The Problem:

Users of Windows 24H2 have reported issues where the network mapping feature fails to open. This issue prevents users from viewing and interacting with network devices and shared resources through the Windows Explorer interface. The problem can disrupt workflows, especially in environments that rely on networked resources.

Problem Analysis:

The symptoms of this issue include an unresponsive network mapping window, error messages when attempting to access network mapping, or the feature not launching at all. The problem may have started after a recent update to Windows 24H2 or changes in network settings. Users might notice that while other network functionalities remain intact, the specific feature of mapping network drives or viewing network topology is impaired.

Root Cause:

The root cause of this problem is often linked to changes in network configuration settings or conflicts with recent Windows updates. These updates might alter network-related services or modify registry entries essential for network mapping. Additionally, network discovery settings might be disabled, or there could be issues with the Function Discovery Resource Publication service, which is crucial for network mapping.

Solution:

To resolve the network mapping issue in Windows 24H2, follow these steps:

1. Check Network Discovery Settings:

• Open the Control Panel and navigate to "Network and Sharing Centre."


• Click on "Change advanced sharing settings."


• Ensure that "Turn on network discovery" and "Turn on file and printer sharing" are selected.


• Save changes and try accessing network mapping again.

2. Verify and Restart Services:

• Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.


• Locate the following services:
  
  
  
  • Function Discovery Resource Publication
  
  
  • SSDP Discovery
  
  
  • UPnP Device Host
  
  


• Ensure these services are set to "Automatic" and are running. If not, right-click each service, select "Properties," set the Startup type to "Automatic," and click "Start."

3. Modify Registry Settings:

• Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.


• Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters.


• Look for a key named AutoShareWks. If it does not exist, create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value with this name.


• Set the value of AutoShareWks to 1.


• Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

4. Check for Windows Updates:

• Go to "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Windows Update."


• Click on "Check for updates" and install any available updates.


• Restart your computer after updates are installed.

5. Use Command Prompt for Network Reset:

• Open Command Prompt as an administrator.


• Execute the following commands one by one:
  

   netsh int ip reset
  
   netsh advfirewall reset
  
   netsh winsock reset
  
   ipconfig /flushdns



• Restart your computer and check if the network mapping issue is resolved.

By following these steps, users should be able to restore the network mapping functionality in Windows 24H2.