Invalid Network Home Directory Specified in User Manager (128795)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0

This article was previously published under Q128795

SYMPTOMS

If you specify an invalid network Home Directory for a User Environment Profile in the user object properties, the following error message appears:
The home directory <Directory Path> for <Username> could not be created. The user account has been updated. You must create the Home Directory manually.
If the user logs on from a computer running MS-DOS Network Client or Windows for Workgroups and the logon script includes "NET USE <network drive>: /home" (without the quotation marks), the following error message appears:
System error 53 has occurred. The network path was not found.
NOTE: For a Windows NT client computer, the Home Directory becomes the default <%SystemRoot% drive>:\USERS\DEFAULT and not the network Home Directory specified in the User Environment Profile.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if a directory path is specified instead of a network share point in universal naming convention (UNC) format. This problem also occurs if the directory or share point is not created on the server.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem:

  1. Create a home directory on the server and share it for a specific user.
  2. In the User Environment Profile, select a drive letter for the Home Directory and add the network path in the following format:

    \\servername\sharename\username

NOTE: If you have multiple users, create their home directories on the server and share individual home directories for each user. In User Environment Profile for Home Directory, assign a network drive and the network path as \\<server name>\%USERNAME%.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:5/6/2003
Keywords:KB128795