Cannot open file from shared folder on network server

If you attempt to open a file on a network server in the Microsoft Office 2000 programs listed at the beginning of this article, you may not be able to access the share and the directories or files it contains. You may also receive the following error message:
where <server name> is the name of the server, <share name> is the name of the share on the server, and <file name> is the name of the file you are attempting to open.

This problem occurs if the name of the directory that is shared on the server (not the name of the share) and the label of the network drive that contains the directory are the same. This problem will also occur when you access the share in question through another, larger share.

For example, assume that you have a server named Adastra. It contains a single drive C that is labeled "Alpha". The server also contains the following directories with the following share names:
Assume that there is a file called Test.xls in the C:\Alpha directory.

Note that the label for drive C and the directory being shared are both named "Alpha".

If you attempt to open \\Adastra\Zulu\Book1.xls, you will receive the error message previously described. If you attempt to open \\Adastra\Yankee\Alpha\Test.xls, you will also receive the error message.

To work around this problem, use one of the following methods:

Method 1: Change The Label of the Drive on the Server

To change the label of the drive on the server, follow these steps:

1. Double-click the My Computer icon on the Desktop.
2. In the list of drives, right-click the icon for the drive that has the label you want to change. On the menu, click Properties.
3. Click the General tab.
4. In the Label box, type a different name for the label.
5. Click OK.

Method 2: Change The Name of The Directory That is Shared on the Server

To change the name of the directory that is shared on the server, follow these steps:

1. Use the Windows Explorer to locate the directory that you are sharing.
2. Right-click the directory name. On the menu, click Rename.
3. Type a new name for the directory. Press Enter. Click Yes when you are prompted to continue.
4. Right-click the directory name. On the menu, click Sharing.
5. Click Shared As and set other sharing options as required. Click OK when you are done.

In most cases, the first method (changing the drive label) is the easiest solution, because it should not affect how programs operate. Renaming a directory may require you to reinstall programs that use the directory in question.

The label of a drive is simply the name of the disk. The label can contain up to eleven characters. In general, most programs are not impacted by the drive label, so changing a label usually does not cause problems when you use programs.