Article ID: 840749 - Last Review: August 29, 2007 - Revision: 3.2

You cannot open a mapped offline-files drive during CSC synchronization in Windows XP

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SYMPTOMS

When you try to open a mapped offline-files drive by using Windows Explorer during client side caching (CSC) synchronization of offline files, you may receive the following error message:
My Computer
Drive_letter:\ refers to a location that is unavailable. It could be on a hard drive on this computer, or on a network. Check to make sure that the disk is properly inserted, or that you are connected to the Internet or your network, and then try again. If it still cannot be located, the information might have been moved to a different location.
You cannot remove the mapped drive, and if you try to disconnect the network connection that the mapped drive uses to connect to the network share, you receive the following error message:
The network connection could not be found.
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CAUSE

The offline-files synchronization process temporarily maps an additional auxiliary drive letter at the time of synchronization, and this process typically determines that the letter E is the next available drive letter. If you start Windows Explorer during the synchronization process, it enumerates all drives, including the auxiliary offline-files drive. This mapped offline-files drive becomes orphaned after the CSC synchronization process is completed because the Windows Explorer window is not informed of the auxiliary device removal after synchronization.
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RESOLUTION

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Windows XP. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
322389  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389/EN-US/ ) How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack
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Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support (http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support)
Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language. The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Windows XP

   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name
   -----------------------------------------------------------
   19-Apr-2004  22:59  5.1.2600.1517      40,448  Ntlanman.dll

Windows XP 64-Bit Edition

   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name     Platform
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   19-Apr-2004  22:56  5.1.2600.1517     115,712  Ntlanman.dll  IA-64
   19-Apr-2004  22:59  5.1.2600.1517      40,448  Wntlanman.dll x86
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WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, log off and then log on to your computer after the offline-files synchronization process is completed. By doing this, you permit the orphaned drive to be cleared from the system.
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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section. This problem was first corrected in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2.
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MORE INFORMATION

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
824684  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824684/ ) Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP1
  • Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2002
  • Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2003
  • Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
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Keywords: 
kbautohotfix kbqfe kbhotfixserver kbwinxpsp2fix kbwinxppresp2fix kbfix kbbug KB840749
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