Does the folder being mapped need to be shared? Does the answer depend on which Windows OS and whether the folder is in a virtual machine?

Hi, the folder need first to be shared. This answer don't depend on o.s. bye.Edoardo Benussi - Microsoft MVP Management Infrastructure - Systems Administration https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/Profile/Benussi Windows Server Italian Forum Moderator edo[at]mvps[dot]org

Hi, the folder need first to be shared. This answer don't depend on o.s. bye. Edoardo Benussi - Microsoft® MVP Management Infrastructure - Systems Administration https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/Profile/Benussi Windows Server Italian Forum Moderator edo[at]mvps[dot]org Thanks Edoardo. So, it means that if I want to access any drive/any folder of another machine, I need to make sure that each drive is shared first. I ask about this since I try to map a network drive but the folder is not shared, I was prompted to enter user name and password and no user name and password will work.

Thanks Edoardo. So, it means that if I want to access any drive/any folder of another machine, I need to make sure that each drive is shared first. you don't need to share the drive, you need to share only the folder to which you want access I ask about this since I try to map a network drive but the folder is not shared, I was prompted to enter user name and password and no user name and password will work. you have to set full permission to everyone on sharing and the correct permission on security of that folder Edoardo Benussi - Microsoft MVP Management Infrastructure - Systems Administration https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/Profile/Benussi Windows Server Italian Forum Moderator edo[at]mvps[dot]org

Thanks Edoardo. So, it means that if I want to access any drive/any folder of another machine, I need to make sure that each drive is shared first. you don't need to share the drive, you need to share only the folder to which you want access I ask about this since I try to map a network drive but the folder is not shared, I was prompted to enter user name and password and no user name and password will work. you have to set full permission to everyone on sharing and the correct permission on security of that folder Edoardo Benussi - Microsoft® MVP Management Infrastructure - Systems Administration https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/Profile/Benussi Windows Server Italian Forum Moderator edo[at]mvps[dot]org Since I'm using administrator login, I guess I just need to share the folder.

in this case you are right. byeEdoardo Benussi - Microsoft MVP Management Infrastructure - Systems Administration https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/Profile/Benussi Windows Server Italian Forum Moderator edo[at]mvps[dot]org

Since I'm using administrator login, I guess I just need to share the folder. Since you are using the administrator login, you can use the administrative shares without exposing that as an item of interest on that system. Net use [drive letter]: \\Computer\C$\Documents and settings\MyUserProfileName\My Documents That will allow you to utilize your administrative privilege to any file in that path... Or you could just use, "net use [drive]: \\computer\C$ and navigate your way manually.Steve Kline Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Server Administrator Microsoft Certified Product Specialist Microsoft Certified Network Product Specialist This posting is "as is" without warranties and confers no rights.

In other words, uou need to make sure you can access the folder via network first. Specifically, you can share a folder only to a specific user, and map the folder with "connect with different credentials" option.Shaon Shan| TechNet Subscriber Support in forum| If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfb@microsoft.com

I'm reading this http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753176(WS.10).aspx about the Password Protected Sharing. In my case, the machine is not in a domain. Will truning off the option change how I can map network drive in my workgroup/homegroup?

The question is the same as "how to access a shared folder". Answer is that it is a shared folder and you have permission to access it. If it is not domain related, folder can be shared to a local account on remote computer (host) and create the same acount on your computer (guest). Or you can directly share the folder to Eveyone so all users can access it and map it.Shaon Shan| TechNet Subscriber Support in forum| If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfb@microsoft.com

To gain access to a shared file on any computer, you must have access rights which are valid on the computer hosting the share. This is easier in a domain because there is a centralized system of accounts. Without a domain, you must use an account which is in the hosting computer's local account file. Being an administrator on your local machine does not help you. It is the security setup on the machine hosting the share which is important. If the file has been shared, you can always access it by mapping the share from the command prompt. By using the "net use" command you can specify a username and password which is valid on the target computer. This can be different from the username and password you used to log in to your machine. Once you have mapped the share to your machine you can use it as if it was a local drive. Bill