Unable to Delete Mapped Drive to User's Home Directory
ID: Q165575
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The information in this article applies to:
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Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0
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Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0
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Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
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Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
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Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
SYMPTOMS
When a user attempts to disconnect a drive mapped to his or her home
directory through the net use /d command from a command prompt, the
following error message may be displayed:
The device is being accessed by an active process.
More help is available by typing NET HELPMSG 2404.
The preceding error message occurs if the drive that is mapped to the
user home directory is set through the Connect To option in the User
Environment Profile dialog box.
CAUSE
When the Connect To option for the Home Directory within User Manager is
defined to connect a drive letter to a specified UNC path, this connection
is created using NetDDE Agent, which is part of NetDDE. Because
NetDDE is involved there is an active connection to the server that you
cannot readily break.
RESOLUTION
There are currently three possible workarounds.
NOTE: Save and close all files you have open that may be affected by the
following workarounds before you continue pursuing them. The three possible
workarounds are:
- Use File Manager (Winfile.exe) to override the lock on the drive
mapping so you can disconnect it. When you disconnect the
mapped drive, a message will appear that states "There are currently
files open on <mapped drive letter>: (connected to \\server\share).
If you do not close the files before disconnecting from the network
device, data may be lost. Do you want to disconnect the device
anyway?" Select YES to override the lock.
- Use a utility such as Pview95 or Pviewer to view the processes
currently in memory, and unload Nddeagnt from memory. After
you terminate the NetDDE Agent from memory, NetDDE communication
that involves the Nddeagnt component, such as Winchat, becomes
inoperable. Stopping and restarting the NetDDE service(s) does not
fix the problem. You must reload Nddeagnt.exe into memory by running
it manually, from a command prompt or, from Start, use the Run option.
- Break the connection (unplug from network) between the workstation
and the associated server. The connection will timeout after a short
period. You can then disconnect drive mapping, using the net
use /d command from a command prompt.
Additional query words:
active process net use home directory map
Keywords : kbnetwork ntdomain kbbug4.00 kbbug3.50 kbbug3.51 NTSrvWkst
Version : WINDOWS:2000; winnt:3.5,3.51,4.0
Platform : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbbug