Shell Does Not Open Links If Home Directory Is Unavailable

ID: Q222661

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When the Active Desktop Update component is installed, if the drive mapped to your home folder is unavailable, Control Panel tools, local shortcuts, and commands typed in the Open box may not work. Instead, you may receive the following error message:

Access to the specified device, path, or file is denied.


RESOLUTION

A supported fix that corrects this problem is now available from Microsoft, but it has not been fully regression tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. If you are not severely affected by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Internet Explorer service pack that contains this fix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp
The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

Date Time Version Size File name Platform
03/10/99 15:24 4.72.3515.1001 1,769,616 Shell32.dll x86



NOTE: If this product was already installed on your computer when you purchased it from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and you need this fix, please call the Pay Per Incident number listed on the above Web site. If you contact Microsoft to obtain this fix, and if it is determined that you only require the fix you requested, no fee will be charged. However, if you request additional technical support, and if your no-charge technical support period has expired, or if you are not eligible for standard no-charge technical support, you may be charged a non-refundable fee.

For more information about eligibility for no-charge technical support, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q154871 Determining If You Are Eligible for No-Charge Technical Support


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.


MORE INFORMATION

If the Active Desktop Update component is removed (not disabled), the error message does not occur. You can also log off and log back on. Or, you can stop the Explorer.exe process. When Explorer.exe restarts, the link works.

Additional query words: 


Keywords          : kberrmsg kbui msient 
Version           : WINDOWS:4.01 Service Pack 2
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: July 2, 1999