Script - How to check if a network path is available and then map it

Question

I would like an screen saver / logon script that checks if a network path is available and then map it to a unit. If it is not available it disconnects/don't connect.

Network path is \192.168.1.1\drive1

Also I need to use username/password to connect to that path.

Geoff · Answer 1 · 2013-05-22T12:55:16.177

19

You can use the exist command to check if the path is valid:

if exist \\192.168.1.1\drive1 net use s: \\192.168.1.1\drive1

If you need to provide credentials (i.e. your current Windows user doesn't have access to that share), add /user:

if exist \\192.168.1.1\drive1 net use s: \\192.168.1.1\drive1 /user:myDomain\myUser myPassword

If there's a chance that the share already exists, and you want to delete it if it's no longer available, add an else clause:

if exist \\192.168.1.1\drive1 (net use s: \\192.168.1.1\drive1) else (net use /delete s:)

And once again, add the /user if you need it.

You can tie this all together in a batch file similar to the following:

@echo off
if exist \\192.168.1.1\drive1 (set shareExists=1) else (set shareExists=0)
if exist y:\ (set driveExists=1) else (set driveExists=0)
if %shareExists%==1 if not %driveExists%==1 (net use y: \\192.168.1.1\drive1)
if %shareExists%==0 if %driveExists%==1 (net use /delete y:)
set driveExists=
set shareExists=

edited May 22 '13 at 12:55

answered May 21 '13 at 19:58

Geoff

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ok I am just pasting that in notepad and saving as .vbs but when I run a task of it it gives Visual basic error? – FernandoSBS May 21 '13 at 21:35
1

That command is a batch command - it should work from any standard batch file. – Geoff May 21 '13 at 22:28
C:\Windows>if exist \\192.168.1.1\volume1 (net use y: \\192.168.1.1\volume1 ) e lse (net use /delete y: ) The network connection could not be found. More help is available by typing NET HELPMSG 2250. – FernandoSBS May 21 '13 at 22:44
I'll add an edit... – Geoff May 22 '13 at 12:53
i'm sorry? (5 chars) – FernandoSBS May 22 '13 at 21:17
I added an extra piece to my answer - see the bottom batch file – Geoff May 22 '13 at 21:33
Would "if exist" also confirm if the shared network path is accessible or not? Similar to how one would manually click the link to make sure it isn't down? – BV45 Jul 16 '18 at 20:07
How to check the status of the mapped drive? It can be OK, Disconnected, Unavailable – Konstantin Glukhov Jul 08 '20 at 05:22
@user1602 That's a different issue - submit a new question, after searching to see if it has already been answered – Geoff Jul 13 '20 at 13:57

score 6 · Answer 2 · answered May 21 '13 at 19:31

6

Powershell would make this easy:

If(Test-Path \\192.168.1.1\Drive1)
  {
    net use M: \\192.168.1.1\Drive1 /user:Domain\UserName Password
  }
else {net use M: /delete > nul}

answered May 21 '13 at 19:31

Austin T French

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ok I am just pasting that in notepad and saving as .vbs but when I run a task of it it gives Visual basic error? – FernandoSBS May 21 '13 at 21:35
1

Save it as a .ps1 and run it from Powershell. – Austin T French May 21 '13 at 21:36
i'm not familiar with powershell, how can I automate it in Task Scheduler? – FernandoSBS May 21 '13 at 21:44
You should really split the 2 questions. This is a QA site. Also, google it if you have not already: https://www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_rn=14&gs_ri=psy-ab&gs_mss=powershell%20expon&tok=ZC9KtwzSzpRllIS9eJ8tKw&pq=powershell%20exponent%20operator&cp=14&gs_id=10h&xhr=t&q=schedule+a+powershell+script&es_nrs=true&pf=p&biw=1920&bih=924&sclient=psy-ab&oq=schedule+a+pow&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.46751780,d.aWc&fp=1b7792c0858b391 – Austin T French May 21 '13 at 21:47
ok got it. What the bonus of using powershell? – FernandoSBS May 21 '13 at 22:02
Can use the full .NET libraries, extensible through C#, can use native windows Commands... It has an ISE and IDEs through PowerGUI and others. Great syntax, automatic and explicit data types... In short it does ***everything*** – Austin T French May 21 '13 at 22:12
powershell.exe : File C:\windows\logon.ps1 cannot be loaded because the executi on of scripts is At line:1 char:11 + powershell <<<< -c c:\windows\logon.ps1 -verbose >> c:\windows\logon.txt 2>& 1 + CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (File C:\windows... of scripts is :String) [], RemoteException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : NativeCommandError disabled on this system. Please see "get-help about_signing" for more details. At line:1 char:21 + c:\windows\logon.ps1 <<<< -verbose + CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [], PSSecurityException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : RuntimeException – FernandoSBS May 21 '13 at 22:19
ok I've set the restriction off. now: net.exe : The network connection could not be found. At C:\Windows\logon.ps1:7 char:10 + else {net <<<< use Y: /delete} + CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (The network con...d not be found.:String) [], RemoteException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : NativeCommandError More help is available by typing NET HELPMSG 2250. – FernandoSBS May 21 '13 at 22:56
let us [continue this discussion in chat](http://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/8870/discussion-between-fernandosbs-and-athomsfere) – FernandoSBS May 21 '13 at 23:07

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered May 21 '13 at 18:55

0

It is just simplier to just try to map it using the Windows File explorer or using the net use command. Either it works or it doesn't.

answered May 21 '13 at 18:55

mdpc

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If it's available I want to be automatically connected when I logon / screen saver, if it's not then I want it removed from the mapped drives. So what you suggested is not an option. – FernandoSBS May 21 '13 at 19:20
I don't understand, it you issue a net use, if the command succeeds it will be connected. If the command fails, then it is removed from the mapped drives. Seems simple to me. – mdpc May 21 '13 at 19:47

score 0 · Answer 4 · edited May 05 '15 at 14:04

This is the final code:

function run{
net use
If(Test-Path \\192.168.1.1\volume1)
  {
    if (((New-Object System.IO.DriveInfo("Y:")).DriveType -ne "NoRootDirectory")) 
        {
            "already mounted and accessible"
        }
    else
        {
            net use Y: \\192.168.1.1\volume1
            "mounting"
        }
  }
else { 
    if (((New-Object System.IO.DriveInfo("Y:")).DriveType -ne "NoRootDirectory"))
        {
            net use Y: /delete
            "removing"
        }
}
exit 4
}

run

I use Test-Path \\192.168.1.1\volume1 as suggested to check if the network path is available and ((New-Object System.IO.DriveInfo("Y:")).DriveType -ne "NoRootDirectory") to check if the drive letter exists.

Script - How to check if a network path is available and then map it

4 Answers4