Mapping a Drive from a Command Prompt May Open a New Windows Explorer Window (290703)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
This article was previously published under Q290703
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you use Windows Explorer to map a drive to a remote server, Windows Explorer opens an additional window that displays the contents of the drive you mapped. If you later remove this drive mapping and then map a drive with the same drive letter by using the net use command at a command prompt, Windows Explorer again opens a new window with the contents of the mapped drive.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because Windows Explorer maintains a list of drives for which it displays a window, and does not "clean up" the list.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows 2000. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

260910 How to Obtain the Latest Windows 2000 Service Pack

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later: 
   Date        Time     Version        Size       File name
   --------------------------------------------------------
   6/14/2001   12:09p	5.0.3315.3727  2,338,064  Shell32.dll

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was first corrected in Windows 2000 Service Pack 3.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about how to obtain a hotfix for Windows 2000 Datacenter Server, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

265173 The Datacenter Program and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server Product

For additional information about how to install multiple hotfixes with only one reboot, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

296861 Use QChain.exe to Install Multiple Hotfixes with One Reboot

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

A new registry key has been added that you can use to prevent Windows Explorer from opening an additional window when you map a drive in Windows Explorer. To use this key:
  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
  2. Locate and click the following key in the registry:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MountPoints

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

    Value name: _NoWindowMappedDrive

    Note that only the existence of this value is checked. The data and type is not checked. If this value is not present, this feature is enabled (the default); otherwise, the feature is disabled.

  4. Quit Registry Editor.
For additional information about how to install Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 hotfixes at the same time, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

249149 Installing Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 Hotfixes

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/26/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbbug kbfix kbshell kbWin2000PreSP3Fix kbWin2000sp3fix KB290703
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