Attached network drive does not remember credentials so have to log in every time I boot up the machine even when I click the button to remember details.

Question

Using windows 7 I have a NAS drive that I need to manually log into everytime my machine us started up - I want it to remember the login details and do it automatically when the machine starts as my wife also uses it and I want the auto backup to run.

Answer 1

Use credential manager in Windows 7 to remember the username and password for your NAS Drive if it doesnt remember it automatically.

Go to Start / Control Panel / User Accounts and Family Safety / Credential Manager

On the right hand side, right below where it says "Windows Credentials" Select "Add a Windows Credential".

Enter your NAS' Server name in the first box.

User Name in the second box and your password for the server in the third box.

Answer 2

Hi red_shift,

Welcome to Microsoft Answers!

I would suggest you to check the options in settings.

If it is a mapped network drive, Please follow the steps below:

1.      Open Computer by clicking the Start button, and then clicking Computer.

2.      Click Map network drive.

3.      In the Drive list, click a drive letter.

You can choose any available letter.

4.      In the Folder box, type the path of the folder or computer, or click Browse to find the folder or computer.

To connect every time you log on to your computer, select the Reconnect at logon check box.

5.      Click Finish.

Your computer is now connected, or mapped, to the network drive.

For further information, visit the below mentioned link:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Create-a-shortcut-to-map-a-network-drive

Hope this information helped!

Thanks and regards

 Fouzan – Microsoft support

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Answer 3

Me to!

The solution simply doesn't work. Every time I reboot and open explorer the network drive has a red X over it - clicking brings up the login dialog clicking the "remember credentials" checkbox does not help - it always forgets. I am using a dlink NAS (dns-323) with latest firmware (i belief running some version of samba 3 internally).

Answer 4

Credentials for network drives are only remembered until the end of the user session. This means that you will be prompted again for credentials after a log off/login, sleep or restart operation. It is possible to save credentials in a sort of "credentials vault" starting in Windows XP.

In XP: To configure this option, you go in the control panel, and then in the section for user configuration (where you set password, profile pictures etc.) you select the user you wish to configure the vault for. On the left side, there should be a "manage your network passwords" link. This is where you will add the server along with the credentials. Important note: Disconnect and remap whatever mapped drive you have made. When you re-map do NOT click the "use different username" link, simply press "Finish".

Vista and 7: The option is also inside control panel's user section but it's now called "Credential Manager". Add a "Windows credential". Important note: Disconnect and remap whatever mapped drive you have made. When you re-map do NOT click the "use different username" link, simply press "Finish".

For Windows 2000 you will have to have the same username and password on both the NAS/Server and on your PC because there is no credentials manager.

I agree with everyone's frustrations; this is one of the unpolished edges of Windows.. Keep in mind though, it becomes hard to make everything perfect for every user scenario when there are requirements from so many stakeholders.

-Adam

Answer 5

I've tried everything, reconnect at log in, "login as some one else" using the right user name and password for the NAS, to batch files that set up the login and password for my NAS drive. This also happens with mapped network drives that are shared folders from other computer on the network. I've tried "sharecomputername\username"  and the appropriate password for the "reconnect as" option, and just "username" and the correct password. Regardless which one I set it up with, when I turn the PC on, I get the warning and the red X. I click on the drive and it prompts me "sharecomputername\username", but an empty password field and no option to remember it. I've seen this in vista and windows 7, all versions. I've seen this on several of my customers machines as well. This is your client not remembering the credentials you told it to save. There may be a registry fix for this and I'm looking into it. This is another example of "it's not broken because we say it's not". Well either it's broken, the interface is broken, or it's so incredibly counter intuitive that power users cannot figure it out.