I had a similar problem, though my server was in a different domain than the computer with the data. The error was finally resolved by adding a local user to my computer with the data share with the same name and password as the arcgis server account. Perhaps having the arcgis server run under a domain account is the problem, rather than a local account?
Also, before finding the solution, I was also able to mount the share,, etc. It was not share permissions, but NTFS permissions that were the problem. The server is trying to view the file using the credentials of your arcgis server account. It makes no sense to me that it works in my case, across domains, simply because I created a local user with the same name and password aas a local user, unless the authentication is skipping SID altogether and just using a name and password. Could you try adding a local user with the same name and password as the domain user on the machine hosting the data?
"Invalid folder location. Unable to access this location."
I agree with William. I was having the same issue, so went into the server that the shared folder is on, created an account for arcgis, and gave it file and share permissions on the shared folder. It worked.
Version 10.2.2
Per a suggestion above, I was trying to use a server with a dash "-" in the server name, copied data to another server and was able to publish.
I faced the same issue on ArcGIS for Server 10.4.1. I had the satellite image (file) on other server and was not able to publish the folder, after reading your i did the following
1. created an identical windows account on the server containing data
but no luck after some investigation and reading from (Make your data accessible to ArcGIS Server—Documentation | ArcGIS Enterprise )
i found that the user must be identical to ArcGIS Server Service Account in user name and Password, then give permissions on the the shared folder to this account, and i was able to register the folder successfully.
Qaisar Nadeem
I have the following case:
The data is stored in machine (m1) and the ArcGIS Server is installed in machine (m2) where these two machines are on the same group.
How the ArcGIS Server User Account in machine m2 can have an access to the D drive of machine m1 (whew the data is stored)?
Try this, go to properties of the folder > Security > Share and try sharing the folder with Administrators first then try to create the datastore (ArcGIS Server Manger > Site > Data Stores > Register Folder). If it doesn't work, try to share with Everyone. Then register the folder.
I hope that helps.