A drive is represented by a "?" character in Windows Explorer when you remove a removable storage drive or disconnect a network drive on a Windows XP-based computer

SYMPTOMS

After you remove a removable storage drive or disconnect a network drive on a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer, the drive may be represented by a "?" character in Windows Explorer.

CAUSE

This issue may occur in the following scenario:

1 – You open Windows Explorer in Folders view.

In the Windows Explorer folder list, a removable storage drive or a network drive is followed immediately by an empty CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.

2 – After you remove the removable storage drive from the computer, or after you disconnect the network drive by using the net use :x /delete command, the focus moves to the empty CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. Additionally, you receive the following message:

Please insert DISK to x: drive

3 - After you click Cancel in response to this message, the focus moves to the storage drive that you removed or to the network drive that you disconnected, and the drive is represented by a "?" character.

RESOLUTION

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Windows XP.

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Windows XP service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;%5Bln%5D;cntactms

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question. The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Date Time Version Size File name Platform ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20-Jan-2004 18:08 6.0.2800.1334 8,241,664 Shell32.dll x86 20-Jan-2004 18:08 5.1.2600.1331 680,448 Sxs.dll x86 19-Jan-2004 23:08 5.1.2600.1333 586,752 Xpsp2res.dll x86 20-Jan-2004 18:08 6.0.2800.1331 921,600 Comctl32.dll x86 20-Jan-2004 21:13 1,812 Controls.man x86 20-Jan-2004 21:13 621 Comctl.man x86 20-Jan-2004 17:52 6.0.2800.1334 14,372,864 Shell32.dll IA-64 20-Jan-2004 17:52 5.1.2600.1331 2,030,592 Sxs.dll IA-64 19-Jan-2004 23:08 5.1.2600.1333 586,240 Xpsp2res.dll IA-64 10-Jan-2004 11:54 6.0.2800.1331 2,639,872 Comctl32.dll IA-64

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section of this article. This problem was first corrected in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2.

APPLIES TO

. Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition

. Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

 © 2006 LBCI Corporation. All rights reserved Eng.Hanna Ata Lahoud