Can't add folder on network share to library

[jessicah]

Hi,

How can I add a folder on a network share to my library? I get an error saying that the network share needs to be indexed. But I can't find a way to turn this on.

I'm on a domain, and I have my home drive (H, and I want the folder inside called Documents added to my library (and then set as default save location).

Thanks,

Jessica

 

[Airbot]

Hi jessicah and welcome,

Here is a tutorial on how to use the indexing. It's the same for 7 as well as Vista pretty much.
Indexing Options - Vista Forums

 

[jessicah]

So the answer is no? I've used those options, and it doesn't have my network drive listed as a possible location even after clicking the show all locations button.

Which then makes the libraries feature damn useless in my work environment.

 

[Barman58]

Hello jessicah,

one way that may work, not tried yet so not sure.

If you create a shortcut to the remote folder and set it that the contents be available off-line, there is an option in the indexing options to index off-line files.

just an idea

 

[racook2]

So the answer is no? I've used those options, and it doesn't have my network drive listed as a possible location even after clicking the show all locations button.

Which then makes the libraries feature damn useless in my work environment.

I assume all your sharing is turned on of course... I mapped my network locations. Have you done this?

I am doing this using my music folder, which is on a networked drive... and works flawlessly...

Let us know if you have done this and are still getting that error

 

[jessicah]

I have mapped the network shares. When I try add the share using the mapped drive from the Add Folder dialog for include in library, it says that it can't be added because it's not indexed.

So I go to the indexing options, to try make it index my mapped drive, and there's no option. Do I need to use a UNC path instead? The Windows 7 Help was next to useless.

Also to note is that my network location is Domain. Not Home, Work, or Public.

 

[tables]

I am stumped on this issue too - gonna try installing Windows Search 4 on the host server (I read somewhere else that this worked for a few users, though not all).

 

[racook2]

I have mapped the network shares. When I try add the share using the mapped drive from the Add Folder dialog for include in library, it says that it can't be added because it's not indexed.

So I go to the indexing options, to try make it index my mapped drive, and there's no option. Do I need to use a UNC path instead? The Windows 7 Help was next to useless.

Also to note is that my network location is Domain. Not Home, Work, or Public.

Well, I have alot of questions about this senario... to start. Are you the adminstrator of your domain, or are your privideges limited? This could potentially be the issue if not.

Is this a home or work environment? I assume work since you are using a domain...? But you mention a H drive for home? If home, I have to ask why go through all the trouble of a domain? I guess you have valid reasons...

Could you index those folders from a previous install of Vista?

I assume you had your documents location pointed to that H folder on a previous vista install?

If you are the administrator, can you change the network type to home and see if it allows you to index? This could at least narrow down the problem to the domain if so...

Lots of questions...

 

[dstruct2k]

I have the same issue in a non-domain environment, the domain isn't the issue. I have Windows Server 2003 on my network server with multiple shared folders that I have full read-write-admin access to. I'm unable to add them to Libraries due to them being "non-indexed".

I've tried mapping the shares to drives and adding them that way, still no go. On Server 2003, the indexing service is enabled and has the shared folders set the have their own indexes and also the standard "whole-drive" index.

I can map the drives and access them fine with mapped drive letters or with UNC paths. I even have one of the UNC paths set in iTunes as the music library folder and iTunes has no trouble moving files around or changing tags, so it's not a write-access issue.

Is Server 2003 even capable of generating the type of indexes Seven is looking for?

 

[Digger]

first i'd like to know if this is x86 or x64 ?

are drives NTFS/FAT32... i assume NTFS

Other than setting up the sharing on the computer with the shared drive in question, and both are pc's are on the same home network, and running win 7.... I have failed to recreate your problem. Success here everytime.

To add to library just pull up library in explorer add library. Go to properties and then "include a folder", navigate to folder, apply and voila. is this where you are having the index error problem?

also was able to map network drive..... all of this done without ever enabling the index...

some more detailed info would help some... like installed apps, firewalls ect... only thing i can think of other than some other customization that could have given you some problem

 

[dstruct2k]

Windows Server 2003 - x86
Windows Seven - x86 / x64 (I've tried this on both)

Every hard drive in my hosue is NTFS.

I'm not sharing from Seven to Seven, I'm sure that would work just fine. I'm sharing from Server 2003 to Seven.

 

[Digger]

the only thing i can think of now is something blocking the action or request on the network. Referring to possibly upnp. First i would test x86 to x86, then go on to the x64. If you have a firewall/network/router log, you can view this instance. If not mistaken i believe the broadcast for upnp is 239.255.255.250 i believe... with it hitting on the udp port of 1900.. if blocked it will continue to look for the next port open ie; 1901, 1902 so on.

No need to forward any port on router if NAT and have upnp, just have to make sure everyone is speaking same language on the network to find one another... no more netbios type days... just a thought

 

[Pit]

There is one way to get around this:

1. open regedit (as administrator)
2. go to HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/ShellFolders
3. Change the Documents, Videos, Music, and Pictures entries to the network drive
4. go to HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/UserShellFolders
5. Change the Documents, Videos, Music, and Pictures entries to the network drive
6. close regedit
7. open regedit (as current user)
8. go to HKCU/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/ShellFolders
9. Change the Documents, Videos, Music, and Pictures entries to the network drive
10. go to HKCU/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/UserShellFolders
11. Change the Documents, Videos, Music, and Pictures entries to the network drive
12. close regedit
13. log out and log in again

Windows has now redirected it's standard folders to the network drive. Afterwards you see the network shares in the libraries and you are able to add the local (e.g. c folders into the library again.

Hope that helps!

 

[Barman58]

Hi,

Recently came across a possible solution to this problem

Apparently this indexing error is caused due to the fact that the data is not indexed with Search 4.0 on the shared device. Updating the sharing device to run Search 4 - available for XP and Vista (and part of SP2), and Server 2003 - should stop this error and allow the share to be added to the library.

Hope this may help

 

[LoaVeve]

the registry hack worked beautifully for me, nice!

 

[mewood]

Alternative Way

If you do not want to edit the registry, another work around is to browse to the My Documents folder "C:\Users\%username%\". Then you can go to the properties of the folder and select the location tab and move the folder just as it worked in Vista.

 

[CBR]

Hi,

Recently came across a possible solution to this problem

Apparently this indexing error is caused due to the fact that the data is not indexed with Search 4.0 on the shared device. Updating the sharing device to run Search 4 - available for XP and Vista (and part of SP2), and Server 2003 - should stop this error and allow the share to be added to the library.

Hope this may help

This did the trick for me.
I installed Windows Search on the Windows 2003 Server and now I can include libraries and search from Windows Seven

 

[jimbo45]

Sharing Libraries on a Network is a Horrible dog --you can't share libraries in the normal sense of sharing since windows explorer doesn't have the options to do it.

(an exception for some reason I can't fathom is that a library in Windows Media Player can be shared - but this is no good if you want to share documents / data etc etc).

On Windows 7 Networked machines a library (or libraries) CAN be shared but only if the computers are
1) Running Windows 7
2) Part of the same HOMEGROUP (and you can only have 1 home group on a Home network).

For non Home networks -- you are stymied -- this could have been a really useful feature for corporate networks -- groups of shared libraries based on project groups etc. Microsoft missed this one even though the actual concept of a Library was OK.

To add "networked folders" to a library then these folders (on your network) must be Indexed and shared.

What happens however in the case of these "shared folders" being moved or deleted when you are offline I don't know. Does your Library show "Can't find the data" or will it automatically update the library contents when you are online again and have access to the network drives.

When I was browsing the the W7 "Pre-amble" way back at build 7000 I read with interest about the Library feature.

Originally sounded great -- but the more I get into it I'm beginning to find that unless your entire Network is running W7 the feature is only of use for small home ("mom and pop") type networks and is in no way of any use in a corporate environment.

Search version 4 on non Windows 7 machines allows the non W7 machines to add their folders to a library but still doesn't solve the problem of wanting to share the library AS A LIBRARY on networked machines.

We shouldn't also have to use Registry hacks for thiis either.

I still believe that USERS who are the OWNERS of data should be able to arrange SIMPLY who has access to it -- and I'm afraid in a typical office environment most users certainly won't be able to mess around with the registry - especially on Networked computers.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Digger]

On Windows 7 Networked machines a library (or libraries) CAN be shared but only if the computers are
1) Running Windows 7
2) Part of the same HOMEGROUP (and you can only have 1 home group on a Home network).



To add "networked folders" to a library then these folders (on your network) must be Indexed and shared.

What happens however in the case of these "shared folders" being moved or deleted when you are offline I don't know. Does your Library show "Can't find the data" or will it automatically update the library contents when you are online again and have access to the network drives.

When I was browsing the the W7 "Pre-amble" way back at build 7000 I read with interest about the Library feature.

Originally sounded great -- but the more I get into it I'm beginning to find that unless your entire Network is running W7 the feature is only of use for small home ("mom and pop") type networks and is in no way of any use in a corporate environment.

Search version 4 on non Windows 7 machines allows the non W7 machines to add their folders to a library but still doesn't solve the problem of wanting to share the library AS A LIBRARY on networked machines.

We shouldn't also have to use Registry hacks for thiis either.

I still believe that USERS who are the OWNERS of data should be able to arrange SIMPLY who has access to it -- and I'm afraid in a typical office environment most users certainly won't be able to mess around with the registry - especially on Networked computers.

Cheers
jimbo

1. Thats the only complaint jimbo, the backwards comp and non use of library with a non 7 pc, but can still share, and those shares will be pass protected for read/list access, atleast. I understand you there, but there wont be any kind of fix.... its trying to re-fit a deisel engine to be a hybrid, in a way.

2. About your offline files. Well this would be the case if you were using 7 or not. If you had shares, and then move them, they wont be shared anymore then, nothing has changed with that. Thought you were on the right understanding of this already.:shock:

3. Why couldnt this be of use in corporate environment? You can set up libraries with specific share priv setup. Either Everyone in Homegroup or specific ppl. This takes away the step of either hiding documents/drives, pass protecting folders. Also with libraries, info and files can be shared thru public docs, rather than having ONE drive dedicated to network public sharing. Without having to setup special privs for a certain document, like read only. Lets say you have 5 departements in the office. I have docs i just want to share with my OWN department and not the rest of the office. I can do that within 7, simple, faster, and more secure.

why do you say owners of a document cant specify who has access? Share with? advanced sharing?


Not sure what this talk is about only having one homegroup per network. I created two, by accident, when i first installed 7 on the network here, no problems or prompts.

 

[kappen]

Im having the same problems here.

I'm using a Linux server with Samba to share my things here.

I mapped every drive, but can't add them to the library unless i have indexed them using "always available offline". I am using a server, because i DONT want to have the files locally?!

So I guess the library is not for summarizing my data in a virtual folder (eg i could have all my mp3s in the folder music - the ones from server and the local ones), but for something else? Only working with index? Strange in a way, isnt it? Wouldn't it be simple to add several folders to this "folder" and then using it as usual (but all my files togehter). And when the server disappears, the data is simply not available or even better not visible?!

Best regards,
kappen

edit:
how the hell can i reassign the right icons for the folders on the mapped net drive

edit2:
i tried the regedit keys, but now the folder are there twice..... And the are listed in the library now.
The whole thing makes no sense. It's more complicated than before i think.

I will leave the library and work with favorites though i was so happy seeing the new features working