Password Cache Not Used with UNC File Access

 Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
Article ID: Q90482
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

Windows for Workgroups allows files to be accessed by using a Universal Naming Connection (UNC). When you access a file using this method, the Windows for Workgroups password cache file is not used.

For example:

  1. You connected to \\SERVER\SHARE, and provided a password. The password is stored in your password cache file.

  2. You reconnect to \\SERVER\SHARE and the password is provided by the password cache file. You are not prompted to enter a password.

  3. In the Microsoft Write File Open dialog box, you open the file README.TXT on that server by typing 

           \\server\share\readme.txt

    where "server" is your server, and "share" is your share.

    This causes Windows for Workgroups to prompt you for a password even though it is in the password cache file.

MORE INFORMATION

This behavior is caused by Windows use of MS-DOS file management. Due to the nonreentrant nature of MS-DOS, Windows for Workgroups is unable to open the password cache file because it is in the process of opening the file specified in the UNC.

KBCategory: kbnetwork kbusage
KBSubcategory: wfw wfwg
Additional reference words: 3.10 name naming 3.11

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Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
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