Script to remap current network drive?

How to Remap a Network Drive Using Batch Files and VBScript

Learn various methods to remap network drives on Windows, including robust batch scripts and VBScript solutions for persistent and dynamic mapping.

Network drives are essential for accessing shared resources in many environments. However, they can sometimes become disconnected or require remapping due to network changes, server reconfigurations, or user profile issues. This article provides comprehensive solutions using batch files and VBScript to effectively remap network drives, ensuring reliable access to your shared folders. We'll cover basic remapping, handling existing connections, and creating persistent mappings.

Understanding Network Drive Mapping

Network drive mapping involves assigning a local drive letter to a shared network resource (e.g., \\server\share). This makes it easier to access files and folders on the network as if they were stored locally. When a drive needs to be 'remapped,' it typically means disconnecting an existing mapping and then re-establishing it, often with updated parameters or to resolve connectivity issues. The NET USE command is the primary tool in Windows for managing network drive connections.

flowchart TD
    A[Start Remap Process] --> B{Is Drive Already Mapped?}
    B -->|Yes| C[Disconnect Existing Drive]
    C --> D[Attempt New Mapping]
    B -->|No| D[Attempt New Mapping]
    D --> E{Mapping Successful?}
    E -->|Yes| F[End: Drive Remapped]
    E -->|No| G[End: Mapping Failed, Check Logs]

Workflow for remapping a network drive

Method 1: Basic Batch File Remapping

The simplest way to remap a network drive is to use a batch file that first disconnects the drive and then reconnects it. This method is straightforward and effective for most basic scenarios. You'll use the NET USE command with the /DELETE switch to remove the existing mapping and then without it to establish a new one. This approach is ideal for scripts run at login or as part of a system maintenance routine.

@echo off

REM Define variables
SET "DRIVE_LETTER=Z:"
SET "NETWORK_PATH=\\YourServer\YourShare"
SET "USERNAME=YourDomain\YourUser"
SET "PASSWORD=YourPassword"

REM Disconnect existing drive mapping (if any)
NET USE %DRIVE_LETTER% /DELETE /Y >NUL 2>&1

REM Map the network drive with credentials
NET USE %DRIVE_LETTER% %NETWORK_PATH% %PASSWORD% /USER:%USERNAME% /PERSISTENT:NO

IF %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 0 (
    echo Successfully remapped %DRIVE_LETTER% to %NETWORK_PATH%
) ELSE (
    echo Failed to remap %DRIVE_LETTER%. Error code: %ERRORLEVEL%
)

pause

Basic batch script to remap a network drive

Method 2: Robust Remapping with VBScript

VBScript offers more control and flexibility than batch files, especially when dealing with user interaction, error handling, and more complex logic. Using the WScript.Network object, you can programmatically manage network drive connections. This method is particularly useful for creating persistent mappings or when you need to dynamically determine drive letters or network paths. VBScript can also hide the password from plain sight, making it slightly more secure than a batch file for credentialed mappings.

Dim objNetwork, strDriveLetter, strNetworkPath, strUserName, strPassword

' --- Configuration ---
strDriveLetter = "Y:"
strNetworkPath = "\\AnotherServer\AnotherShare"
strUserName = "YourDomain\YourUser"
strPassword = "YourPassword"
' ---------------------

Set objNetwork = CreateObject("WScript.Network")

On Error Resume Next

' Disconnect existing drive mapping
objNetwork.RemoveNetworkDrive strDriveLetter, True, True

' Check for errors during disconnection
If Err.Number <> 0 Then
    ' Error 2147024894 (0x80070002) means drive not found, which is fine for deletion
    If Err.Number <> -2147024894 Then
        WScript.Echo "Error disconnecting drive " & strDriveLetter & ": " & Err.Description
        Err.Clear
    End If
End If

Err.Clear ' Clear any previous errors

' Map the network drive
objNetwork.MapNetworkDrive strDriveLetter, strNetworkPath, False, strUserName, strPassword

' Check for errors during mapping
If Err.Number <> 0 Then
    WScript.Echo "Error mapping drive " & strDriveLetter & ": " & Err.Description
Else
    WScript.Echo "Successfully remapped " & strDriveLetter & " to " & strNetworkPath
End If

Set objNetwork = Nothing

VBScript to remap a network drive with error handling

Method 3: Remapping with Dynamic Drive Letter Assignment

In some scenarios, you might not want to hardcode a specific drive letter. You can modify the VBScript to find the next available drive letter and use that for mapping. This adds flexibility, especially in environments where drive letter assignments can vary or are limited. This example demonstrates how to iterate through potential drive letters and select the first available one.

Dim objNetwork, strNetworkPath, strUserName, strPassword
Dim strDriveLetter, i, bDriveFound

' --- Configuration ---
strNetworkPath = "\\YourServer\YourShare"
strUserName = "YourDomain\YourUser"
strPassword = "YourPassword"
' ---------------------

Set objNetwork = CreateObject("WScript.Network")

bDriveFound = False

' Iterate through possible drive letters (Z: down to E:)
For i = Asc("Z") To Asc("E") Step -1
    strDriveLetter = Chr(i) & ":"
    On Error Resume Next
    objNetwork.RemoveNetworkDrive strDriveLetter, True, True ' Attempt to remove if already mapped
    If Err.Number = 0 Or Err.Number = -2147024894 Then ' 0 = success, -2147024894 = drive not found
        Err.Clear
        ' Try to map the drive
        objNetwork.MapNetworkDrive strDriveLetter, strNetworkPath, False, strUserName, strPassword
        If Err.Number = 0 Then
            WScript.Echo "Successfully remapped " & strDriveLetter & " to " & strNetworkPath
            bDriveFound = True
            Exit For
        Else
            ' Drive letter might be in use by something else, clear error and try next
            Err.Clear
        End If
    End If
Next

If Not bDriveFound Then
    WScript.Echo "Failed to find an available drive letter or remap " & strNetworkPath
End If

Set objNetwork = Nothing

VBScript to remap using the first available drive letter