FFS requires password to access to NAS again after each computer restart

[Nicolas]

Dear all,

I am a new user of FreeFileSync (FFS). I use it to make 2-way-synchronisations between several folders on my PC (Windows Vista, FFS V10.11) and my NAS (Synology DS218+). And I do the same between my Laptop (Windows 7, FFS V10.24 donation edition) and my NAS.

It was quite easy to find all seetings thanks to the very good tutorials and FAQ. Thank you very much Zenju.

Now allmost everything works perfectly, several sync tasks are started automatically daily as batch jobs from the windows task scheduler.

But I have only one problem:
After each computer restart, the batch job does not work any more (neither manually in FFS nor via the windows task scheduler) until I enter again the password to access the NAS in FFS.
The batch job is started but the sync does not work and there is this error message in the log (here translated from german):
The file properties of "\\NAS\folder" cannot be read.
Error code 123: The syntax for the file name, folder name or the drive name is wrong.[FindFirstFile]

The only solution I found, is to click on the "browse" button in FFS to select the target of the sync (only for one of the batch jobs). Then choose again the target = folder on my NAS. --> FFS asks again for my password for the NAS (I just have to retype the password, the login = "admin" is already entered). So it seems that FFS forgot the password after the computer restart.

I do that only once for one batch job. Then all batch jobs work again, also when they are started from the windows task scheduler. I can start different batchjobs several time. But only until the next computer restart. Then FFS needs the password again.

How can I do FFS remembering the password to the NAS? Or at least FFS should prompt a window and ask for the password. For the moment FFS only does not start the sync without prompting an error message (there is only an error message in the log).

Here some important information:

- On my PC I have only one account = "user" and I am the admin with all rights.
- I start FFS automatically as admin (it is set in the file properties of freefilesync.exe to always be started as admin).
- At each restart of the computer, the PC reconnects automatically to all shared folders of the NAS with the wished drive letters (I use .cmd-files with the command "net use DriveLetter: \\NAS\FolderName /user:admin password").
- So I can access to the shared folders on the NAS in Windows Explorer without entering my password again. I have read and write access to all NAS shared folders immediately after computer restart.
- Butt FFS needs the password for the NAS again.
- I read the FAQ of FFS:
https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#task-scheduler-network
--> I replaced in FFS in the target address the drive letter (e.g. "M:\") by the UNC syntax (e.g. "\\NAS\music\"). But it does not help.
--> I tried the windows task with and without the option "Run with highest privileges". But it does not help.

- I have already some threads in this forum, but it did not help in my case:
viewtopic.php?t=6601&p=21806&hilit=password#p21806
viewtopic.php?t=6551#p21679
viewtopic.php?t=6662&p=22100&hilit=password#p22100

If you need more details / information about my system configuration (PC or NAS), please feel free to ask.

I hope some one could give me a good hint.

Best regards
Nicolas

[Zenju]

- I start FFS automatically as admin (it is set in the file properties of freefilesync.exe to always be started as admin).

- Butt FFS needs the password for the NAS again.

Yes, FFS won't be able to see the drive mappings which were created as "non-admin" (= while you were not elevated). Okay, using full UNC syntax ("\\server\share") is one alternative:

- At each restart of the computer, the PC reconnects automatically to all shared folders of the NAS with the wished drive letters (I use .cmd-files with the command "net use DriveLetter: \\NAS\FolderName /user:admin password").

- So I can access to the shared folders on the NAS in Windows Explorer without entering my password again. I have read and write access to all NAS shared folders immediately after computer restart.

Explorer isn't running elevated, so it has access. "net use DriveLetter: \\NAS\FolderName /user:admin password" only authenticates the drive letter access. Direct access to \\NAS\FolderName is not automatically included, and needs to be authenticated separately. You could also do this via "net use", or simply have Windows remember the password even after you log off (there's a GUI option in the Windows password prompt for that).

FFS not showing the password prompt, when needed, should be fixed now. I've added a check for "Error code 123". Does the following version show the prompt for you?
https://www.mediafire.com/file/unn2diphzjvjevu/FreeFileSync_10.25_%5BBeta%5D_Windows_Setup.exe

[Nicolas]

Hello Zenju,

Thank you very much for the quick answer. This is very much appreciated. Here my feedback to your proposals:

Explorer isn't running elevated, so it has access. "net use DriveLetter: \\NAS\FolderName /user:admin password" only authenticates the drive letter access. Direct access to \\NAS\FolderName is not automatically included, and needs to be authenticated separately. You could also do this via "net use", ...

If I correctly understand, my "net use" command only re-create the connection from PC to NAS with drive letter for the windows explorer (=without elevated rights) but not for FFS with elevated rights (I need the elevated rights with FFS for the shadow copy so that it make the backup of the outlook PST-file when I am working in outlook in parallel) --> So I need to re-create the direct access with elevated rights to \\NAS\FolderName and I could do that also with "net use". What is the net use command for that?

...or simply have Windows remember the password even after you log off (there's a GUI option in the Windows password prompt for that).

This is clear. But actually I already did that several times and it does not seem to work. But I will try again. I will delete my "net use" command (to avoid the reconnection at computer restart with net use) and recreate the connection with drive letters directly in windows explorer, this time again checking the box "remember password". Should then than work for FFS with elevated rights or again only for windows explorer (without elevated rights)?

FFS not showing the password prompt, when needed, should be fixed now. I've added a check for "Error code 123". Does the following version show the prompt for you?
https://www.mediafire.com/file/unn2diphzjvjevu/FreeFileSync_10.25_%5BBeta%5D_Windows_Setup.exe

Thank you. I can try that. But on my PC (Windwos Vista) I use FFS V10.11 (last version compatible with Vista). On my laptop (windows 7) I use the last version FFS 10.24 donation edition. If I now install the 10.25 beta version, will I loose the donation edition? Can I reinstall the 10.24 donation edition after the test without loosing all my settings?

Sorry if my text is too long. I am really not an expert with networks settings. It could also be that FFS is already doing everything correctly and that I have to set something on my NAS to allow the access to FFS without giving again the passwort after each computer restart. I tried several settings but without success for the moment.

Best regards
Nicolas

[Nicolas]

Hello again,

I tried different things in the last hours. What I have wirtten here above did not worked. But at the end I have found a solution to this problem:

my "net use" command only re-create the connection from PC to NAS with drive letter for the windows explorer (=without elevated rights) but not for FFS with elevated rights

I found this solution in internet, with modification in the registry (it worked fine for me, but if you want to try, this ist at your own risks, no guarantee from my side!):
https://www.it-administrator.de/themen/server_client/74916.html
short translation in english:

- create a new entry in the registry (execute: "regedit.exe"):
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
- name of new entry: EnableLinkedConnections
- type: DWORD (32 bit)
- value: 1
- and then restart the computer.

After doing that on my PC (Windows Vista), when I start a program as administrator (=with elevated rights), for example FFS, then this program sees the network drives that were mapped with my cmd-file "net use DriveLetter: \\NAS\SharedFolder /user:admin password".

For sure this is not a solution for every one. But in my case, I have only one user on my PC = me = admin. So this is perfect for me.

I hope this solution will help someone else.

I will try it later also on my Laptop with Windows 7 but theoretically it should work there also.

Best regards
Nicolas

[Nicolas]

I tried the new registry entry today on the laptop with Windows 7.
It works fine as well with Windows 7.
Now when FFS is started from the windows task scheduler with elevated rights, it has access to the network (NAS) shared folders.