NAS Not Seen by Windows Explorer

I'm running Windows 7 Ultimate with a Cisco/Linksys Router and a D-Link DNS-321 NAS. There are three Windows 7 desktops on the network, plus printers, a scanner, etc. The three desktops have wired connections to the network, as does the NAS.

When using Windows Explorer (or clicking on the Network desktop icon) the three desktops show but the NAS does not. If I click "See full map" from the Network and Sharing Center, the NAS appears. Even odder is that when using XYplorer the NAS appears. LLTD is enabled on the NAS.

I have created a desktop shortcut for the NAS so I can now easily reach it, but when I'm in a program and need to drill through the network to get to the NAS, it's not showing. For example, my Acronis True Image backup program doesn't see it. I assume because it's "using" Windows Explorer for the drive tree.

I've looked at many possible solutions, both here at Seven Forums and all over the Internet. Nothing has worked. All ideas welcome. Thanks.

Here's the network as shown in Windows Explorer:


Here's the Network Map:


Here's the network showing in XYplorer:


And here it is when trying to set up a new backup job in Acronis True Image:

I should add that the other two desktop machines also exhibit the same behavior. IOW - they can't see the NAS from Windows Explorer.

Tried mapping the NAS as a network drive? Map Network Drive

GokAy said:

Tried mapping the NAS as a network drive? Map Network Drive

Yes and no. Pre-existing mappings to directories on the NAS are still accessible. But if I want to create a new one, I can't since the NAS isn't seen.

Tried entering the name directly instead of trying to browse? This should be enough normally:

Code:

\\1.2.3.4

Also, perhaps a service on your NAS is disabled/some setting unchecked etc. since common to all PCs is this device.

GokAy said:

Tried entering the name directly instead of trying to browse? This should be enough normally:

Code:

\\1.2.3.4

Also, perhaps a service on your NAS is disabled/some setting unchecked etc. since common to all PCs is this device.

Thanks, but still not getting to where I want to be. Using the IP address of the NAS, or its name (11-NAS) I can map additional directories. But that doesn't usually work when I'm in an application and drilling down to open or save a file such as a Word document.

I tend to agree with you regarding the issue being the NAS and not Windows, but as I stated in my first post " LLTD is enabled on the NAS." It had always been enabled, but one day while trying to figure out the cause of this issue, I noticed it was off. So I enabled it but it did not resolve the issue.

I am at a position now debating whether I understand your issue correctly.

If you can map a network drive (as in map it to a "drive letter" not to a folder), any/most modern applications should be able to see it under computer. At work I have a file server which is mapped to Z. MS Office files are as you would guess are majority of my files. No issues with working from the server. Mapping even works through the Internet.



You can modify and copy paste to Run (Win+R) this one. Will make the letter persistent.

Code:

net use Z: "\\1.2.3.4\MyShare" /persistent:yes

I wonder if your issue is due to using Network list. Anyway I notice in all your screenshots all you show is Network and not Computer. In Acronis, after mapping to a drive letter can you check under the computer icon "phred" (not the folder icon though) if you can see it?

By the way, there is one more common component we are missing, your switch/router. Check its settings in case something was changed.

Remember to not use A or B as drive letters (due to their traditional use for floppies some apps have issues).

There are about 12 folders on the NAS. Before the icon went missing from Windows Explorer I had mapped a -folder- to X: and a -folder- to Z:.

If I try to map the NAS to a drive letter (either by using its IP or its name) Windows throws a network error stating that it cannot access \\192.168.1.2 )or \\11-NAS.) If I tack on a -folder- to the address, it gets mapped - \\192.168.1.2\Pictures.

I just tried creating a desktop shortcut to the NAS using its IP address and it worked. So I now have the Network shortcut icon, which when opened shows only the three computers attached to the network, and a NAS shortcut icon, which when opened shows the folders on the NAS.

As for the pre-existing folders mapped to drive letters, they can be seen by any of the three computers on the network.

The problem with the MSO files on the network is that they're archival and are in a folder that hasn't been mapped previously. If/when I needed one of those files, I just drilled down to it and I had it. Now I can't drill down to them, nor can I set up a mapped drive letter to them.

I had previously gone through the configuration of the Router (Cisco-Linksys EA4500) and have done it again today. I'm finding nothing that would stop one IP address from showing up.

Lastly, I take back what I said earlier today about all things point to the NAS. If you look at the first screenshots, you'll see that the NAS shows up on both the Network Map, and in XYplorer. And that is common on all three machines. So I'm back to blaming Windows, which I admit is an easy target.

Thanks.