Windows 10: File Explorer Doesn't Like Drive Letter Y:

I cant get drive letter Y: to show up in file explorer.

I noticed this first when I tried to map a network drive Y: to a valid location. Permissions all good. Everything went smoothly. In fact when I went through the process to map another drive, I could even see the first mapping to Y: and any attempt to use Y: again said it was already mapped. Problem was that Drive Y: did not show up in file explorer. Other mappings to the same server show up fine.

Now before we go down a mapping issues rabbit holeI checked permissions, I rebooted multiple times, I did a use net Y: /delete, I know the credentials to log in to the server, I checked reconnect, SFC and DISM found nothing. The problem also shows up when there is no mapping or network involved....

After I deleted the Y: mapping with use net, letter Y: was available and I could easily assign drive letter Y: to USB drives directly on the system (no network involved). This was verified by seeing the USB drive Y: in Windows Disk Management, in MiniTool Partition Wizard, in Hard Disk Sentinel, and at the command prompt. I definitely assigned letter Y:, but again, no drive letter Y: showed up in File Explorer.

I went ahead and used Z: to solve my original problem of mapping a network drive so all is well there, but I certainly dont like that I have no idea why my File Explorer doesnt like drive letter Y: while all the utilities like that letter just fine.

10 Pro 20H2 19042.746

Thoughts about whats happening?

:)

 

File Explorer Doesn't Like Drive Letter Y:

I can’t get drive letter Y: to show up in file explorer.

I noticed this first when I tried to map a network drive Y: to a valid location. Permissions all good. Everything went smoothly. In fact when I went through the process to map another drive, I could even see the first mapping to Y: and any attempt to use Y: again said it was already mapped. Problem was that Drive Y: did not show up in file explorer. Other mappings to the same server show up fine.

Now before we go down a “mapping” issues rabbit hole—I checked permissions, I rebooted multiple times, I did a “use net Y: /delete,” I know the credentials to log in to the server, I checked reconnect, SFC and DISM found nothing. The problem also shows up when there is no mapping or network involved....

After I deleted the Y: mapping with use net, letter Y: was available and I could easily assign drive letter Y: to USB drives directly on the system (no network involved). This was verified by seeing the USB drive Y: in Windows Disk Management, in MiniTool Partition Wizard, in Hard Disk Sentinel, and at the command prompt. I definitely assigned letter Y:, but again, no drive letter Y: showed up in File Explorer.

I went ahead and used Z: to solve my original problem of mapping a network drive so all is well there, but I certainly don’t like that I have no idea why my File Explorer doesn’t like drive letter Y: while all the utilities like that letter just fine.

10 Pro 20H2 19042.746

Thoughts about what’s happening?

 

File Explorer Doesn't Like Drive Letter Y:

File explorer cannot cope if you have assigned both
- a locally-connected drive
and
- a network drive
to the same drive letter.

Local drive assignments are listed at the end of this Registry key's entries
Code:

Change and Assign Drive Letter - TenForumsTutorials

Network drive assignments are listed in a different Registry key
Code:

Map network drive - TenForumsTutorials


Further discussion & explanation in Using same letter for a drive and a mapped drive hides that drive from FE - Kari - TenForums

Denis

 

File Explorer Doesn't Like Drive Letter Y:

That was worth a try to see what's going on, thanks. It shows the info about the current drives just as other utilities do. No references to drive letter "Y" which will not display in File Explorer.