Fix: ERROR_SUBST_TO_JOIN 141 (0x8D)

The ERROR_SUBST_TO_JOIN 141 (0x8D) with an error message: The system tried to SUBST a drive to a directory on a joined drive, means that the system has attempted to use the SUBST command to assign a drive letter to a directory located in a drive that has already been joined using the NET USE command or other similar method.

The error occurs because you are not supposed to map a drive letter to a directory that is part of a networked drive. To fix the issue, restart your computer, as it can clear temporary issues, and refresh the drive mappings.

How can I fix the ERROR_SUBST_TO_JOIN 141 (0x8D)?

1. Check the existing mappings

1. Press the Windows key, type cmd in the search box, and click Run as administrator to launch Command Prompt with elevated rights.
2. Type the following command to get the list of all currently mapped drives and their statuses, then hit Enter: net use
3. In the list, look for the drive letter or directory for which you are trying to use the SUBST command. If it is in the list, it might be the reason for the error.

2. Try using a different drive letter

1. Press the Windows key, type cmd in the search box, and click Run as administrator to launch Command Prompt with elevated rights.
2. Type the following command to get the list of all currently mapped drives and their statuses, then hit Enter: net use
3. Select a drive letter that is not on the list, copy & paste the following command after replacing the drive letter and path you need, then press Enter: SUBST Z: "C:\Path\To\Your\Directory"
4. To verify the new mapping type the net use command again.
5. To access the mapped drive, press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
6. Go to This PC, look for the new drive letter, and double-click it to access the directory.

3. Remove the existing mapping

1. Press the Windows key, type cmd in the search box, and click Run as administrator to launch Command Prompt with elevated rights.
2. Type the following command to get the list of all currently mapped drives and their statuses, then hit Enter: net use
3. Identify the drive that you want to remove and disconnect the mapping, copy & paste the following command after replacing [drive letter] with the Drive letter you want to disconnect and hit Enter: net use [drive letter] /delete
4. Rerun the net use command to check if the mapping is removed.

4. Check the drive status

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run window.
2. Type diskmgmt.msc and click OK to open the Disk Management window.
3. Locate the drive and check its status; you may see any of these options:
   • Healthy: The drive is working correctly.
   • Unallocated: Space on the drive that hasn’t been allocated to a partition.
   • Offline: The system does not recognize the drive.
   • Foreign: The drive is from another device and needs to be imported.
4. You can also right-click the drive and select Properties, then get the detailed information about the drive.

To conclude, the ERROR_SUBST_TO_JOIN 141 (0x8D) issue can be fixed by checking the existing mappings, reviewing the drive status or removing the existing mappings on your device.

Don’t forget to check out all the reasons for BSoD occurrence so that you can take precautions and avoid these errors from reappearing. We have covered another BSoD issue, Error_not_joined, so read this guide to learn more about it. Before you leave, check out this guide on ERROR_NOT_SUBSTED 137 (0x89), a similar BSoD issue.

Did we skip a step that helped you fix this BSoD issue? If so, feel free to share it with our readers in the comments section below, and we will add it to the list.