I have a drive on a USB port on my router, but I can't map it as a network drive.

Question

I recently upgraded my Asus router. The previous Asus router had a hard drive plugged in on a USB port, and I was able to map that drive and access it. When I try to map the drive as mounted on the new router by selecting a shared folder under the Network in Windows File Explorer, I get an error message "Windows cannot access \RT-BE386U"

I am able to log in to the router from my browser, and the router software does display and correctly identify the hard drive. I have also connected the drive directly to my laptop and confirmed that it is readable. I've also formatted and connected a second drive to the USB port on the router as a test. Same results.

I have enabled "SMB 1.0/CIFS Client." Actually tried it both ways; no change.

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Answer 1

Hi RFinPRC,
Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. I'm happy to help.

Please refer to this official ASUS article to setup your Router: [Wireless Router] How to set up Media Services and Servers- Network Place (Samba) Share/ Cloud Disk?.

Please notice that in Step 4, please don't enable Allow guest login because from Windows 11 24H2 - as a security enhancement - you cannot access shared location as guest, therefore Windows will deny such action. So, it's better to access SMB shared location with User name and Password.

Disclaimer: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate and safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

Please also notice that if you cannot access shared location with their name \\RT-BE386U, you may use its local IP instead, example \\192.168.1.1 - using IP is also more reliable.

You also may need to clear cache credentials by open Credential Manager > Windows Credentials > look for credentials that related to SMB under Windows Credentials section > Remove.

I hope that above information is helpful to you.

If you have further questions, please feel free to let me know.

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Answer 2

It sounds like you're encountering issues accessing the USB drive connected to your Asus router. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Check Network Discovery and File Sharing Settings: Ensure that network discovery and file sharing are enabled on your Windows machine. You can do this by going to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Advanced sharing settings. Make sure both options are turned on.
2. Verify SMB Settings: Since you've already enabled SMB 1.0/CIFS Client, ensure that the SMB protocol is also enabled on the router. Some routers have settings for SMB that need to be configured.
3. Use Command Prompt: Instead of mapping the drive through File Explorer, try using the Command Prompt. Open Command Prompt and use the following command:

      net use Z: \\RT-BE386U\<ShareName>
   

   Replace <ShareName> with the actual name of the shared folder on the router.
4. Check Router Configuration: Log into your router's web interface and ensure that the USB sharing settings are correctly configured. Look for any settings related to file sharing or SMB.
5. Firewall Settings: Ensure that any firewall on your computer is not blocking access to the router. You may need to temporarily disable the firewall to test if this is the issue.
6. Update Router Firmware: Check if there is a firmware update available for your Asus router. Sometimes, issues with network sharing can be resolved with a firmware update.
7. Restart Devices: Restart both your router and your computer to refresh the network connections.

If you continue to experience issues after trying these steps, it may be helpful to consult the router's manual or Asus support for further assistance.

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References:

• Can't access shared folders from File Explorer in Windows 10
• Mapped drive connection to network share may be lost

Answer 3

How is <ShareName> defined?

Answer 4

Hello,

There might be a setting in the router itself that's preventing connection to the USB drive, check your router's manual that it came with or download it from the website.

Let me know how it goes,

JC

Answer 5

Can you give me the model number? We might be able to find something if we search up the model number to see how other forumposters are using the same model of router