Article ID: 960151 - Last Review: October 8, 2011 - Revision: 2.0

Error message when you try to access a network drive that is mapped to a DFS shared folder on a client computer that is running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008: "Error: Location is not available"

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SYMPTOMS

Consider the following scenario in a network environment:
  • A domain-based Distributed File System (DFS) root is hosted by multiple domain controllers.
  • A DFS shared folder is linked to a network share that resides on another server.
  • On a client computer that is running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008, you map a network drive to the DFS shared folder.
  • The domain controller to which the client computer is connected goes offline.
  • You restart the client computer.
In this scenario, it takes a long time to log on to the client computer after it restarts. After you log on to the client computer, you try to access the mapped network drive. However, you cannot access the drive, even though the other domain controllers and the server that hosts the network share are available. Additionally, you receive following error message:
Error:
Location is not available
Drive:\ is not accessible.
The network location cannot be reached. For information about network troubleshooting, see Windows Help.
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RESOLUTION

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.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must have Windows Vista Service Pack 1 or Windows Server 2008 installed.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) 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 item in Control Panel.

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 file information note

The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files (.mum) that are installed for each environment are listed separately . MUM and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are critical to maintaining the state of the updated component. The security catalog files (attributes not listed) are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.
For all supported x86-based versions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
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File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Dfsc.sys6.0.6001.2235475,26415-Jan-200901:38x86
For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
Collapse this tableExpand this table
File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Dfsc.sys6.0.6001.2235497,79215-Jan-200902:15x64
For all supported Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2008
Collapse this tableExpand this table
File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Dfsc.sys6.0.6001.22354238,59215-Jan-200901:53IA-64
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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.
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MORE INFORMATION

For more information about DFS, visit the following Microsoft Web sites:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727150.aspx (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727150.aspx)
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc737509.aspx (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727150.aspx)
For more 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

Additional file information for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008

Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
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File namePackage_for_kb960151_client_1~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,367
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File namePackage_for_kb960151_client~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,431
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File namePackage_for_kb960151_sc_0~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,421
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File namePackage_for_kb960151_sc~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,423
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File namePackage_for_kb960151_server_0~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,425
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File namePackage_for_kb960151_server~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,431
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File namePackage_for_kb960151_winpesrv_0~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,422
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File namePackage_for_kb960151_winpesrv~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,429
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File nameX86_05bab5dc60d9009402022e18de17ba9b_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22354_none_6fcde77967fa4b65.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size697
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File nameX86_microsoft-windows-dfsclient_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22354_none_87f1c000ff5e7007.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size10,277
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)04:51
Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows Vista and of Windows Server 2008
Collapse this tableExpand this table
File nameAmd64_0f6336fdbf9138edc3a67505cb0699ca_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22354_none_e43e16d13ee86157.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size701
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File nameAmd64_microsoft-windows-dfsclient_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22354_none_e4105b84b7bbe13d.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size10,538
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)05:31
File namePackage_for_kb960151_client_1~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,375
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File namePackage_for_kb960151_client~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,439
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File namePackage_for_kb960151_sc_0~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,429
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File namePackage_for_kb960151_sc~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,431
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File namePackage_for_kb960151_server_0~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,433
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File namePackage_for_kb960151_server~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,439
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File namePackage_for_kb960151_winpesrv_0~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,430
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File namePackage_for_kb960151_winpesrv~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,437
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
Additional files for all supported Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2008
Collapse this tableExpand this table
File nameIa64_218ed9040ee09493ad27be2b00e51557_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22354_none_c2c737fcaba675fb.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size699
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File nameIa64_microsoft-windows-dfsclient_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22354_none_87f363f6ff5c7903.manifest
File versionNot Applicable
File size10,532
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)05:00
File namePackage_for_kb960151_sc_0~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,425
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File namePackage_for_kb960151_sc~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,426
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File namePackage_for_kb960151_server_0~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,429
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File namePackage_for_kb960151_server~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,434
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File namePackage_for_kb960151_winpesrv_0~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,426
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
File namePackage_for_kb960151_winpesrv~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot Applicable
File size1,433
Date (UTC)15-Jan-2009
Time (UTC)23:48
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APPLIES TO
  • Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition
  • Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition
  • Windows Vista Business
  • Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition
  • Windows Vista Enterprise
  • Windows Vista Ultimate
  • Windows Server 2008 Datacenter without Hyper-V
  • Windows Server 2008 Enterprise without Hyper-V
  • Windows Server 2008 Standard without Hyper-V
  • Windows Server 2008 Datacenter
  • Windows Server 2008 Enterprise
  • Windows Server 2008 Standard
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Keywords: 
kbautohotfix kbexpertiseadvanced kbfix kbsurveynew kbqfe KB960151
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