drives weren't showing in my computer.

This may be something you've checked / not applicable to you but as no one had mentioned it in this thread I thought I would.

Hope this helps,

Dan

[JMB]

Thanks, Dan. The PC I'm testing on doesn't have a card reader, although I like your thinking! The desktop shortcuts use the domain\path format rather than the IP, and these work fine. Which is why I think there must be something wrong with the GPO, as different user accounts get different drives (some get all, some get none, some get a couple) and the desktop shortcuts are universal for all users and everyone can use them, so it's not a permissions issue.