Windows Vista had some issues creating and opening Web Folders (WebDAV) that was solved by a patch introduced by Microsoft 2 years ago but it seems Windows 7 has it’s own issues with web folders.

Some users report slow connections, or degrading connection speeds over time, whereas other users (like me) can’t access the shares at all, this guide will alleviate both of those issues.

Firstly, you will need:
Windows 7 RC, or RTM
The XP Mode addon with an installed Virtual XP installation ready to go

Load up your Virtual XP machine.

Make sure you have this set up beforehand

Once the virtual machine has booted up click start, then click on My Network Places.

Opening My Network Places

When My Network Places is open you should have little or no network shortcuts listed, on the left hand side click on Add a network place.

Add a network place

When the wizard opens click next.

Click next

In this step choose “Choose another network location” and click next.

Choose another network location

Type in the URL for the server here including any directories and click next, you may be prompted for a username and password for the resource.
*If the below image doesn’t show it may be due to using an ad blocker as “-300×250″ in an image’s URL is blocked in some lists currently.

Type in the full URL to the resource

Type the name for the folder, this will affect any further shortcuts created for this folder, then click next.

Choose the folder’s name

The wizard is finished, you don’t have to open the folder up yet, so uncheck that option and click finish.

Wizard is finished

Here’s a tricky bit, right click the newly created folder and click “Create shortcut”, it should move it to the Desktop automatically, for me this didn’t do anything, but may have been to do with the environment at the time, if this happens to you right click and drag the folder to the Desktop and when the menu pops up, click Create shortcut.

Create a shortcut

Open up your Documents and Settings/All Users/Start Menu/Programs folder and paste the Shortcut in the main section, then shutdown the Virtual Machine.

Move the shortcut to this directory

In your Windows 7 machine, go to Start menu, All Programs, click Windows Virtual PC, then Virtual Windows XP Applications, the shortcut to the folder will be in there, you may create a shortcut on the desktop for this by right clicking on it and clicking Send to -> Desktop (Create shortcut).

Your new Web Folders for Windows 7

This will not only solve not being able to connect, but most issues to do with running Web Folders on anything newer than Windows XP.

Related posts:

1. Os Collection – Part 3 – MS-DOS 6
2. Use VMWare to play your old Windows XP games
3. OS Collection – Part 2 – Windows Me
4. Using Symbolic Links in Vista/Windows 7 for Google Chrome User Data
5. OS Collection – Part 1 – Windows 3.1