Python os.path.exists returns false on windows 10 and true on windows 7 for the same network path

Question

I tried to search a lot on the forums but just couldn't find the right answer.

One of my python scripts, which runs on a windows machine looks for the existence of a network path as the first thing.

myPath = "Y:\\Windows\\Builds\\"
if not os.path.exists(myPath):
    print("This one can't be reached : "+myPath)

This works perfectly fine from a windows 7 machine (The output is true). But running the same on a windows 10 machine, results in false. All three machines, the windows 7 one, windows 10 one and Y: (a mac) are on the same local network.

Y: is a mapped drive. I have also tried to repeat with the IP instead of the mapped drive name, without luck. I have checked the paths are correct knowing the command is case sensitive.

Any help here will be highly appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

You may try os.path.join() to join paths:

path = os.path.join("Y:","windows","Build")

This will create a path string with regard to OS - for Windows7 windows\\\\Build and for Linux windows/Build .

use os.path.isdir(path) Return True if path is an existing directory.

Answer 2

If it is a network share you have to use the full path eg:

from pathlib import Path

myPath = Path('//server/sharename/Windows/Builds/')
if not os.path.exists(myPath):
    print("This one can't be reached : " + myPath)