Webdav Client is Supported on Windows7 OR Not?
Hi, We Know that running Webdav client was problematic with Windows Vista, For that Microsoft released a patch KB907306 patch. Applying that, it worked smoothly. Now, on Windows7, even after applying this patch. There seem to be set of problems. Either one of these: Connection to a web folder or web disk cannot be established or You can establish or you can setup a web folder but can only view folders in left panel and nothing on right panel. I Want to know that whether Microsoft is going to release any patch as it was done for Vista or prove its not really a Win7 issue. I have gone through lot of pasts before writing this. Many places, many steps were suggested, but none of them look fully working. Some talk about setting up 'WebDav server on Win7', some talk about 'talking to SharePoint'... But i want to know "Use a webdav client on Win7 and try to connect to a webdav server which is running on linux box."? Are there any steps on How to make it work? or any patch.etc.etc. Thanks a lot. Reply expected from Microsoft as Lot of users are affected...
March 24th, 2010 7:26pm

Yes it does work, it depends on the client you are using we use the novell client without any patch or issues. There are two others I have tested also to work.
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March 24th, 2010 8:51pm

Novell Client does not use webdav protocol. I will repeat the original thing: Traditional method of connecting to a webdav server is not working with Win7. Either we setup a web folder by “adding a network location” or “map a network drive” through My Computer. So this work on WinXP, works on vista after applying the microsoft patch. But does not work on Win7 even after that patch (or for me it says that connected but nothing is displayed after that, it goes into infinite loop when you try to access a folder shown on left panel). So If someone is able to configure it in this way, please share how it is done.. OR Does microsoft have to supply some patch for Win7 too? thanks a lot guys.
March 25th, 2010 2:18pm

you really should learn to use google YES novell does WEBDAV http://www.netdrive.net/ http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=webdav+client&aq=0&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=webdav&gs_rfai=
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March 25th, 2010 4:10pm

Bubbapcguy, netdrive's website says that its company is Macrodata and not Novell. And it looks like "netdrive' is a software that provides windows device driver. Using this you can connect to some server using webdav protocol... But it is clear that i am not asking about any third party software to be installed on Win7. Just take a fresh Win7 box and try accessing a server (using add a netwrok location/map network drive) which supports webdav protocol. Is it possible. If you see my previous comments, it connects but does not display anything. If someone has successfully set up and got it working, pls share the steps.... OR, if it needs a patch? thats why i put this question in Win7 Network forum. thanks again.
March 25th, 2010 6:17pm

Novell released netdrive it is free, I have been using it for almost 10 years. http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/qna/999.htmlThere are two or three posting here dealing with using win 7 and sharepoint server / webdav. Are you connecting to sharepoint server or what, you are not providing much to go on so it would hard to give a answer based on your provided info. And yes win 7 works with sharepoint and yes wins 7 works with my centos webdav with any third party software. provide more info to get answered better suited to your needs.
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March 25th, 2010 10:54pm

Sorry, if i was not clear in my previous questions.. I will try to picturize it clearly: Use-Case is as follows: I have a linux server where my application is running. The application is running as a server and supports webdav protocol. With earlier windows version (XP/Vista), users could 'map network drive' or click 'add a netwrok location' on the windows box and give the IP of linux server like this: http://<IP>/MyAlias and then it would connect to the server and show the files/folders and allows normal operations. So in brief, the Windows box was acting as a webdav client. And connect to the server without using a third party software (now also the usres would not like third party software). It is usual that Windows 7 users (who are migrating from earlier Windows version) will also try to map like this . So the problem is coming when this mapping is tried. I have posted the exact problem description in any of my earlier reply. And one more thing, Earlier also i was not using sharepoint and now also neither of Windows or the server is using....And thanks again.
March 26th, 2010 7:38am

Hi, Please try the following: 1) Click Start and click Computer. 2) Click Map network drive. 3) Click the link “Connect to a Web site that you can use to store your documents and pictures”, then click next 4) Click Choose a custom network location 5) Enter your WebDAV URL 6) Click next 7) Enter your user name and password when prompted. Hope this helps. Thanks. Nicholas Li - MSFT
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March 26th, 2010 12:18pm

thanks, i will try and let you know..
March 26th, 2010 2:42pm

Hi Nicholas, After step 7, when i enter username-password, it gives error telling that "The folder you entered does not appear to be valid. Please choose another." Same URL and same username/password works with Windows vista after applying the microsoft applied patch. Thats why the whole concern is. On lot of websites, i have found people suffering with this. Can you provide an update on why it happens or what to fix this.... thanks again.
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March 29th, 2010 2:47pm

I have the same symptoms when attempting to connect to an Apache-hosted WebDAV share using Windows 7. This same share was working fine in XP. It seems like a Windows 7 bug to me, or at least a feature degradation.
March 29th, 2010 5:46pm

Hi, Thank you for your updates. After researching, I would like to suggest you check the following: 1. The account you use has proper permission to access the WebDAV. 2. Please try to map the folder with the command “net use”: Net use * <URL> Please also refer to: Net use Hope this helps. Thanks. Nicholas Li - MSFT
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March 30th, 2010 5:43am

Hi, I tried using the steps suggested by you. But it does not work on Win7. The user has full access. Since user is admin and also, it works from other boxes so no doubt about permissions. About net use: When i run this command on Win7, it gives error. It Says: "System error 53 has occured. The network path was not found". e.g Let, my webdav server (running on linux behind apache) IP is 1.2.3.4 and location is "/loc/webdavServer", then i tried like this: net use \\1.2.3.4\loc\webdavServer ---> This gives that system error 53 as mentioned above. then i tried: net use * \\1.2.3.4\loc\webdavServer --> Same error. Then from Browser (IE8), i typed: http://1.2.3.4/loc/webdavServer ---> It asked for credentials and worked. Just to test it in WinXp, I ran net use command on WinXpSP3 command line, and then it asked for username/pwd. After that it said "The Command completed successfully". Does not it mean that, Win7 has stopped connecting to a webdav server. OR please tell me if i need to do something more to get it connected. I am ready to do all help to get it working. Please suggest some steps or if it is a bug, then Win7 should be releasing a patch as it was done for Vista (patch KB907306). thanks, Anil.
March 30th, 2010 8:02am

Hi, Please also try the following on the Windows 7 computer: 1. Click the Start Button, type "gpedit.msc" (without quotation marks) and click OK. 2. In the "Group Policy" window, double click on "Windows Settings" under "Computer Configuration". 3. Double click on "Security Settings"-> "Local Policies"-> "Security Options" 4. In the right panel, double click on the "Network Security: LAN Manager authentication level", please select "Send LM & NTLM Responses". 5. Click Apply and OK. Thanks. Nicholas Li - MSFT
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March 31st, 2010 10:30am

Tried this also Nicholas, But the behavior does not change even after changing the authentication level to 'Send LM & NTLM'. I restarted my Win7 box but It still says same system error 53 when i use 'net use' command and the webdav mapping to server also fails with same error as mentioned previous. In some forum, i read that Windows7 does not support Basic Authentication and it supports 'Digest Authentication', thats why these issues are coming. Is that correct? If yes, how to solve that. This was just one thought. You can still see/reccomend if some more changes need to be done to be able to connect. Thanks for the help till now. Expecting the reply. thanks, Anil.
March 31st, 2010 1:59pm

Hi Anil, I have done some researches and I would like to suggest you try adjusting the WebDAV related settings and see if it works: Some Info around WebDAV content access issues WebDAV Redirector Registry Settings Thank you for your efforts. Nicholas Li - MSFT
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April 1st, 2010 8:52am

I have to try the steps suggested by Nicholas. After that i will get back to this thread again. thanks
April 6th, 2010 1:30pm

Sorry to say but that also does not solve the problem on a Win7 box.I have done some more analysis of this problem: Above links ask to change the "Basic Authentication level'" on Windows 7 registry entry to 2 from default 1 so that it uses basic authentication 'with and without SSL' while connecting to a webdav server . I changed to 2. But then also same issue exists. When i enter the webdav url of my server, it says: "The folder you entered does not appear to be valid. Please choose another." One behavior that i want to point it is: If i start my webdav server URL with http://<IP>/alias, it does not ask for authentication and directly displays the above error. If i use https, then it prompts for credential twice and then throws this error without connecting. Then i tried putting network analyzer just to compare the behavior of Windows 7 and WinXp( where it is working). Following is the difference if i try connecting giving server URL as http://<IP>/alias1/alias2: (1) WinXP tries to send the request like this: PROPFIND /alias1/alias2 whereas WIn7 sends it like: OPTIONS /alias1/alias2. (2) Server sends back internal server error:500 on first attempt to WinXP. XP box retries 2-3 times by sending only alias1 and not alias2 and prompts for credentials and connect. Whereas Windows 7 gets Unauthorized : 401 error from server in first attempt. Then Win7 does not prompt for credential and again tries to connect to server by sending alias1. This time server sends internal server error:500. But then onwards the Windows7 box keeps quiet and throws this exception "The folder you entered does not appear to be valid.Please choose another". Please note that i had used http://<IP>alias1/alias2. As i said, if i use https:// it asks for credentials but does nothing. I suspect two things: first is about the difference in 'PROPFIND' and 'OPTIONS' and another is not prompting for credential and not retrying again. My server supports SSL connection and i have tested it on WinXP. It prompts me to accept server's certificate and works. So no doubt about SSL support from server. Can you please see if its really a problem with the way Win7 connects as webdav client. I am ready to do help if required, but this solution will help lot of people for sure. thanks again.
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April 7th, 2010 2:38pm

During my experiences extending from DOS to 95, 98, Win 2000, XP and windows 7. I found that any problems that had cropped up were always resolved is less than 2 hours. If any outside party's help is required, we can tack on a couple of hours more, at that point it would be within a half an hour to a resolution and a fix. I Spent a good 4 days on Windows 7 and found it was 90 % ok.\ But that 10% network problem prompt me to bring the Acer back and buy a Dell with a downgrade to Windows XP sp3. I rarely have an issue setting and resolving any of my personal troubleshooting problems. Windows 7 will not permit MAPPING an (http) website even though you have permissions to that site. "The folder you entered does not appear to be valid", error appears before the expected Login and Password requests ever pop up. I found and read about one solution and that was to run virtual Windows XP sp3; besides running Win 7 versions above the home primary. Why do this, when you can have the real thing? Unless you plan on helping troubleshooting Windows 7. I can wait for this Network problem to be resolved by 2014, when Windows XP sp3 is to be retired Newer does not mean better in this case. If I had foresight, I would lean to the belief that Microsoft is trying unorthodox techniques to plug up the security flaws in their Op systems. That may be the reason for a delay in response.
April 13th, 2010 7:39am

Thanks tommya, i would spend time on the suggestion by your post.Nicholas and all,Can we get the solution for this problem with Win7. You can see my answer on April 07, where i tried to compare the requests being sent by both winxp and win7 box.I would be glad to help further if required.thanks,Anil.
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April 16th, 2010 11:29am

Hi Anil, So....just maybe the VIsta KB patch will work on Win 7....? Sometimes the patches are not OS sensitised......and the difference between Vista and Win 7 at this level may not be significant. I have asked our Microsoft liason to take up the issue as it has serious implications for a critical project we are busy rolling-out.... :) Naafi
June 17th, 2010 12:05pm

Anil, Have you been able to resolve this? If so can you please share the solution. We are also facing the same problem. thanks.
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June 30th, 2010 6:53pm

Hi Anil, So....just maybe the VIsta KB patch will work on Win 7....? Sometimes the patches are not OS sensitised......and the difference between Vista and Win 7 at this level may not be significant. I have asked our Microsoft liason to take up the issue as it has serious implications for a critical project we are busy rolling-out.... :) Naafi Nope! The Vista patch does not work. It will install but does not make any difference. I too have the same problem/s - Either one of these: Connection to a web folder or web disk cannot be established or You can establish or you can setup a web folder but can only view folders in left panel and nothing on right panel. Webfolders/Webdav is definitely broken and using a third party solution such as Netdrive is NOT acceptable.
July 1st, 2010 1:36pm

After i did not get response for many days, i almost stopped visiting this link. BUT this problem is not yet resolved. I also agree that there are many other users who are facing the same issue. I again request microsoft to look into this as somewhat priority issue.
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July 7th, 2010 8:11am

Struggled with this issue for weeks, having tried all of the above based on other links and research. Best workaround I can find so far is BitKinex, a third-party client that "just works". It's at http://www.bitkinex.com/ . Too bad Microsoft broke the native WebDAV client. It has slowed down Windows 7 adoption.
July 19th, 2010 9:14pm

Struggled with this issue for weeks, having tried all of the above based on other links and research. Best workaround I can find so far is BitKinex, a third-party client that "just works". It's at http://www.bitkinex.com/ . Too bad Microsoft broke the native WebDAV client. It has slowed down Windows 7 adoption. Yup. BitKinex works like a charm. Microsoft should be ashamed that this is not fixed properly in the OS.
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April 13th, 2011 7:14pm

Hi Guys, Is this issue still on going as i am also experiencing this issue and would like to get the issue resolved without using 3rd party tools.
May 4th, 2011 8:14am

Cripeling the webclient for non-sharepoint webdav servers is the MSft way to protecting its sharepoint deployments (revenue). You won't find a MS solution anytime soon. Still waiting ...
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May 23rd, 2011 3:01pm

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