Reference: Overview of Beyond FTP
Beyond FTP accesses network resources differently on Windows 95/98/Me and Windows NT/2000/XP platforms. On Windows 9x, the desktop mappings are available to Beyond FTP. This implies that changing the desktop drive mappings may impact Beyond FTP scripts. It also means that the Explorer may be used to manage all network resources. Beyond FTP drive mapping is not available on Windows 9x platforms.
Beyond FTP runs as a service on Windows NT based machines. Services operate in their own security context, separate from the desktop. This means that Beyond FTP does not have access to the network resources mapped on the desktop, and must create its own drive mappings.
In releases prior to version 3.0, Beyond FTP drive mappings could be created only when running under the Local System account. This created a number of problems and inconsistencies as Microsoft changed the management of drive letter resources in Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Beginning with version 3.0, all network resources must be mapped using Beyond FTP. This is required regardless of the Log On account that is used for the Beyond FTP service.
Installations of prior Beyond FTP versions are converted when 3.0 is run for the first time. If your current installation is using the Local System account, it will no longer recognize any drives that are mapped by the desktop user. This was an issue in the past on certain platforms. In addition, you will not be allowed to map drives already owned by the desktop user.
If your current installation is using a separate user account, Beyond FTP will transfer the drive mappings from the Explorer format to his own format. Once version 3.0 has performed the conversion, you should remove the mappings from the account using Explorer. All that remains are the Beyond FTP mappings. Beyond FTP may have to be restarted to finally take control of the drive letters
Note: The mappings from an existing account still depend on Beyond FTP being Logged On under that account. If you change the Log On account, you will probably have to redo the drive mappings.
In either case, there are certain restrictions and caveats when drives are mapped by more than one user on the system.
1. Windows XP provides a set of drive letters for each user. Beyond FTP drive letters may overlap those of other users.
2. Windows NT and Windows 2000 have one set of drive letters for all users. Beyond FTP should use drive letters that will not be used by the desktop user.
3. Drive letters mapped by Beyond FTP will appear on the desktop as disconnected drives. If the Beyond FTP account and the desktop account have common security privileges, the desktop will be able to access files via the drive mapped within Beyond FTP.
4. Remote users do NOT have access to mapped drives when NT security is enabled. You must use Beyond FTP security to provide access to mapped drives.
The key is to select drive letters for Beyond FTP that are not shared by the various desktop users. See the next topic for more information on using NT Security in conjunction with mapped drives.