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Quick answer: Scan the authorized network path or mapped drive, account for share permissions and expect different performance and space-accounting behavior than a local NTFS volume.
By DiskAnalyzer editorial resource · Documentation review: 2026-10-28
How can I inspect a mapped network drive with a disk analyzer?
Scan the authorized network path or mapped drive, account for share permissions and expect different performance and space-accounting behavior than a local NTFS volume.
Step-by-step diagnosis on Windows
- Confirm that the share is reachable and that your account may inspect it.
- Record the UNC path (such as \\server\share) and its mapped drive letter, if any.
- Choose the permitted scan scope and avoid scanning unrelated shares.
- Sort large folders, then confirm ownership and retention policies with the administrator.
- Compare results with the NAS administration console before claiming recoverable capacity.
Interpretation checklist
| Finding | What it may mean |
|---|---|
| Slow result | Network latency and the number of small files can add time. |
| Access denied | Your report is partial; seek authorized access rather than bypassing permissions. |
| Total differs from NAS | Snapshots, recycle bins and filesystem overhead may not appear as normal share files. |
Safety and limitations
Do not remove backups or shared project folders without an owner-approved retention plan.
WizTree provides a file inventory; it does not establish file ownership, deletion safety or the health of storage hardware. Review Windows and the relevant application's documentation before changes.
How to verify the result
Record the scan date, Windows version, filesystem, drive and metric used. Make one approved change at a time, then rerun the same scan and compare Windows free space. A predicted saving is not a measured saving.
Related Windows storage guides
Sources and methodology
Based on public WizTree technical documentation and Microsoft Windows storage management guidance. No independent runtime or binary testing is claimed. Check the instructions for your installed version before changing system files.