Cannot Use a Forward Slash (/) in a UNC Path to Open a Shared Folder (825570)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Connectix Virtual PC for Mac version 5.0
  • Connectix Virtual PC for Mac version 6.0
  • Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac version 6.1
  • Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac version 6.1 Upgrade
  • Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac version 6.1 with Microsoft Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac version 6.1 with Microsoft Windows XP Home
  • Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac version 6.1 with Microsoft Windows XP Professional

SYMPTOMS

When you use a Microsoft Windows 98 and Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition virtual machine to open a shared folder, you may receive the following error message:
Windows cannot find \\Computer name/share name. Check the spelling and try again, or try searching for the item by clicking the Start button, and then clicking Search.

CAUSE

This issue may occur if you use a forward slash (/) in the Universal Naming Convention (UNC) pathname to the shared folder. This issue occurs because Windows 98 and Windows Millennium Edition do not support the use of a forward slash in a UNC pathname. You must specify all pathnames with backward slashes (\) instead of forward slashes (/).

MORE INFORMATION

UNC is the system of naming files on computers that are on a network so that a file on a computer has the same pathname when a user opens it from any computer on the network. For example, if the folder c:\path1\path2\...pathn on computer servern is shared under the name pathdirs, a user on another computer opens \\servern\pathdirs\filename.ext to open the file c:\path1\path2\...pathn\filename.ext on servern.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:2/11/2005
Keywords:kbprb KB825570 kbAudEndUser
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