Problem: By experiment, I discovered that Visual Subst no longer works in Windows Server 2012, as good as it did in previous versions of the OS. Specifically for the purpose of referencing a DLL from a locally mapped drive. See below for more information. Research: 32-bit processes understand subst command, 64-bit need something else. Explorer seems to add 64-bit mapping through its interface. Did not find an equivalent in command prompt. By experiment, I found that Visual Subst utility (free download off the internet) adds 64-bit drive mapping in Windows 2012. In prior OS (Windows 7 etc.), it adds both. Without 64-bit drive mapping the drives are not visible in Explorer (and other 64-bit apps of course, such as Total Commander etc.) Without 32-bit drive mapping Visual Studio cannot link anything from Z:, because VS is x86 and the Z: drive is not there to select. Sometimes it comes up, then on next solution startup it goes away. 95% of the time it won't be there, unless a SUBST command was used. Workaround: Add 32-bit mappings using SUBST command, then add 64-bit mappings using Explorer or Visual Subst. Solution: To make persistent SUBST for both 32-bit and 64-bit in Windows Server 2012: reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\DOS Devices" /v Z: /t REG_SZ /d "\??\C:\MyFolder" /fWhere C:\MyFolder is the folder you want to map. |
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