Windows 10: Network Connection to Shared Drive No Longer Working

At our company we have a Windows 7 computer that has a shared drive. Everyone in the company has access to it. Last week I lost access to this shared drive.


When I click on the mapped drive I get the message, "An error occurred while connecting to S: to \\server name\shared folder name. Microsoft Windows Network: The handle is invalid."


I am the only one that has this issue; everyone else still has access. I have tried to access it by the name and IP address, but I get the message, "Windows cannot access \\server name\ Check the spelling of the name. Otherwise, there might be a problem with your network."


I still have access to other shared drives within our network. One thing that I see is, when I open "Network" in windows explorer, I only see PC's I don't see any of my servers. I have to access the servers by server name or IP address.


I even did a system restore to before the last round of Windows Updates, but that didn't help either.


Does anyone have any ideas of what I can try to regain access to this shared drive.


Thank you for your help!!!


Scott Christopher

IT Manager

Struthers-Dunn LLC

:)

 

Cannot access shared network drive

I could scream! so much time wasted on this stupid error, as if time is not precious enough!
It probably would work fine if I could see the other computer! But I cannot see the other computer!

 

Cannot access shared network drive


Personally, I wouldnt use Everyone. If anyone hacks into you, they have full access to everything and can demolish everything on your raid. I would rather set up accounts and access separately for each person. That way, I know who did all that damage. In the end with a little extra work, I feel more secure by using Authenticated Users.


If this helps.
step 1 create non-microsoft account and without email and address without admin rights
step 2 share a drive or folder to specific user account (if Everyone is listed, remove it)
step 3 set security > add Authenticated Users (if more than 1 account) or add specific users
step 3a remove Everyone from list
step 3b uncheck full control and write for all items listed except SYSTEM and Admin account.
step 4 right click Start > Computer Management > System Tools > Shared Folders > Shares ... to verify settings and change anything else. You can also see the number of connections to each share here.

 

Can't connect to shared network drive

Here is the answer to your questions below:

The only change that was done to the computers before the problem began was the Windows update. All of the computers now have Windows 10 Version 1803 (Build 17134.228).

I tried the Network & Sharing Center steps you suggested below. However, four out of the five computers including the host of the shared drives do not have the Power Management tab in the Configure window. They only have General, Advanced, Driver, Details,
and Events tabs.

I was very hopeful that your suggestion about the turn off to save power setting would be the solution. What's next?

Rod

____________________

If you're able to remember, can you tell us the last changes that were done before the issue happened (Update, software installation, ETC)? What is the current exact version of your Windows 10? To check:

1. Press Windows key + R, then type in winver.
2. Click OK.

Meanwhile, please perform the following:

1. Go to Network and Sharing Center.
2. At the right pane, click Change adapter settings.
3. Right click on your connection name (WiFi name) and Properties.
4. Click the Configure... button.
5. Go to Power Management tab.
6. Uncheck/disable the radio button for "Allow this device to turn off this device to save power".
7. Restart the PC (Important)

Please feel free to get back, so we can continue.