FFS isn't seeing my NAS drive

[kornykova]

Hi

I'm trying to sync a folder from my PC to my dlinknas drive.
I've mapped it to Q: using IP address and to Z: using dlinknas

It appears in File Explorer

2025-04-11 20_24_57-Network - File Explorer.jpg (22.5 KiB) Viewed 273 times

but when I try to Select Folder in FFS is just isn't shown.

2025-04-11 20_24_18-Select Folder.jpg (60.94 KiB) Viewed 273 times

It's a private network and I'm on Windows 11 24H2.

2025-04-11 20_27_51-Settings.jpg (18.38 KiB) Viewed 273 times

2025-04-11 20_27_31-Settings.jpg (114.35 KiB) Viewed 273 times

FFS is version is 14.3 (latest).
Any help would be appreciated.

[Plerry]

If you have a Q: and Z: drive pointing at your dlinknas, you can type Q: respectively Z: as your FFS left or right base location.
Or even simpler, e.g. from Windows File Explorer drag/drop the Q: or Z: drive into the FFS left or right base location.

[kornykova]

Thanks for your reply.
Typing Q:\Music worked!
I tried drag and drop from File Explorer but it just gave me a red circle with a diagonal line through it and wouldn't let me drop it *anywhere* in FFS! I even tried dragging and dropping local drives and folders with no luck. Just got the red STOP sign!
Any idea what the problem might be?

[kornykova]

I just figured out why I had the original problem with my network drive not showing in the Select Folder dialogue and also why drag and drop won't work.
It's because I always run FFS as administrator.
When I ran it normally, I can see the Q: drive in Select Folder and I can also drag and drop it to straight to FFS.

I think I chose to run as admin because the normal run wouldn't pick up everything in the scan.
Is there any way I can see my network drive and use drag and drop while running the program as admin?
It seems weird to reduce functionality when running as admin... I'm guessing it's a Windows 11 issue but if there's a way to get it working, I'd appreciate it.

Does anyone know what files will be skipped if I don't run as admin? Thanks

[xCSxXenon]

This is because running as 'admin' switches the user you are using. Your network drives are mounted and accessible by your user account, but not the admin account. You are unlikely to run into any issues by running FFS normally instead of as admin, but the only way to know unequivocally is to try it.

[kornykova]

Thanks. I was able to sync some stuff in normal mode but not some external drives, probably because they were originally created on an old PC. I had to run as admin for FFS to update them.
Seems weird that this is necessary because my Windows account is an admin one. Surely, running FFS as admin should just use my admin account rather than a separate one since I have admin privileges?
It's not a big deal. I'll just run normally and, if it fails to write to the target drive, run FFS again as admin.
Thanks for your help

[Zenju]

Is there any way I can see my network drive and use drag and drop while running the program as admin?
It seems weird to reduce functionality when running as admin...

No, this is a Windows security feature: https://superuser.com/questions/59051/drag-and-drop-file-into-application-under-run-as-administrator

This is because running as 'admin' switches the user you are using.

No, running as "admin" doesn't change the user, it "elevates" an admin user: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20150618-00/?p=45351

but when I try to Select Folder in FFS is just isn't shown.

This is because "run as admin" changes the user session, which is not the same as "the" user. Windows creates two user sessions for admin users on startup: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/networking/mapped-drives-not-available-from-elevated-command

Mapped network drives are tied to a user session, therefore you won't see sessions created before you selected "run as admin".

[Plerry]

Although your drive mappings Q: and Z: do not work when running FFS as administrator, typing \\192.168.1.189 and likely also \\dlinknas as your FFS left or right base location should still work.
You may however need to provide user credentials for your NAS when connecting.

[kornykova]

Thanks for all your help.
I'll use admin for local and USB drives and normal for network.

[xCSxXenon]

This is because running as 'admin' switches the user you are using.

No, running as "admin" doesn't change the user, it "elevates" an admin user: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20150618-00/?p=45351

"Six or half a dozen" ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
For all intents and purposes, for most end users, these are the same


To the OP, you could also change the security permissions to allow access without running as admin.