Finding the physical local path associated with a Share UNC folder

When it comes to IT administration, one of the most common tasks is finding the physical local path associated with a share UNC folder. It is a task that needs to be done with great care and attention to detail, as any mistakes can cause serious problems.

The physical local path associated with a share UNC folder can be found in several ways. The most common and reliable way is to use the command prompt. The command line utility is available in both Windows and Linux operating systems. To use this method, open the command prompt and type \net use\ followed by the UNC path to the shared folder.

For example, if the UNC path is \\\\server\\share\\folder, then the command line would be:

net use \\\\server\\share\\folder

This will list the physical local path associated with the UNC share, which will be displayed as the \Local Name\ in the output.

Another way to find the physical local path associated with a share UNC folder is to use the Windows Registry. The registry contains all the information about the configuration of the computer and the applications installed on it. To access the registry, open the \Run\ dialog box and type \regedit.exe\ and press enter.

Once in the registry, navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\LanmanServer\\Shares

This key contains all the information about the shares in the computer. To find the physical local path associated with a share UNC folder, look for the \Path\ value in each of the shares. The value will contain the physical local path associated with the UNC folder.

Finally, the physical local path associated with a share UNC folder can be found using the Windows File Explorer. Right-click the UNC folder and select \Properties\. In the Properties window, select the \Sharing\ tab and then select \Advanced Sharing\. In the Advanced Sharing window, select the \Local Path\ option. This will display the physical local path associated with the UNC folder.

Finding the physical local path associated with a share UNC folder is an important part of IT administration. The methods described above are the most reliable ways to accomplish this task. It is important to take care when finding the path, as any mistakes can cause serious problems.