I'm using a Windows 8.1 laptop I got from my workplace and it's a member of the workplace domain. The IT department at my workplace thinks it's a good idea to enforce mapped network drives for all computers in the domain through GPO. I don't understand why, since the same benefits can be obtained by using shortcuts.
The problem with mapped drives is that when I'm not on the workplace internal network (for example when I'm working from home) every action that has to do with files becomes very slow, whether it involves the mapped drives or not. For example, opening a Save dialog, opening "My Computer", etc. When I disconnect the mapped drives the slowness disappears.
After Googling I found that the reason for the slowness is that Windows keeps trying to contact the mapped drives.
The mapped drives keep getting reconnected due to the GPO after every restart, and sometimes even without a restart. I haven't figured out what triggers the reconnection exactly.
I have no use for the mapped drives (I have shortcuts instead), they are slowing my computer down so much it's unbearable, and when I asked the IT guys to stop using them they looked at me as if I'm crazy.
How can I permanently disconnect the mapped drives and prevent the GPO from reconnecting them?
Best Answer
I am not going to tell you how to subvert the doings of your IT department. However, if they are semi-reasonable you can ask them you exempt you from that particular GPO. If they don't know how, tell them to add your computer to the permission list and set read from allow to deny and your computer won't apply that GPO anymore.