Offline files keeps disconnecting from the file server

We've encountered an issue with offline files in which systems will all of a sudden disconnect from the file server and say that the user is working offline. This happens to what seems like random users at random times. The network connection to the server is excellent and has nothing to do with this issue.

It appears that the issue is related to the system attempting to synchronize shares which no longer exist. This usually occurs for user home directories which have been removed.

The solution we have found which corrects this problem is to reset the offline files cache. NOTE: Do not do this if you have files which have not yet been synchronized with the server.

To reset the offline files cache, go under "Folder Options", click on the "Offline Files" tab. Hold down the CTRL and the SHIFT keys on the keyboard and click on the "Delete Files" button. You will be asked if you would like to re-initialize the cache, answer Yes. You will then be prompted to restart to the computer, answer Yes again.

After rebooting the system, the cache should be re-initialized and the spontaneous file server disconnects should no longer occur.

MS KB Article 230738: How to Restart the Offline Files Cache/Database

NOTE: One of the side effects of having the system think it was offline was that if you tried to browse the shares of the file server, the shares were all missing.

Author: DPAK
Created: Oct 27 2005
Categories: Windows
TechByte #69

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