Cannot Copy a file from a network share in powershell until I open the share in windows explorer

Question

I have a very simple powershell script which to copy files from a networked server.

here's the script

Write-Output "Copying Backups"
copy \\sqlbox\SqlBackups\Client.bak c:\sqlbackups

It throws this exception

Invalid Path: '\\sqlbox\SqlBackups\Client.bak'.
At C:\Work\db\restore.ps1:5 char:1
+ copy \\sqlbox\SqlBackups\Client.bak c:\sqlbackups
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo          : InvalidOperation: (:) [], ArgumentException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : CopyItemDynamicParametersProviderException

If I open a windows explorer up and goto \sqlbox\SqlBackups it opens fine and if I then run the powershel script it also starts working and will work until the next time I reboot the PC.

How can I address this in the script?

When you open the share from the explorer for the first time after a reboot, are you prompted to enter a username and password? — Musaab Al-Okaidi, Feb 15 '13 at 10:37
possible duplicate of [Need help on Powershell Copy-Item from network drives](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/14653851/need-help-on-powershell-copy-item-from-network-drives) — KyleMit, Aug 11 '15 at 13:31

score 7 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 15 '13 at 10:44

7

Try mapping the drive first, then carry out the copy operation.

New-PSDrive -Name S -Root \\sqlbox\SqlBackups\ -PSProvider FileSystem
Write-Output "Copying Backups"
copy S:\Client.bak c:\sqlbackups

answered Feb 15 '13 at 10:44

Musaab Al-Okaidi

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What does mapping the drive do? – Twisted Feb 15 '13 at 10:46
1

It will create a virtual drive letter "S:" that will point to \\sqlbox\SqlBackups. It's just a different approach to achieve the same thing, but hopefully it will eliminate the error. Have you tried it? – Musaab Al-Okaidi Feb 15 '13 at 10:53
Can you make a nameless UNC mapping? like `net use \\sqlbox\SqlBackups\ ` Would it work too? – Robert Cutajar Feb 18 '13 at 17:16
says drive S does not exist i tried creating drive from remote desktop as well but still can not use it – Raghavendra Sep 13 '17 at 07:19

George · Answer 2 · 2016-11-14T10:08:45.400

6

I have a similar problem when copying files over servers with this error:

Cannot find path '\\computer1\d$\path' because it does not exist.

It works after adding Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\FileSystem:: in front of file name:

copy-item "Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\FileSystem::\\computer1\d$\path\installer.msi" "Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\FileSystem::\\computer2\d$\path\installer.msi"

edited Nov 14 '16 at 10:08

answered Nov 14 '16 at 09:55

George

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6
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I think it's better and more simple way to achieve desired result than mapping a drive. – Pavel Botygin Aug 28 '17 at 08:14

Cannot Copy a file from a network share in powershell until I open the share in windows explorer

2 Answers2