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Error message when you run the ipconfig /renew command on a Windows XP-based computer or on a Windows Server 2003-based computer: "The current directory is invalid"

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Symptoms

Consider the following scenario:
  • You log on to a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer or to a Microsoft Windows Server 2003-based computer by using a user account that has membership to the local computer administrator group.
  • The computer is a member of the Active Directory forest.
  • The root directory of the user account is mapped to a network path. For example, the root directory is mapped to the following network path:
    M: \\server\username$
In this scenario, when you open a Command Prompt window, "M" is the current directory. Additionally, when you run the ipconfig /release command followed by the ipconfig /renew command at the command prompt, you receive an error message that resembles the following:
The current directory is invalid.

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Cause

This problem occurs because the operating system no longer has a valid network connection when you release the IP address of the computer. Therefore, the mapped drive does not exist on the local computer.

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Workaround

To work around this problem, change the current directory to a local directory, and then run the ipconfig /release command. For example, change the current directory to C, and then run the ipconfig /release command.

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Status

This behavior is by design.

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References

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
257996 Error message "The current directory is invalid" in logon scripts with Windows 2000

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Keywords: kbnetwork, kbexpertisebeginner, kbexpertiseinter, kberrmsg, kbtshoot, KB922713

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Article Info
Article ID : 922713
Revision : 3
Created on : 7/24/2006
Published on : 7/24/2006
Exists online : False
Views : 1404