Windows 7 Win7 can't find network drives

[L P]

I recently switched a netbook computer on our LAN from XP (on which all machines had been) to Win 7rc (x86).

No other settings or configurations on the network have changed, but the netbook suddenly can't fully connect to the Synology network drive. All the other computers on the network still can.

* The netbook & network drive are in the same workgroup
* The user & password are 3ple checked and are correct
* The firewall is turned off for purposes of trying to get this to work


I CAN get to the network drive via http (e.g. using its firmware's html-interface configuration at \\192.168.1.2:5000) and I can ping the local address (192.168.1.2).


But when I try to "map network drive" it never works (repeatedly prompting for a user/password, though I am giving it correct values).

When I open "network" from the start menu, it displays the netdrive in my network, but when I try to access it, I get "Error code 0x80080035 The network path was not found."

When I use NetDrives and attempt to map to a shared folder on the net drive, I get the error "Error code 53: The server (host) address could not be resolved."

"net view" from a dos prompt finds and lists the network drive, but when I try to view that drive (by name or address), I again get "Error code 53 The network path was not found."

The same error when I try "net use" to map the drive from the command line.


The upshot being that some protocols (http, ping) can get to the local address, and some information seems always to be gotten (the existence and name of the net drive)... but that the protocols used for actually connecting to the drive (drive mapping, net view, net use, etc) consistently fail.


I've spent many hours googling to try to find a solution... only to find that
(a) lots of people seem to have this trouble
(b) many of them haven't found a solution (though the win7 development team apparently was looking in to this issue several months ago)
(c) such solutions as people have found in similar (apparently not identical) situations haven't worked for me.



um.... HELP!

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you're encountering connectivity issues after switching a netbook from Windows XP to Windows 7 on your LAN, specifically with accessing a Synology network drive. The symptoms you described, such as being able to ping the drive but not map it, suggest a network configuration or access problem.

Let's troubleshoot step by step to try and resolve this issue:

1. Network Discovery and File Sharing:
- Ensure that network discovery and file sharing are enabled on the Windows 7 netbook.
- Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings.
- Turn on network discovery, file and printer sharing, and ensure the network location is set to Home or Work.

2. Workgroup Configuration:
- Double-check that the workgroup name on the Windows 7 netbook matches the workgroup name of the other computers on the LAN. You mentioned they are in the same workgroup, but verifying this is crucial.

3. Credential Management:
- While mapping the drive, ensure you are providing the correct credentials. Sometimes, Windows might be saving incorrect credentials. Clear any saved credentials related to the Synology drive and try mapping it again.

4. Drive Mapping:
- Try mapping the network drive using the IP address directly. Instead of using the network name, use \\192.168.1.2\sharename when mapping the drive.

5. DNS Configuration:
- Check the DNS settings on the Windows 7 netbook. You could set the DNS server on the network adapter to the same as the other computers on the network for consistency.

6. Network Protocols:
- Ensure that the necessary network protocols are enabled. Check if Client for Microsoft Networks and File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks are enabled in the network adapter settings.

7. Firewall and Antivirus:
- Even though you mentioned that the firewall is turned off, verify that no third-party firewall or antivirus software is blocking the connection. Disable them temporarily for testing.

8. Network Path Resolution:
- When encountering the "network path was not found" error, it could indicate issues with network path resolution. This might be related to DNS settings or WINS configuration.

By following these steps and ensuring proper network settings alignment with the rest of the LAN, you should be able to resolve the connectivity issue with the Synology network drive on the Windows 7 netbook. If the issue persists, further troubleshooting might involve detailed network analysis and configuration adjustments.