False "problem connecting to server" error

I have a USB drive connected to router & shared SMB.

Mac has no problem to connect, authenticate & use this drive.

I have added it to LOGIN ITEMS.


Every boot the error appears "there was a problem connecting to this server" but when I click OK, the server mounts on desktop - so there is no problem, just an annoying error.


Any ideas how to stop the error?

iMac 27″, macOS 10.13

Posted on May 25, 2021 7:43 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on May 26, 2021 6:00 PM

Whew, this is going to be a tough nut to crack!


Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at startup), does the problem occur in Safe Mode? Could take 10 minutes.


Safe mode attempts to repair Disks & clears lots of caches & loads safe Drivers, & prevents loading of 3rd party extensions, so if Safe Mode works try again in regular boot.


To find out if it's system wide or user specific, try this...


Open System Preferences>Users & Groups, unlock the lock, click on the little plus icon, make a new admin account, log out & into the new account.


Does it work in the new account?

8 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 26, 2021 6:00 PM in response to Riquez

Whew, this is going to be a tough nut to crack!


Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at startup), does the problem occur in Safe Mode? Could take 10 minutes.


Safe mode attempts to repair Disks & clears lots of caches & loads safe Drivers, & prevents loading of 3rd party extensions, so if Safe Mode works try again in regular boot.


To find out if it's system wide or user specific, try this...


Open System Preferences>Users & Groups, unlock the lock, click on the little plus icon, make a new admin account, log out & into the new account.


Does it work in the new account?

May 26, 2021 4:53 PM in response to BDAqua

I removed all servers from the recent & favourites. but the issue remains.


I noticed that this error stops other login items from completing - it pops up as soon as the desktop appears.

This morning I came to the computer at 8:30 (its scheduled for 7:30) & when I click OK, then the disk mounted, my email opened & the fans started up (Email & Macs fan control are both login items.)

May 26, 2021 6:29 PM in response to BDAqua

Hi BDAqua, thanks for your help so far.

An interesting development ~


1) Safe Boot : There is no error & the drive does not auto-mount. In "login Items" there is an exclamation mark next to the drive.

I can select the drive manually in Shared side bar & it then mounts without error.


2) After that I rebooted into my usual account - The error appeared but this time no drive mounted after clicking OK. That's different from before. It also shows an exclamation in Login Items. I was able to connect manually.


3) I created a new Admin user & re-booted. This time I had Automatic Login disabled. I decided to login to my normal account just to check. This time the drive mounted correctly without an error.


4) I re-enabled Auto-login & rebooted - again error pops up but no drive mounts after 'OK'.


So it looks like Auto-login OFF fixes the issue, but I wonder if there is a way to fix it with Auto-login ON?


Also something has changed in the behaviours after safe boot, which seems odd.


Note: I have not tried the new admin account yet due to the above result.

May 26, 2021 7:11 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks BD,

The new Admin account is the same as my regular account. The error dialogue pops up, I click OK & the drive does not mount. I can mount it manually.


I'm a little reluctant to add the startup delay. If I did do that, how should I undo it?


It's nice to have 25 second boot with SSD - I wonder if having an fast SSD is part of the problem?

I'm not too bothered about having to login, it's not ideal but better than having to manually mount each time.


Thanks for your help & your friendly attitude 👍

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False "problem connecting to server" error

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