File Explorer – Windows can’t find \\Server\Share. Check the spelling and try again

Problem:

One of my Windows 10 Pro clients recently had a weird issue I could ping servers, RDP to them but I couldn’t map a drive or browse using a UNC path. I would get the message Windows can’t find \\Server\Share. Check the spelling and try again

If I opened up a command prompt and ran “net use” I would get the message “The network is not present or not started”

Solution:

After trying all of the basics;

• reboot
• re-domain
• SFC /scannow
• netsh winsock reset

I thought  to take a look at the configured network providers by bringing up the network adaptors window, pressing the ALT key to get the menu bar and selecting “Advanced Settings”

In the “Provider Order” screen all I had was two “Lotus Notes Single Logon” providers. Normally I would have expected to have seen “Microsoft Windows Network” at the top of the list.

I compared the registry key HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\NetworkProvider\Order\ProviderOrder with a known good computer. I found was missing “LanmanWorkstation”, “RDPNP” and “webclient”. I added them and confirmed things looks good in the GUI. Note “LanmanWorkstation” should normally be first in the list.

I tested and confined my issue was now resolved, later I also removed the duplicate “Lotus Notes” provider. I don’t know what the cause was I am inclined to blame the Lotus Notes installer and the issue only occurred after Lotus Notes was re-installed.