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Error connecting to network share

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I have a network share that I want to use for the backup destination however I get an error that Acronis can't connect.  This network drive is mapped by windows as the U drive and I can open a browser window (or command prompt) and list and modify the contents of the directory.  I am also able to browse the directory from the Acronis GUI.  I have noticed I can also create a new folder from within the Acronis GUI without any errors. However when I try to select the network drive as a destination I am prompted for user credentials (which I provide) but get an error that connection failed.  Why am I prompted for authentication when I try to use the network drive as a destination but I can create a folder on the destination without any issues?

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Reginald, welcome to these public User Forums.

Acronis does not use mapped network shares.  Any connection using a network location for the destination will always be required to provide valid credentials for the same.

There is a further complication here in that using the same credentials for both Acronis and a shared / mapped network location only allows one such connection to be active at any time - this is a Microsoft restriction!

Ideally, you should use different credentials for mapped drives and network destinations used by Acronis, and not have these pointing to the same network folder and content.

One reason for not sharing credentials is the risk of malware attack!  Mapped drives in Windows are wide open for malware attack if a virus etc gets a foothold in Windows, so if using the same credentials or mapped folder location for your Acronis backups, you are exposing your backup files to the same risk!

I have regular backups going to my Synology NAS using credentials on the NAS that are only ever used by Acronis for one purpose of backup operations.  I never map a Windows drive letter to my Acronis backup storage folder on the NAS, and I have no user accounts in Windows that are the same as the NAS account used by Acronis.  All of which works just fine.

Steve Smith wrote:

........

I have regular backups going to my Synology NAS using credentials on the NAS that are only ever used by Acronis for one purpose of backup operations.  I never map a Windows drive letter to my Acronis backup storage folder on the NAS, and I have no user accounts in Windows that are the same as the NAS account used by Acronis.  All of which works just fine.

I take a similar approach - probably following advice Steve gave.