[SOLVED] Windows 7 – Shortcut on Network Drive Disappearing

Problem

When using Windows 7 to access a network drive (or UNC share) shortcut files will sometimes disappear. The shortcut may reappear by pressing F5 or reopening the folder where the shortcut is saved to.

Solution

  1. On the affected computer, open the registry editor (regedit)
  2. Navigate to the following key:
  3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters
  4. Create a DWORD with the name of DirectoryCacheLifetime and set it to 0

MSWindows-UNCShareIssue