Error message when you use user credentials to connect to a network share from a Windows-based computer: "The network folder specified is currently mapped using a different user name and password"

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SYMPTOMS

Consider the following scenario:

You have a Windows-based computer that is running Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, or Windows Vista.
There are two network shares on a remote server.
You use user credentials to connect to one of the network shares. Then, you try to use different user credentials to connect to the other network share.

In this scenario, you may receive the following error message:

The network folder specified is currently mapped using a different user name and password. To connect using a different user name and password, first disconnect any existing mappings to this network share.

If you click OK in response to this error message, you may receive the following error message:

Multiple connections to a server or shared resource by the same user, using more than one user name, are not allowed. Disconnect all previous connections to the server or shared resource and try again.

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STATUS

This behavior is by design.

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WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, use one of the following methods.

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Method 1

Use the IP address of the remote server when you try to connect to the network share.

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Method 2

Create a different Domain Name System (DNS) alias for the remote server, and then use this alias to connect to the network share.

After you use one of these methods, you can use different user credentials to connect to the network share. In this situation, the computer behaves as if it is connecting to a different server.

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MORE INFORMATION

For more information, visit the following A.P. Lawrence Web sites:

http://aplawrence.com/Forum/TonyLawrence2.html (http://aplawrence.com/Forum/TonyLawrence2.html)

http://www.errorforum.com/microsoft-windows-xp-error/7805-seperate-ad-account-specific-network-share.html (http://www.errorforum.com/microsoft-windows-xp-error/7805-seperate-ad-account-specific-network-share.html)

Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

106211 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/106211/ ) The credentials supplied conflict with an existing...

173199 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/173199/ ) Multiple credentials in a single Windows NT session

183366 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/183366/ ) WNetAddConnection2 and multiple user credentials

824198 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824198/ ) "The credentials supplied conflict with an existing set of credentials" error message when a Windows NT 4.0 user logs on to a Windows Server 2003 domain

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