Drive Mapping to DFS Share with Group Policy not displaying.

A required update for Windows XP systems to support the latest Group Policy – Group Policy Preference Client Side Extensions for Windows XP (KB943729) will fix your common issues such as folder redirection to a server, drive mapping policy’s etc.

Another Hotfix to this update is also required if you are mapping profiles to a DFS name space such as \\domain.com\users\flast\desktop.

Hotfix Page http://support.microsoft.com/kb/974266

Download Link – http://support.microsoft.com/hotfix/KBHotfix.aspx?kbnum=974266&kbln=en-us

This is a rollup package of many hotfixes for the Group Policy Preferences Client-Side Extension. This package resolves the following issues:

Issues in Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2)

· The Windows Event Log service crashes when the regional options preferences are set to English (United Kingdom).

· If the regional options preference is set to English (United Kingdom) or to anything other than United States, it cannot be applied. The regional options preference setting still shows United States.

o Note A non-administrator user cannot log on to a domain from a computer that is running Windows Vista SP2, if the user’s locale information is set by using a Group Policy preference and set the regional options preference as English (United Kingdom).

· If you create or update a virtual private network (VPN) connection by using a Group Policy object, the connection does not bind to IP Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) or IP Version 6 (TCP/IPv6).

· A Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) query that is used by item level targeting uses an incorrect base distinguish name.

· Group Policy Service (GPSVC) stops responding during the GPSVC shutdown process if third-party printer drivers are installed by Group Policy Preferences.

· The %GPTPATH% variable is not resolved correctly when Group Policy Preferences are processed.

· Group Policy Preferences stops responding when you try to configure the printer item for printers that use third-party drivers. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

973772  Group Policy Preferences stops responding when you try to configure the printer item for printers that use third-party drivers on a Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008-based computer

Issues in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003

· Thread handle leaks occur in Group Policy Preferences.

· The %GPTPATH% variable is not resolved correctly.

· The Power Scheme Group Policy Preferences client-side extension, together with the replacement action, increases the registry size.

· You cannot set shortcuts under DFS paths.

· When you use Group Policy Preferences on a Terminal Server, it takes longer than usual to log on to the terminal server.

This package resolves the following issues that were formerly resolved in Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) article 943729:

· Client-side extensions are removed when a service pack is installed.

· The Remove option is not available in the Add or Remove Programs window when a package is uninstalled and reinstalled.

· Invalid support URLs are shown in the Add or Remove Programs window.

· Incorrect titles are shown in the Installed Updates window.

· Vista packages cannot install on Windows Vista SP2 or on later versions of Windows Vista service pack.

RESOLUTION

Important note uninstalling this rollup package de-registers the Group Policy Preferences Client-Side Extension. This breaks Group Policy Preference processing. Therefore, before you apply this fix, make sure that you do not need to uninstall the fix. If Microsoft releases a software update that resolves this problem, this article will be updated with additional information.

Hotfix information for Windows Vista

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing the problem described in this article. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.
If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix. 
Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, your computer must be running one of the following operating systems:

· Windows Vista SP1

· Windows Vista SP2

Hotfix Page http://support.microsoft.com/kb/974266

Download Link – http://support.microsoft.com/hotfix/KBHotfix.aspx?kbnum=974266&kbln=en-us