Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Failure to Mount ISO on Windows Server 2016 and 2019

Problem

You have an ISO on a share in your network. You have mapped a drive to the share because, well, that's the right way to do it. And the users are happy about it, the service operations people can get to their stuff easily and the Admins have a share with all of the daily use tools.
Now, that library just happens to have a bunch of ISO files. You want to use one of them to install software, modify boot/install disks, etc. The easy button since Win 8 is the right click and Mount command. East peasy lemon squeezy. You get what looks like a CD Drive and you can browse the files.

Replication

Now, try that on a server with at least minimal security. Not happening.
  1. The right click Mount option is there. so the default application is Windows Explorer or File Explorer depending on your version.
  2. If you directly address the file as in \\file-01\share\mygreat.iso it will work
  3. If you map a drive "net use z: \\file-01\share" and try z:\mygreat.iso it will NOT work. It will tell you there is a problem.
  4. Yes, if you move it to a C Drive folder, or some other direct location it will work, but when you have a LIBRARY of iso files, that's not an option.

Supposition

This has to do with Administrative rights and UAC. Somehow the mapped drives (EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE MAPPED IN GROUP POLICY FOR ALL USERS) do not get mapped when you go to mount the ISO.
Before you suggest it. I'm already logged in as a domain admin.
This is a large issue. Many people are having this problem. And for those of you that are NOT having the problem. Good for you. Now lock your computers down so you don't get hacked, OK?