UNC Shortcuts Do Not Work

ID: Q232937

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

When you try to use UNC shortcuts with RAS while connecting to a server with over 700 shares, the UNC shortcuts do not work.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because WNetGetResourceInformation retrieves back all share names from a server to the requesting workstation or server. WNetGetResourceInformation has a built in timer (NetLinkTimeout). The default timeout value is 7.5 seconds. Retrieving a large amount of shares over a slow link in most cases takes longer than the 7.5 second default value.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, add the following registry key:

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe)

Locate the following key in the registry:


HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

On the Edit menu, click Add Value, and then add the following registry value:


   Value Name: NetLinkTimeout
   Data Type:  REG_DWORD
   Unit:       milli-seconds
   Default:    N/A (hard code to 7500)

Quit Registry Editor.

You need to create this value because it does not exist by default. Set the value to 9000 and then increase if it still times out. These values are to be modified on the computer trying to connect to the shares.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

When you try to connect to a share through RAS by double-clicking a dekstop icon pointing to the share, you cannot connect to the share when the server being connected to contains approximately 700 or more shares. The icon then changes to a Microsoft default icon.

Additional query words:

Keywords :
Version : winnt:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbprb