Change working directory to network share

Question

I can list all files in a folder with: dir \\aenw08v401\FOLDER\I001\*

However, when I execute cd \\aenw08v401\FOLDER\I001, the current working directory won't change at all.

This is what I see when I execute net view \\aenw08v401:

Shared resources at \\aenw08v401
Share name  Type  Used as  Comment

-----------------------------------
FOLDER    Disk
The command completed successfully.

Is there a switch I am missing, or do I need to use a different command?

Answer 1

The Windows command prompt cmd does not support UNC paths as current directories.

C:\Users\User1>cd \\myServer\myShare
CMD does not support UNC paths as current directories.

Solution: Use pushd.

C:\Users\User1>pushd \\myServer\myShare

Z:\>dir
 Volume in drive Z is MYDRIVE
 Volume Serial Number is 1234-5678

 Directory of Z:\

12/16/2015  11:18 AM    <DIR>          .
12/16/2015  11:18 AM    <DIR>          ..
               0 File(s)              0 bytes
               2 Dir(s)  120,609,575,936 bytes free

Z:\>popd

C:\Users\User1>

Alternate Solution: Map the UNC path to a drive letter.

C:\Users\User1>net use Y: \\myServer\myShare 
The command completed successfully.

C:\Users\User1>Y:

Y:\>dir
 Volume in drive Y is MYDRIVE
 Volume Serial Number is 1234-5678

 Directory of Y:\

12/16/2015  11:18 AM    <DIR>          .
12/16/2015  11:18 AM    <DIR>          ..
               0 File(s)              0 bytes
               2 Dir(s)  120,609,575,936 bytes free

Y:\>C:

C:\Users\User1>net use /delete Y:
Y: was deleted successfully.