Can Map Network Drive to Shared and Non-Shared Folders in Windows 2000

ID: Q207208


The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server


SUMMARY

In Windows 2000, you can map a network drive directly to a folder without the folder first being shared. In earlier versions of Windows, a folder has to be shared before you can map a network drive to the folder.


MORE INFORMATION

You can map a network drive to a folder (whether shared or not) either by using the NET USE command, or by clicking Map Network Drive on the Tools menu in Windows Explorer.

NET USE Command

You can use a NET USE command to connect directly to a folder at any level given that a share name is used after the server name. For example:
net use x:\\servername\sharename\subfolder1\subfolder2

Map Network Drive Command

When you click the Map Network Drive command, you can select the network drive letter in the Drive box and the folder to map in the Folder box. You can also click Browse to locate the folder to map.

Additional Information

New features have also been incorporated to provide alternate user credentials in the "Connect using a different user name" link in the Map Network Drive dialog box. This allows a user or administrator to provide alternate domain credentials for other domains in the environment to gain access to their resources.

Additionally, the "Create a shortcut to a Web folder or FTP site" link lets you map a network drives to a Web folder or FTP site and places a shortcut to the folder in My Network Places on the desktop.

Web folder access is based on Windows 2000 user credentials, and mapping to one prompts for alternate user credentials if required. This is ideal if you need regular access to Web folders for updating. Internet sites do not allow unauthorized users to gain access to folders for Web sites that are accessed through anonymous connections when the directory structures are secured.

Additional query words: unc path

Keywords : kbenv kbui
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbinfo


Last Reviewed: December 29, 1999
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