how2nw03.htm

How to restore a network connection

Scenario: Your computer says something like, "Unable to find working folder" when you click on a desktop shortcut.

1. Close whatever is on the screen to get back to your normal desktop.
2. RIGHT-click on the shortcut that's not working, then choose the PROPERTIES selection.
3. Check the SHORTCUT tab and read what the "target" line is. It may be called "command line" instead. In particular, look at how the line begins. If it begins with a letter, such as P: then you have to recreate a network drive P: on your computer. If it begins with something like \\SERVER then you have to connect to a computer called SERVER. The process of connecting your computer to another computer's resource on the network is called "mapping."
4. Close the properties window to get back to the desktop.
5. Click START - HELP
6. Use the built-in Windows help system to find information about "mapping network connections." The handiest portion of the help system is the INDEX. You can type the key word MAP into the index's search box. Then scroll down the list for something that resembled "mapping a network drive." You could try other key words such as DRIVE or NETWORK and find it that way, too. Another handy key word is WIZARD. Windows includes several wizards that lead you through many normal day-to-day procedures; mapping network drives is just one of them.

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