Windows Map Network Drive using DNS CNAME/ALIAS

This fix is for using a CNAME to connect to a shared folder/drive. Example:

- Server FQDN: file.yourdomain.com
- CNAME assigned in DNS: fileshare.yourdomain.com
- Share name: testshare

You attempt to connect to the share by selecting "Map Network Drive..." and typing in \\fileshare.yourdomain.com\testshare. This is the error you see:

"The mapped network drive could not be created because the following error has occurred:
You were not connected because a duplicate name exists on the network. Go to System in Control Panel to change the computer name and try again."

To fix this, open the registry editor on your server. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\LanmanServer\Parameters

Create a new DWORD value:

Value Name: DisableStrictNameChecking
Value Data: 1
Base: Decimal

Restart your server. As a side note, if all your clients are now Windows 7, you do not need this fix anymore. Let me know if you have questions.