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Windows XP Shared Folders Doesn’t Refresh
May 19th, 2007 3 Comments
I've been having a problem with my newly purchased Dell computer with Windows XP pre-installed. Everytime I go into my shared folders and create a new sub-folder, Windows Explorer doesn't automatically refresh the folder. I have to manually hit F5 (or go to View | Refresh) in order to see the New Folder I just created.
This is pretty lame. I have to hit F5 after I create a new folder, after I change the name of the new folder and after I move or copy files to the folder.
Again, this only happens in my Shared folders. Every other folder works fine.
So I did some searching and found some other people were having similar problems. But no one had a solution.
I went to Microsoft's support website and discovered that this is a known problem with XP and shared folders only. Go figure. Unfortunately, the only solution is a HotFix, which wasn't available for public download anywhere from Microsoft's website--I could only get it if I contacted Microsoft's support department.
I'd rather get a root canal than have to call or e-mail Microsoft's support team.
I guess it's such a rare error that they only give it out on an individual basis. But I really wanted to take care of this error right now, not in 1 business day or who knows how long Microsoft would take to get back to me. I started the process of e-mailing Microsoft tech support and discovered that I had no idea what XP version I owned or what my "product identification number" was. So I just gave that up.
Instead I did a Google search using the knowledge base number--KB873392--and was able to find a few websites that referenced the article and the HotFix.
Finally, I found a cool site--TheHotFixShare.Net--that has downloads available for all the known HotFixes that you normally have to beg Microsoft to receive. Here's the link for the Windows XP HotFixes.
So just wanted to say thanks, TheHotFixShare.Net!
Posted in Administration 
Hi! I just came across your article here as I was experiencing the same problem.
Another way I found to fix this is to create a DWORD at HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoSimpleNetIDList and set it to be “1″. Reboot, and that seems to do the trick.
Hope this helps anyone else Googling around in desperation!
~Tom
Just a warning about this post. I wrote this is 2007 for Windows XP, yet I still get a lot of Google hit results for this topic.
I haven’t updated this in a long time, and things may have changed. If I get enough requests, I may revisit this, but I’ve moved on to a Mac recently so I won’t have future Windows issues to de-bug.
I’ve been having this issue for years. Goes away of course on a new computer or new install of XP — but it does seem as soon as I start to load my old data on the new machine, it eventually pops up. Often in Shared Folders, but occasionally ALSO in media related folders. My Videos, My Music, ETC.
your link is out of date, and like you, I’d rather shoot myself in the head with an RPG then call Microsoft for ANYTHING.
I realize this is an old issue, and many have moved on to Windows 7 (of which, btw, I’ve now learned they STILL often have the same problem!!!) — I’ve been unsuccessful finding the HOTFIX you mentioned. Any help would be appreciated.