UNC error: What it is and what you can do about it

In the event of a UNC error, an end device cannot access a network drive or a network path. There are various methods to solve the problem

UNC: This means the abbreviation

UNC stands for “Universal Naming Convention” or “Uniform Naming Convention”.

• A UNC address is a network path that refers to files, directories or similar. This path looks like this: \\IP address\share\path. As an alternative to the IP address, the server name can also be used:

• Attention: With a Linux NAS, the address looks like this: //IP address/share/path.

• In companies in particular, it is common for files not to be stored locally on a computer but to be made available via a network. If the desired address cannot be reached, a UNC error occurs.

UNC error: How to fix the problem

Follow these troubleshooting steps:

• Under Windows, press [CTRL] + [R] to open the console and enter ping followed by the IP address of the NAS. For example: ping 192.168.255.255.

• The IP address of the NAS or server is usually noted on the respective device. There are also manufacturer-dependent options. With Western Digital, the IP address is queried using the arp -a command. To do this, you must establish a direct connection to the NAS

• In connection with Windows Server 2012 R2, aborts may occur despite a successful ping test. In such cases, activate SMB 1.0 and network load balancing. SMB 1.0 is a protocol for file access in the network that is often deactivated for security reasons. Network load balancing distributes data traffic evenly across multiple servers to improve performance and availability.

• In Windows 10 and 11, this can be done via Start ☻ Search ☻ Windows Features. Confirm your entry with Enter. You will then see an overview where you can activate the features (both on the PC/laptop and on the NAS).

• Open the console on the server and enter the command netsh http add iplisten IP address. Replace the IP address with the address of the end device. Example: netsh http add iplisten 192.168.255.255.

CHDSK: Tool helps with problems with storage media

Under certain circumstances, the chkdsk method can also help you. A UNC error is triggered if no network connection to the server or NAS can be established. This can also indicate a defective HDD/SSD.

• To use the CheckDisk tool, you need general access to the server – preferably directly via a terminal.

• Then the hard disks can be checked for defective blocks.

• Good to know: The Windows onboard tool for checking hard disks will not help you if the error is in the network connection.