mapped drives not reconnecting

I run a network of 11 PCs running win98SE, under Client
for Microsoft Networks. Althought it's a peer to peer
network, one acts as a server. All the data files are
stored on folders on the "server". All the "clients" have
mapped drives to the server folders. The server runs 24-7
but the clients are booted as needed. On boot up the
clieits report that they are unable to locate the folder
to map, and ask if you want to reconnect next time. The
mapped drive does show on Windows Explorer, but has a
disconnected red X. I can "kick" it into life by going
into the drive, then it works fine.

Is there any way to force the client to connect to the
mapped drive, without this user intervention?

Thanks in anticipation

try mapping the smb names in the hosts file. there is probally a master
browser election going on and the \\names cannot be resolved that quickly.
also there is a function were you can turn off master browser participation
in the advanced properties of the fileand print sharing in the network
properties dialog box.

there is a hosts.sam file in the c:\windows folder. it will give you an idea
on howto set the hosts file up. remeber after creating/modifying the hosts
file, it needs to be named just "hosts" with no trailing extention (ie.
not_hosts.txt_)
also just make sure it is placed in the same windows directory.


"paul" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:c0b801c43838$60a72fb0$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I run a network of 11 PCs running win98SE, under Client
> for Microsoft Networks. Althought it's a peer to peer
> network, one acts as a server. All the data files are
> stored on folders on the "server". All the "clients" have
> mapped drives to the server folders. The server runs 24-7
> but the clients are booted as needed. On boot up the
> clieits report that they are unable to locate the folder
> to map, and ask if you want to reconnect next time. The
> mapped drive does show on Windows Explorer, but has a
> disconnected red X. I can "kick" it into life by going
> into the drive, then it works fine.
>
> Is there any way to force the client to connect to the
> mapped drive, without this user intervention?
>
> Thanks in anticipation

Thanks Jazz, Just a point to clarify, does the hosts file
need to be in the "server" windows folder pointing to each
client or in each client pointing to the server? I guess
it must be the last one.

Also turning off master browser participation in each
client?

Sorry if they are dumb questions, I'm still learning this.


>-----Original Message-----
>try mapping the smb names in the hosts file. there is
probally a master
>browser election going on and the \\names cannot be
resolved that quickly.
>also there is a function were you can turn off master
browser participation
>in the advanced properties of the fileand print sharing
in the network
>properties dialog box.
>
>there is a hosts.sam file in the c:\windows folder. it
will give you an idea
>on howto set the hosts file up. remeber after
creating/modifying the hosts
>file, it needs to be named just "hosts" with no trailing
extention (ie.
>not_hosts.txt_)
>also just make sure it is placed in the same windows
directory.
>
>
>"paul" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message
>news:c0b801c43838$60a72fb0$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> I run a network of 11 PCs running win98SE, under Client
>> for Microsoft Networks. Althought it's a peer to peer
>> network, one acts as a server. All the data files are
>> stored on folders on the "server". All the "clients"
have
>> mapped drives to the server folders. The server runs 24-
7
>> but the clients are booted as needed. On boot up the
>> clieits report that they are unable to locate the folder
>> to map, and ask if you want to reconnect next time. The
>> mapped drive does show on Windows Explorer, but has a
>> disconnected red X. I can "kick" it into life by going
>> into the drive, then it works fine.
>>
>> Is there any way to force the client to connect to the
>> mapped drive, without this user intervention?
>>
>> Thanks in anticipation
>
>
>.
>

place the hosts file on all the computers. (make one and copy it)

the master browser participation, after looking, might not be an option on
windows 98. I thought it was but i can't seem to find a quick way to do it.
basicaly what the mastrer browser is, is a service that has already colected
the ipadresses and names that corespond to shares availible. then when a
nother computer conects to the networks it asks for a copy of that list.
Each computer/ operating system will try to compete with the one computer
holding that list in an effort to make sure the best computer is asuming
that role. Things like how new the operating system is, what kind of up-time
the machine has and some other things go into play for which computer would
be best suited for it. (try placeing a windows xp on the network for 15
minutes and see whats in the netwoprk neiborhood) When an elcection going
on, it could be upto 15 miutes before other computers on the network can see
the other shares availible.


"paul" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:cee801c43987$9fb25810$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Thanks Jazz, Just a point to clarify, does the hosts file
> need to be in the "server" windows folder pointing to each
> client or in each client pointing to the server? I guess
> it must be the last one.
>
> Also turning off master browser participation in each
> client?
>
> Sorry if they are dumb questions, I'm still learning this.
>
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >try mapping the smb names in the hosts file. there is
> probally a master
> >browser election going on and the \\names cannot be
> resolved that quickly.
> >also there is a function were you can turn off master
> browser participation
> >in the advanced properties of the fileand print sharing
> in the network
> >properties dialog box.
> >
> >there is a hosts.sam file in the c:\windows folder. it
> will give you an idea
> >on howto set the hosts file up. remeber after
> creating/modifying the hosts
> >file, it needs to be named just "hosts" with no trailing
> extention (ie.
> >not_hosts.txt_)
> >also just make sure it is placed in the same windows
> directory.
> >
> >
> >"paul" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> message
> >news:c0b801c43838$60a72fb0$(E-Mail Removed)...
> >> I run a network of 11 PCs running win98SE, under Client
> >> for Microsoft Networks. Althought it's a peer to peer
> >> network, one acts as a server. All the data files are
> >> stored on folders on the "server". All the "clients"
> have
> >> mapped drives to the server folders. The server runs 24-
> 7
> >> but the clients are booted as needed. On boot up the
> >> clieits report that they are unable to locate the folder
> >> to map, and ask if you want to reconnect next time. The
> >> mapped drive does show on Windows Explorer, but has a
> >> disconnected red X. I can "kick" it into life by going
> >> into the drive, then it works fine.
> >>
> >> Is there any way to force the client to connect to the
> >> mapped drive, without this user intervention?
> >>
> >> Thanks in anticipation
> >
> >
> >.
> >

Thanks I think I've got that sorted, I'll try it out. I've
got a Browse Master setting in the properties of File and
Printer Sharing in the network properties. currently it's
set to automatic, is this what you are refering to? should
I disable it on all "clients" and the "server", or force
it enabled? or is that not the right setting?

Many thanks for all your help.

Paul
>-----Original Message-----
>place the hosts file on all the computers. (make one and
copy it)
>
>the master browser participation, after looking, might
not be an option on
>windows 98. I thought it was but i can't seem to find a
quick way to do it.
>basicaly what the mastrer browser is, is a service that
has already colected
>the ipadresses and names that corespond to shares
availible. then when a
>nother computer conects to the networks it asks for a
copy of that list.
>Each computer/ operating system will try to compete with
the one computer
>holding that list in an effort to make sure the best
computer is asuming
>that role. Things like how new the operating system is,
what kind of up-time
>the machine has and some other things go into play for
which computer would
>be best suited for it. (try placeing a windows xp on the
network for 15
>minutes and see whats in the netwoprk neiborhood) When an
elcection going
>on, it could be upto 15 miutes before other computers on
the network can see
>the other shares availible.
>
>
>"paul" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message
>news:cee801c43987$9fb25810$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Thanks Jazz, Just a point to clarify, does the hosts
file
>> need to be in the "server" windows folder pointing to
each
>> client or in each client pointing to the server? I guess
>> it must be the last one.
>>
>> Also turning off master browser participation in each
>> client?
>>
>> Sorry if they are dumb questions, I'm still learning
this.
>>
>>
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >try mapping the smb names in the hosts file. there is
>> probally a master
>> >browser election going on and the \\names cannot be
>> resolved that quickly.
>> >also there is a function were you can turn off master
>> browser participation
>> >in the advanced properties of the fileand print sharing
>> in the network
>> >properties dialog box.
>> >
>> >there is a hosts.sam file in the c:\windows folder. it
>> will give you an idea
>> >on howto set the hosts file up. remeber after
>> creating/modifying the hosts
>> >file, it needs to be named just "hosts" with no
trailing
>> extention (ie.
>> >not_hosts.txt_)
>> >also just make sure it is placed in the same windows
>> directory.
>> >
>> >
>> >"paul" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
>> message
>> >news:c0b801c43838$60a72fb0$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> >> I run a network of 11 PCs running win98SE, under
Client
>> >> for Microsoft Networks. Althought it's a peer to peer
>> >> network, one acts as a server. All the data files are
>> >> stored on folders on the "server". All the "clients"
>> have
>> >> mapped drives to the server folders. The server runs
24-
>> 7
>> >> but the clients are booted as needed. On boot up the
>> >> clieits report that they are unable to locate the
folder
>> >> to map, and ask if you want to reconnect next time.
The
>> >> mapped drive does show on Windows Explorer, but has a
>> >> disconnected red X. I can "kick" it into life by
going
>> >> into the drive, then it works fine.
>> >>
>> >> Is there any way to force the client to connect to
the
>> >> mapped drive, without this user intervention?
>> >>
>> >> Thanks in anticipation
>> >
>> >
>> >.
>> >
>
>
>.
>

if the hosts file doesn't help, disable it on the clients but keep it going
on the server. the browse master is what keep all the information as to what
machine is who. when another machine starts an election and a new master
browser is selected, it could take 15 minute or so before the shares can
resolve. hopefully the hosts file will solve that so you don't have to worry
about it.



"paul" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:e28601c43c2e$51bd5020$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Thanks I think I've got that sorted, I'll try it out. I've
> got a Browse Master setting in the properties of File and
> Printer Sharing in the network properties. currently it's
> set to automatic, is this what you are refering to? should
> I disable it on all "clients" and the "server", or force
> it enabled? or is that not the right setting?
>
> Many thanks for all your help.
>
> Paul
> >-----Original Message-----
> >place the hosts file on all the computers. (make one and
> copy it)
> >
> >the master browser participation, after looking, might
> not be an option on
> >windows 98. I thought it was but i can't seem to find a
> quick way to do it.
> >basicaly what the mastrer browser is, is a service that
> has already colected
> >the ipadresses and names that corespond to shares
> availible. then when a
> >nother computer conects to the networks it asks for a
> copy of that list.
> >Each computer/ operating system will try to compete with
> the one computer
> >holding that list in an effort to make sure the best
> computer is asuming
> >that role. Things like how new the operating system is,
> what kind of up-time
> >the machine has and some other things go into play for
> which computer would
> >be best suited for it. (try placeing a windows xp on the
> network for 15
> >minutes and see whats in the netwoprk neiborhood) When an
> elcection going
> >on, it could be upto 15 miutes before other computers on
> the network can see
> >the other shares availible.
> >
> >
> >"paul" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> message
> >news:cee801c43987$9fb25810$(E-Mail Removed)...
> >> Thanks Jazz, Just a point to clarify, does the hosts
> file
> >> need to be in the "server" windows folder pointing to
> each
> >> client or in each client pointing to the server? I guess
> >> it must be the last one.
> >>
> >> Also turning off master browser participation in each
> >> client?
> >>
> >> Sorry if they are dumb questions, I'm still learning
> this.
> >>
> >>
> >> >-----Original Message-----
> >> >try mapping the smb names in the hosts file. there is
> >> probally a master
> >> >browser election going on and the \\names cannot be
> >> resolved that quickly.
> >> >also there is a function were you can turn off master
> >> browser participation
> >> >in the advanced properties of the fileand print sharing
> >> in the network
> >> >properties dialog box.
> >> >
> >> >there is a hosts.sam file in the c:\windows folder. it
> >> will give you an idea
> >> >on howto set the hosts file up. remeber after
> >> creating/modifying the hosts
> >> >file, it needs to be named just "hosts" with no
> trailing
> >> extention (ie.
> >> >not_hosts.txt_)
> >> >also just make sure it is placed in the same windows
> >> directory.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >"paul" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> >> message
> >> >news:c0b801c43838$60a72fb0$(E-Mail Removed)...
> >> >> I run a network of 11 PCs running win98SE, under
> Client
> >> >> for Microsoft Networks. Althought it's a peer to peer
> >> >> network, one acts as a server. All the data files are
> >> >> stored on folders on the "server". All the "clients"
> >> have
> >> >> mapped drives to the server folders. The server runs
> 24-
> >> 7
> >> >> but the clients are booted as needed. On boot up the
> >> >> clieits report that they are unable to locate the
> folder
> >> >> to map, and ask if you want to reconnect next time.
> The
> >> >> mapped drive does show on Windows Explorer, but has a
> >> >> disconnected red X. I can "kick" it into life by
> going
> >> >> into the drive, then it works fine.
> >> >>
> >> >> Is there any way to force the client to connect to
> the
> >> >> mapped drive, without this user intervention?
> >> >>
> >> >> Thanks in anticipation
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >.
> >> >
> >
> >
> >.
> >