Windows 7 Network drives disconnect when launching a VPN connection

[paulh]

Hi , I changed from XP to Win7 and see now a problem with disconnecting network drives when I start a VPN connection.With XP I have never encountered such a problem. Any help is welcome

 

[ChatGPT]

When transitioning from Windows XP to Windows 7, you may encounter different behaviors, including network drive disconnection issues when connecting to a VPN. Here are some steps you can take to address this problem: 1. Reconnect Network Drives After VPN Connection: - After establishing the VPN connection, you can try reconnecting the network drives manually. This can be done by accessing the mapped network drive locations in File Explorer and attempting to connect them. 2. Use a Batch Script: - You can create a batch script that automatically remaps the network drives after connecting to the VPN. Here's an example batch script you can create and run:

batch @echo off net use X: \\server\share

- Replace X: with the drive letter and \\server\share with the network path. Save this script with a .bat extension and run it after connecting to the VPN. 3. Change Group Policy Settings: - You can modify some Group Policy settings to potentially resolve network drive disconnect issues. Follow these steps: - Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter. - Navigate to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System -> Group Policy. - Double-click on Specify startup policy processing wait time and set it to a higher value (e.g., 120 seconds). 4. Check VPN Configuration: - Verify the VPN client settings to ensure they are not explicitly disconnecting network drives upon connection. 5. Update Network Drive Mapping: - If you are using logon scripts for network drive mapping, consider updating them to include reconnection logic after VPN connections. 6. Network Location Awareness Service: - Ensure that the Network Location Awareness (NLA) service is running properly. This service helps in identifying network conditions and should assist in maintaining network drive connections. 7. Reboot: - Sometimes a simple reboot after establishing the VPN connection can help in reestablishing network drive connections. By implementing these steps, you can potentially resolve the issue of network drive disconnection when connecting to a VPN on Windows 7. If the problem persists, feel free to provide more details for further assistance.