XP Network Drives Disconnect

arisler · 07-27-2005, 11:41 AM

I have WinXP Pro connected to a workgroup. Everyone is setup to backup their data to a mapped network drive. My network drive stays connected OK until I run NTBACKUP. After about 30 minutes into the backup process it fails with the following error:

Windows - Delayed Write Failed. Windows was unable to save all of the data... The data has been lost.

The network drives are all disconnected. I can double-click on them and they reconnect. A small backup file exists. I can write to the drive and I can delete it. I have full control admin privledges.

I have done some research and have found many people have a problem with XP autodisconnect. I tried the following:

quoted from http://www25.brinkster.com/ChicagoTech
Why some mapped network drives show a red x

"SYMPTOMS: You find that the network drive mapping may be disconnected after 15 minutes of inactivity and Windows Explorer may display a red "X" on the icon of the mapped drive. However, if you double-click it reconnects quickly.

RESOLUTION: by default, idle connections will be dropped after 15 minutes. To modify idle time, at a command prompt using net config server /autodisconnect: minutes. For example, to set the Autodisconnect value to 30 minutes, you would run the following command line: net config server /autodisconnect:30. If you would like to turn autodisconnect off, do net config server /autodisconnect:-1."

OK So I went to my command prompt and succesfully ran
net config server /autodisconnect:-1
but it did not help. NTBACKUP will not complete manually or scheduled.
All mapped network drives disconnect.

Any help on this is greatly appreciated.

**johnwill** · 07-27-2005, 05:32 PM

You have a different problem, since the connection is active when your connection dies. I've had that problem and traced it to either a NIC or drivers on the target (server) machine. What are the specs of each machine in the mix?

arisler · 07-29-2005, 03:57 PM

The Server is a Dell PowerEdge 4400 with Intel 8255x based PCI Ethernet Adapter 10/100.

The PC is a new Dell Latitude D800 with Broadcom 570x Gigabit Integrated Controller locked at 10 mbps full duplex.

I successfully performed a manual backup using NTBACKUP to a mapped network drive. Takes about 60 minutes. I was also able to perform a automatic backup to my D drive hard disk partition. I was also able to copy and paste the backup.bkf file from D: to I: (Mapped network drive). But the scheduled back-up failed and the mapped network drive disconnected.

**johnwill** · 07-29-2005, 04:36 PM

It's odd that the same operation would fail at one time, yet succeed when manually started. Can you identify anything unique that's happening at either time that might affect the process?

Just out of curiousity, why is the NIC locked at 10mbit?

arisler · 08-03-2005, 07:35 AM

I can not ID anything different between the two processes. I found an excellent FREEWARE program to take care of the scheduled backup, SyncBack, and it works with no problem. The only thing that I can say conclusively is that NTBACKUP is unreliable. You may think it is working even when it is not.

I have noticed with the new Dell PCs that the AUTO setting for the NIC speed control often causes poor network performance. That is why I have it set for 10.

**johnwill** · 08-03-2005, 05:50 PM

I don't use NTBACKUP, because I've always thought of it as very limited. Apparently, I'm right!

07-27-2005, 11:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
arisler Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3 OS: xp	XP Network Drives Disconnect I have WinXP Pro connected to a workgroup. Everyone is setup to backup their data to a mapped network drive. My network drive stays connected OK until I run NTBACKUP. After about 30 minutes into the backup process it fails with the following error: Windows - Delayed Write Failed. Windows was unable to save all of the data... The data has been lost. The network drives are all disconnected. I can double-click on them and they reconnect. A small backup file exists. I can write to the drive and I can delete it. I have full control admin privledges. I have done some research and have found many people have a problem with XP autodisconnect. I tried the following: quoted from http://www25.brinkster.com/ChicagoTech Why some mapped network drives show a red x "SYMPTOMS: You find that the network drive mapping may be disconnected after 15 minutes of inactivity and Windows Explorer may display a red "X" on the icon of the mapped drive. However, if you double-click it reconnects quickly. RESOLUTION: by default, idle connections will be dropped after 15 minutes. To modify idle time, at a command prompt using net config server /autodisconnect: minutes. For example, to set the Autodisconnect value to 30 minutes, you would run the following command line: net config server /autodisconnect:30. If you would like to turn autodisconnect off, do net config server /autodisconnect:-1." OK So I went to my command prompt and succesfully ran net config server /autodisconnect:-1 but it did not help. NTBACKUP will not complete manually or scheduled. All mapped network drives disconnect. Any help on this is greatly appreciated.

07-27-2005, 05:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,787 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	You have a different problem, since the connection is active when your connection dies. I've had that problem and traced it to either a NIC or drivers on the target (server) machine. What are the specs of each machine in the mix? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

07-29-2005, 03:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
arisler Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3 OS: xp	Specs The Server is a Dell PowerEdge 4400 with Intel 8255x based PCI Ethernet Adapter 10/100. The PC is a new Dell Latitude D800 with Broadcom 570x Gigabit Integrated Controller locked at 10 mbps full duplex. I successfully performed a manual backup using NTBACKUP to a mapped network drive. Takes about 60 minutes. I was also able to perform a automatic backup to my D drive hard disk partition. I was also able to copy and paste the backup.bkf file from D: to I: (Mapped network drive). But the scheduled back-up failed and the mapped network drive disconnected.

07-29-2005, 04:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,787 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	It's odd that the same operation would fail at one time, yet succeed when manually started. Can you identify anything unique that's happening at either time that might affect the process? Just out of curiousity, why is the NIC locked at 10mbit? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

08-03-2005, 07:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
arisler Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3 OS: xp	Ntbackup I can not ID anything different between the two processes. I found an excellent FREEWARE program to take care of the scheduled backup, SyncBack, and it works with no problem. The only thing that I can say conclusively is that NTBACKUP is unreliable. You may think it is working even when it is not. I have noticed with the new Dell PCs that the AUTO setting for the NIC speed control often causes poor network performance. That is why I have it set for 10.

08-03-2005, 05:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,787 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	I don't use NTBACKUP, because I've always thought of it as very limited. Apparently, I'm right! __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience