Drive Mapping Preferences - allow drives to remap if user "disconnects" during session

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking into a solution to an issue I currently have with utilising Group Policy Drive Mapping Preferences.

Currently, if a user logs on, has the preference applied, and runs a GPUpdate /force, they need to logout/logon for the drive mapping to be successful. To my understanding and from what I have been reading, this is standard behaviour.

I have the following questions:

1. If a user is connected to a VPN (i.e. external to your network) and they run a GPUpdate /force, they'll be required to logoff/logon in order to have the drive mapped. If they logoff/logon again while they're not on LAN, will the drive still map?
2. The person who owns the direct relationship with the business and ICT wanted to know if there was a way using preferences (currently we're using Logon Scripts, with the view to shift to drive mapping preferences in the not too distant future) to reconnect the network drives in the event of the drives being disconnected either from logoff/logon (i.e. due to the drives not being persistent), or if the user accidently disconnects the drive while in their session on their computer. Currently, they would have to run a GPUpdate /force, then logoff/logon. I would like to know if we can eliminate the need to logoff/logon in order to get the drives remapped. This question/requirement is also applicable with my first question (for users off the network connecting via VPN).

I've read through a few articles which discuss changing registry settings for Back Ground Processing for Drive Mapping Preferences, and wether it should be done or not. Please see below links:

http://techibee.com/group-policies/all-about-drive-mapping-in-group-policy-preferences/202

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/12221.troubleshooting-the-drive-maps-preference-extension-in-group-policy-replace-mode-only-maps-the-drive-every-other-logon.aspx?wa=wsignin1.0#Set_the_NoBackgroundPolicy

I have tested the first URL, but I'm not getting the result I was after (i.e. if the Drive has been disconnected/unmapped during the user session, if I run a gpupdate /force, the drive should remap).

Any insight into this issue and how I could overcome this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in Advance.

Simon.