Enter Password for Mapped Drive

I have an application that sends files to a Network drive that has been mapped as the "Z:\" drive. When code first runs, it errors with "path cannot be found". Then if you open up MyComputer, and double click on the drive, windows asks you for UserName/Password. Once entered, if you run the code again, everything is fine.

So it looks like it cant find the drive b/c a username/password has not "unlocked" the drive yet.

How do I get vb to unlock the drive so I may transfer the file?


**EDIT - I found some stuff online but it seems like it self maps the drive. I'm just looking at applying the username/password to the mapped drive so I may copy. Any Ideas?

Is it a requirement to enter an ID/Password to authenticate the share? Why not just click the "remember" checkbox when entering the credentials so that it is always authenticated?