Frankjake
the Beaver State
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Maybe mapped drive isn't the correct term. When anyone in my office logs on to our server, it looks for a batch file that uses the command NETUSE. Trying to keep this short, it something like
NETUSE f:\foldername\foldername
Our database program, which was set up years ago, has everything set to look at the f:
Now the issue. Whenever someone wants to use a new (or for the first time) memory stick, it tries to make it f: also (which is the next available drive or so the computer thinks anyway. c: is the main harddisk, d: is the DVD drive and e: is another DVD drive. F: isn't a real dirve. So the memory stick never shows up if you click on "my computer".
Now if I go in and "disconnect" that desktop from the f: (right click on f: then choose "disconnect") then reinsert the memory stick, it will show up as f: but then obviously that desktop won't have accesss to our database program.
I have also made it work by going into manage my computer, and then disk management and actually telling the desktop to force the memory stick to another dirve letter. This works fine as long as it's always the same memory stick being used. If you put in a new or first time stick, it tries to make it f: again. I will add, that before I can do this, I have to disconnect the virtual f:, then put in the memory stick and let it use the f:, then make it use another drive letter.
Is there anyway to force the desktop to NOT look at f: as the next avail drive letter or maybe make it "skip" f: as a drive letter for a new device such as a memory stick?
Thanks for any ideas or suggestions.
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ReadyToGo
Minnesota
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Since you know how to map a drive, I think the part you have missed is that you should check the option that says to map at logon. That should always map f to the database file. That should leave g as the next available address when you plug in a thumb drive memory stick.
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HookupAndGo
Melbourne, FL
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Only problem may be the drive letters for the thumb drives. I have had issues where thumb drives would not be seen above e or f...I forget now. So, that might be why you are having issues with it and not being able to use it as the g drive.
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J-mans Dad
SF Bay Area
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Can you change NETUSE to remap your F drive to Y or Z?
That way you could have a few USB things running and still have drive maps available to not conflict with the network drive.
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Frankjake
the Beaver State
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Thanks for the replies so far. The f: is set to "connect" at logon, it reads a batch file for every user that is logging on. so no matter what, when anyone logs on, the f: is automatically mapped and connected to that desktop. (we have 10 desktops).
As far as making the f: go to a driver lettre farther down the line such as x: or y:, I'm sure that could be done but not without many changes to the database program. I have had to go in and change setting before with the programmer helping me on the phone and there are so many lines in the program, I'm sure it would be very time consumming and everyone else on this system also has f: as the drive the program looks for.
I know there is something where you can tell the computer to look for a certain drive letter as the next one available, I've done it before. You can tell the computer to make h: the next avail and it will ignore f: and g: and so on. But I can't seem to find where or how to do this in windows xp. Thanks for the suggestions.
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jwoods61us
INDY
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Forget trying to change the drive mapping (the OS always wants to assign the next available drive letter regardless of any logon script) and instead simply go to disk management (right click My Computer, select Manage and then click Disk Management under Storage) find the memory stick and assign a different drive letter (right click on the drive and select Change drive letter and paths) say OK when it tells you that some programs may not work correctly after the change and you should be set. Unfortunately you will have to do this each time you change sticks/drives.
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HappyKayakers
Herkimer NY KOA for summer '08
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How 'bout permanently changing the letter of the CD/DVD drive through disk management? To something like Y or Z? That should free up a drive letter below F for the thumb drive.
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Frankjake
the Beaver State
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Well guys, it looks like I'm out of luck for an easy fix. I have searched and seached and everything I have found leads back to what I'm already doing. It seems in XP there is no way to force the next available drive letter such as G: in my case.
It may have been windows 3 or windows 98 that had the option to specify the next available drive letter, so it would "skip" the ones you want.
I'm mapping a network drive using F: and that can't be changed without a lot of time and headache. When I plug in ANY new usb device, it automatically tried to assign f: as it's drive letter because XP doesn't not see f: as a real drive being used.
Once I use ANY device once and set it to G: it will always be G: from that point on or until I change it again. BUT if I plug in a new device, it tried to go back to f: again. So I have to go in to disk managment and change it.
I do know how to make it work, but I was hoping for something more permanant.
Thanks everyone for your suggestions.
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HappyKayakers
Herkimer NY KOA for summer '08
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OK, one more suggestion. Check out this article.
It discusses mapping the thumb drive permanently to an NTFS folder on your current hard drive. Doesn't use a drive letter this way. Good Luck.
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SteveB
Rhode Island
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Frank,
It IS an easy fix! I assume you are using XP or Vista.
You will probably have to do this for all different flash drives. Here is a recent post I made of what works for me.
CHECK THIS THREAD
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