Cannot access a network drive after an upgrade to Windows 8.1

ISSUE: computer lost the ability to connect to a Windows Server 2008 share once updated to Windows 8.1 (home edition)

FIX: Because the 'home' edition of Windows doesn't contain the 'Local Security Policy' applet, a registry key needed to be added as follows:

1. run regedit
2. locate HKLM/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Policies/System
3. create a new DWORD (32 bit) entry with the name EnableLinkedConnections, with a value of 1
4. reboot the computer

Post reboot the machine could once again browse the contents of the network computer, and map drives as normal.