script to map network drive

Question

I want to be able to connect to a (wifi) network hard drive from my laptop, but only occasionally. If I use the "Map a network drive" command in WinXP explorer, I have to put in the drive's IP address and name, then the router name and its password. Too much to remember!

I'm looking for a way of scripting this activity (in any language), something like:

map Z: \\10.0.1.1\DRIVENAME "ROUTERNAME\PW"

I don't particularly care what language the script is written in. BTW, I'm aware of the DOS 'subst' command, but I don't think I can use that in this case because of the password protection.

Answer 1

use the net use command:

net use Z: \\10.0.1.1\DRIVENAME

Edit 1: Also, I believe the password should be simply appended:

net use Z: \\10.0.1.1\DRIVENAME PASSWORD

You can find out more about this command and its arguments via:

net use ?

Edit 2: As Tomalak mentioned in comments, you can later un-map it via

net use Z: \delete

Answer 2

Try the net use command

Answer 3

Does this not work (assuming "ROUTERNAME" is the user name the router expects)?

net use Z: "\\10.0.1.1\DRIVENAME" /user:"ROUTERNAME" "PW"

Alternatively, you can use use a small VBScript:

Option Explicit
Dim u, p, s, l
Dim Network: Set Network= CreateObject("WScript.Network")

l = "Z:"
s = "\\10.0.1.1\DRIVENAME"

u = "ROUTERNAME"
p = "PW"

Network.MapNetworkDrive l, s, False, u, p

Answer 4

Why not map the network drive but deselect "Reconnect at logon"? The drive will only connect when you try to access it. Note that some applications will fail if they point to it, but if you're accessing files directly through Windows Explorer this works great.

Answer 5

Also look at http://www.codeproject.com/KB/system/mapnetdrive.aspx

Answer 6

I don't get it - if you map it using the UI it will only map when it's available anyway...

Answer 7

Tomalak's answer worked great for me (+1)

I only needed to make alter it slightly for my purposes, and I didn't need a password - it's for corporate domain:

Option Explicit
Dim l: l = "Z:"
Dim s: s = "\\10.10.10.1\share"
Dim Network: Set Network = CreateObject("WScript.Network")
Dim CheckDrive: Set CheckDrive = Network.EnumNetworkDrives()
Dim DriveExists: DriveExists = False
Dim i

For i = 0 to CheckDrive.Count - 1
  If CheckDrive.Item(i) = l Then
    DriveExists = True
  End If
Next

If DriveExists = False Then
  Network.MapNetworkDrive l, s, False
Else
  MsgBox l + " Drive already mapped"
End If

Or if you want to disconnect the drive:

For i = 0 to CheckDrive.Count - 1
  If CheckDrive.Item(i) = l Then 
    WshNetwork.RemoveNetworkDrive CheckDrive.Item(i)
  End If
Next