Steps to re-create bug with Offline Files (with photos)

Mon, 25 May 2009 21:03:10 Z

Here is a bug with Offline Files that I can easily re-produce in 4 detailed steps:

1) I browse to a shared folder (i.e. shared folder named Business, located on Server). When I right-click on the shared folder, you can clearly see the Always Available Offline option is available, as shown below:

Step 1: See how "Always Available Offline" option is available? Notice the "Gaurantee that this item will be available offline" tool tip?

2) Without actually selecting the Make Available Offline option, I instead double-click the shared folder (Business) to browse its contents. Now if I immediately go back to the previous folder (Server) and then right-click on the shared folder (Business) again, Make Available Offline remains an available option still, but......

3) Here's where the bug occurs: if I simply right-click on a sub-folder inside the shared folder (see image below)...

Step 3: If I right-click on a sub-folder located inside the shared folder (and not select anything)...

and then go back to the previous folder (Server), the "Make Available Offline" just option dissapears entirely as shown below:

Step 4: Notice on how when I right-click on the shared folder (Business) again, the "Always Available Offline" option is gone! Looks like Microsoft reneged on its gaurantee from step 1.

Logging off then logging back on to the computer seems to bring the "Make Available Offline" option back, until I repeat the steps and it disspears. From what I can determine, it appears that simply right-clicking on a sub-folder within a network share makes the "Make Available Offline" option dissapear completely.

This is clearly a bug and one of the issues I am having with Offline Files in Windows 7 RC (64 bit).

I hope this helps developers figure out fix faster, if possible.

Steps to re-create bug with Offline Files (with photos)

Wed, 27 May 2009 06:53:42 Z

Hi,

I tested your steps on my environments (Windows 7 RC 32bit and 64 bit), and I cannot re-produce the problem.

Given the situation, could you please let me know your Windows 7 version?

Thanks.

Steps to re-create bug with Offline Files (with photos)

Wed, 27 May 2009 07:20:40 Z

official rc release 7100

Steps to re-create bug with Offline Files (with photos)

Wed, 27 May 2009 09:32:29 Z

Thank you for your reply.

Could you please let me know your network configuration? Perhaps I need build more test environments.

Thanks.

Steps to re-create bug with Offline Files (with photos)

Wed, 27 May 2009 13:13:56 Z

not sure exactly what you need to know but here is everything I can think of:

- Network running off Linksys WMP300.
- 4 computers: 1 Notebook running Win7 RC 64 (the computer I provided screenshots from); 1 desktop (the server) running Win7 RC 64; 1 Windows Home Server (with PowerPack 1); and 1 Media Center PC running Windows Vista Home (SP1)
- 3 misc devices connected to network including Vonage VOIP router, XBOX 360 and HP LaserJet network printer.

All computers/devices use DHCP except for the server PC (running Win7 RC 64, 7100). Why? When DHCP is enabled on the server PC, Windows 7 will not connect to internet (I have to disable the network adapter entirely then re-enable to get Internet connection. Never had this issue in beta build 7000). When server PC is configured with static IP, it connects to Internet perfectly after startup/restart. All other computers including notebook can use DHCP.

There's really nothing odd about my network setup. Everything has worked ok up until install of Win7 RC (Beta build 7000 worked perfectly. Offline Files worked well and no network connection issues). Don't know what happened or changed between builds. But both computers (the server desktop PC and the notebook PC) worked great running on Win7 beta. Offline Files no longer works on either PC (desktop or notebook) as it did in beta.

Before RC, I had server PC running Win7 beta build 7000. The notebook PC (also running Win7 build 7000) was able to successfully use files offline from BOTH the server PC and PC running Windows Home Server. Since RC, I cannot get make any files available offline from the Server computer running Win7 RC or from the Windows Home Server PC.

Internet (which I don't think makes a difference with anything but just letting you know) is Comcast cable Internet.

What else do you need to know about my network config?