MAC OS Sierra Favourite Network Locations Disappearing

I've recently installed a pair of iMacs running MAC OS Sierra on a network with a Windows 7 64bit Pro PC acting as a fileserver. I added the various shared folders as favourites on the Finder sidebar however once in a while the favourites vanish and need to be re-added.

At first I thought it was perhaps because the iMacs were connected to the network via WiFi and the connection wasn't established before the computer tried to somehow validate the favourites so I've wired the computers in but it's made no difference.
frasierphilipsAsked:
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Eoin OSullivanConsultantCommented:
Do you want the BAD news or the BAD news?

This "ISSUE" has been in OSX for quite some time and it pre-dates Sierra and there is no sign of it being fixed
http://www.macworld.com/article/3004016/operating-systems/what-to-do-when-el-capitan-sidebars-favorites-disappear.html
You should not need to re-add the favourites but you will have to force the Finder to reload and re-connect for the favourites to reappear

The received wisdom is that the "solution" is to restart the Mac or at a minimum restart the Finder in OSX
Restarting Finder on OS X - 3 different ways
Step 1: hold the ⌥ (alt/option) key on your keyboard.
Step 2: right click on the Finder icon in your dock.
Step 3: click Relaunch.

Step 1: open Finder.
Step 2: click the  menu and hold Shift on your keyboard.
Step 3: click Force Quit Finder.

Step 1: open Terminal.
Step 2: type killall Finder.

Open in new window


As far as I can tell the CAUSE is related to OSX and its implementation of SMB and issue with network timeouts but I haven't heard of a clear FIX or hack that appears to resolve it.

Basically Apple implements SMB to connect to WINDOWS PCs and Servers and this SMB protocol is not 100% perfectly compatible and has a few idosyncracies.  Networking OSX and Windows has always been a little bit temperamental and although it is a LOT better than it was in the past is is not perfect.

You have to either  ..
a. Live with it and pester Apple to fix this issue with SMB in OSX .. do not hold your breath
b. If you've a corporate network you can PAY to fix it as there are alternatives to Apple's SMB for connecting to Windows like this application which are more stable and reliable than SMB - http://www.acronis.com/en-us/mobility/mac-windows-compatibility/purchasing/
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frasierphilipsAuthor Commented:
Excellent - thanks for such a full answer.  I think sometimes we all need to take a deep breath and just admit that PCs are better than MACs at certain things ;)
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Eoin OSullivanConsultantCommented:
Not BETTER just DIFFERENT!!  
Don't you remember the Apple slogan "Think Different"??   ;-)

Apples work very well with other Apples .. less well with Lemons (Windows)

I'd NEVER recommend a WINDOWS FILESERVER with OSX client computers .. it just will never be 100% reliable.  A NAS running Unix and sharing AFP for OSX and SMB for Windows is usually the best file sharing solution in a mixed Win/OSX office environment.
Not that everyone has that choice/option which I appreciate.
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Eoin OSullivanConsultantCommented:
BTW .. if you also put an ALIAS to the network share on the DESKTOP and even in the DOCK .. they will not disappear and you can often double-click the alias to re-establish the connection.
Don't rely completely on the mounted drive staying Favourites.
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frasierphilipsAuthor Commented:
Don't have that option I'm afraid.  It's seems to be becoming increasingly trendy for 'prestige' businesses to have MACs 'front of house' but retain the back-office PCs and that's what's happened here.  There are 12 PCs out of sight and 2 MACs in the shop area.
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frasierphilipsAuthor Commented:
Ok - good advice
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serialbandCommented:
You can always install the original SAMBA and use that.  Apple originally used SAMBA until SAMBA decided to switch licenses to GPLv3.  At that point Apple decided to write their own SMB stack, poorly, hence the problems everyone has been having with it ever since.   You can either download and install SAMBA manually or use SMBUp.  SMBUp is probably easiest for most Mac Users.

https://www.tweaking4all.com/os-tips-and-tricks/macosx-tips-and-tricks/smbup-mac-os-x-smb-fix/
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