📎 AI Summary:
The WindowsForum thread discusses intermittent issues with FTP shortcuts appearing in Windows 7 and 8.1 File Explorer, sometimes resulting in path or permission errors while access via browser remains unavailable. The original poster suspects the problem isn't with the server, and troubleshooting via command-line FTP and toggling the "Use Passive FTP" setting in Internet Options are suggested solutions, with the issue sometimes resolving after using the built-in FTP client. Overall, the thread centers on troubleshooting and resolving inconsistent FTP access issues on Windows systems.
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borate

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Thread Author #1
A shortcut is mapped to an FTP server, and shows up in W7 File Explorer. It works on occasion, but more often throws a paths/permissions error. When that occurs the site isn't available via a browser either. Have seen it do the same in W8.1 as well, but rarely.

The SC has been deleted and recreated; no change. What's the problem?
 

Solution
Josephur
I don't have a Windows 7 machine handy but look for this option and try toggling it:
Control Panel, Internet Options, Advanced tab and scroll down until you find a checkbox labeled "Use Passive FTP".

It might help to turn this off/on (the opposite of what you currently have it set at)
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Josephur

Josephur

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#2
I would troubleshoot with good old command line ftp.exe when your getting the error to see if it's the remote server's problem or not.
 

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borate

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Thread Author #3
Thanks Josephur,

Good thought, though I am almost certain that the server was not at fault. Next time the failure occurs I will test other servers via the FTP commandline util, and report back here.
 

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borate

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Thread Author #4
Wouldn't respond (as above) to the shortcut in file explorer, but would to Windows built-in FTP basic client.
After that was used, the file manager SC worked as it should. As noted, this is intermittent...don't know what
disables it, am not certain of what restores it???? Windows 7 mainly.
 

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Josephur

Josephur

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#5
I don't have a Windows 7 machine handy but look for this option and try toggling it:
Control Panel, Internet Options, Advanced tab and scroll down until you find a checkbox labeled "Use Passive FTP".

It might help to turn this off/on (the opposite of what you currently have it set at)
 

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Solution
B

borate

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Thread Author #6
It's set to the passive default, but I'll toggle it the next time this occurs. As mentioned, it DOES work in the passive mode - when it pleases.
 

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Josephur

Josephur

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#7
That's about the only thing I can think to try, other than a good FTP client :)
 

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