Exe works from UNC path but not mapped drive (others work from same mapped drive)

[tri_94]

Hi there

 

We have an old piece of software that is interactive Maths GCSE book, which we have been running for years and worked fine. Installed on a server and desktops with a mapped drive just used to execute the exe and everything worked fine.

 

It works one Windows 10 LTSB 2016, but not on Windows 10 1809 or newer it seems.

 

If i run from the UNC path it works fine. The moment i map a drive letter and run it, you see nothing. Nothing in the event logs, Watching task manager it appears for about 2 seconds and then disappears.

I might be wrong with this next part, but using Process Monitor from Sysinternals. Watching the processes from unc and then mapped drive, it seems that the next step it should do is create a tmp folder in "c:\users\username\appdata\temp"

 

Anyone any idea(s) why it will not run from a mapped drive? It feels that maybe trying to create the tmp folder somewhere else that it can't

 

Thanks

[mikkydoos]

Try adding a network location instead of a mapped drive. Maps with legacy software tend to use all paths from the root of the drive, not the target directory. I think its a hangover from the days of CD ROMS and may be hard coded to root.

 

Right click 'This PC' and 'Add Network Location'.

 

That might do it.

 

 

 

GPO is in User GPP.

Edited July 21, 2021 by mikkydoos

[tri_94]

Thanks for that, just tried and I've now found out that although the program launches via unc path or add network location, no resources show. But on LTSB 1607 it works from both mapped drive and unc path.

 

I get this broken icon on the software.

[Chaniel]

AppLocker policies perhaps?

 

You should see events in Application & Service Logs\Microsoft\Windows\AppLocker. It might be something as simple as you have an AppLocker path rule allowing from the UNC path, but not from the drive letter?

 

EDIT: Just saw your screenshot - Is the "interactive book" using Flash? Might be that 1607 still has flash installed whereas the more up to date ones have had the update that removes Flash.

Edited July 21, 2021 by Chaniel

[mikkydoos]

Thanks for that, just tried and I've now found out that although the program launches via unc path or add network location, no resources show. But on LTSB 1607 it works from both mapped drive and unc path.

 

I get this broken icon on the software.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]62649[/ATTACH]

 

Ditch the mapped drive and use a Network Location target instead.

[tri_94]

AppLocker policies perhaps?

 

You should see events in Application & Service Logs\Microsoft\Windows\AppLocker. It might be something as simple as you have an AppLocker path rule allowing from the UNC path, but not from the drive letter?

 

EDIT: Just saw your screenshot - Is the "interactive book" using Flash? Might be that 1607 still has flash installed whereas the more up to date ones have had the update that removes Flash.

 

Don't use AppLocker

 

and i've tried installing flash on 1909 and i still get the same.

 

Since tried the same on a old windows xp machine and both unc and mapped drive work perfectly.

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

Ditch the mapped drive and use a Network Location target instead.

 

Problem is the software will launch but no resources show.