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.
Author: Daniel
Date: August 27, 2009
Time: 2:25 AM
Anyone know of a way to get AnchorClick to work under Windows 7?
Author: Tom
Date: November 5, 2009
Time: 1:23 AM
Well, I don’t know how easy it is, but I got it to work. Thanks for the tip!
Author: igeoogle
Date: November 21, 2009
Time: 7:12 AM
Hi, this is good for those Windows 7 which have Windows XP mode add-on. For those who don’t (such as Windows 7 Home Premium and Home Basic), a third party web client should be used. Here’s an article which suggests one – Web Folders problems on Windows 7. Works for me!
Author: Iain
Date: February 4, 2010
Time: 11:12 PM
If you are having problems adding a network place with windows 7 ie: adding a web folder try using FTP instead of HTTP when typing in your web page address, worked for me now I can access my webpage and make any changes I need.
Have Fun
Iain
Author: Rocco
Date: January 14, 2011
Time: 12:10 AM
You call this simple???
Author: Ben
Date: January 14, 2011
Time: 9:47 PM
I should have pointed out the easy part is meant to be in the ability for this to “just work” once it has been set up, obviously it has a bit of fiddly set up if you don’t have an already installed XP Mode.
Author: Brandon Fletcher
Date: May 27, 2011
Time: 3:48 AM
Ah, first work I was able to find that worked – ten stars!
Author: Larry
Date: October 2, 2011
Time: 12:56 AM
Duuuuuuuuude! Thank you so much!!! I’ve been trying every solution out there to access my newly-purchased domain via Frontpage and NOTHING worked until I tried this. Perfect!!!
Author: Alvaro
Date: June 19, 2012
Time: 10:55 AM
This looked so promising, but unfortunately it didn’t work as advertised.
I’m running Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit and followed the instructions perfectly. The problem is that double-clicking on the shortcut (in Windows 7) opens up it up in Internet Explorer and just goes to that site. It doesn’t open as a web folder, like it does in XP.
On a positive note, I was able to copy and paste into the web folder running in XP from my Windows Explorer in Windows 7. So it wasn’t a total waste.
Cheers!