A reminder balloon message does not appear if a Windows XP-based client computer is disconnected from the network (900909)

SYMPTOMS

Consider the following scenario. The following conditions are true:

A Microsoft Windows XP-based client computer has a shared folder on a server that is made available offline.
The Windows XP-based client computer cannot connect to the server.
A reminder balloon message appears to notify the Windows XP-based client computer that the server is offline.
You configure the reminder balloon message to periodically re-appear.

However, no reminder balloon message appears if the Windows XP-based client computer is disconnected from the network. This symptom occurs even if the server goes offline.

Note The Windows XP-based client computer can become disconnected from the network if the network cable is unplugged or if the network adaptor is disabled.

CAUSE

This issue occurs because the Windows XP-based client computer interprets that the server will not be available soon. When a server goes offline, the server is assumed to be offline temporarily. Therefore, the Windows XP-based client computer is notified when the Windows XP-based client computer reconnects to the server. However, if the Windows XP-based client computer loses network connectivity, the Windows XP-based client computer interprets that the server will not be available soon. Therefore, the reminder balloon message does not appear to notify the client of the reconnection to the server.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about how to make files available offline in Windows XP, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

307853 How to use offline files in Windows XP