Active Directory Icon

When a Windows 2000 computer is part of an Active Directory domain there is an icon in My Network Places –> Entire network called Directory. This icon allows you to browse Active Directory. This icon is missing in Windows XP and 2003, but it can be restored!

On a Windows 2000 machine browse to C:\Winnt\System32 and locate dsfolder.dll. Copy this DLL to your XP or 2003 computer and place it in C:\Windows\System32. With the DLL copied over we must register it; from a command prompt run the following:

regsvr32 dsfolder.dll

The Directory icon will now appear in My Network Places –> Entire Network on your Windows XP or 2003 computer.

Reinstall TCP/IP

Using the netsh command we can quickly and easily rewrite the two registry keys:

HKLM\\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters
HKLM\\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\DHCP\Parameters

The command is a simple one and will create a log file for you to review, open up a command prompt and run:

netsh int ip reset c:\resettcpip.log

Preventing Disconnected Network Drives

1.Command line

net config server /autodisconnect:-1

This disables the autodisconnect “feature” and should be set on the server holding the share.

2.registry
Open up regedit and browse to:

HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters

Set the REG_DWORD value “autodisconnect” to HEX 0xffffffff. This will disable this feature. You could also specify a length of time before it disconnects. The dword value can be set anywhere from 1 to 65535 minutes.