Managing Disconnected Network Drive(s)

I have a Windows XP Professional laptop that I use to many different client networks during a given day.

I access network shares on these networks using the “net use� command.

When I have disconnected network drive shares due to moving to another network, this slows applications such as Microsoft Word when I use File - Open and then pull down on the look in area to open a file on my local drive.

What is happening? I suspect Windows XP Professional is trying to access the disconnected shares and eventually times out. I am looking for a more technical answer.

What can do that is automatic that will speed up? Manually, I can disconnect shares I know I no longer have access to. I am looking for an automatic way, perhaps some timeout value.