use strict;
use Win32API::File qw( :DRIVE_ GetDriveType );
my $drive= "Y:";
my $type= GetDriveType($drive);
if(  DRIVE_REMOTE == $type  ) {
    warn "Drive $drive is remote.\n";
} elsif(  DRIVE_FIXED == $type  ) {
    warn "Drive $drive is local harddisk.\n";
} elsif(  DRIVE_CDROM == $type  ) {
    warn "Drive $drive is local CD-ROM.\n";
} elsif(  DRIVE_REMOVABLE == $type  ) {
    warn "Drive $drive is local but media my not be present.\n";
} elsif(  DRIVE_RAMDISK == $type  ) {
    warn "Drive $drive is memory-resident virtual.\n";
} else {
    warn "Drive $drive is probably invalid.\n";
}
[download]

so DRIVE_FIXED or DRIVE_RAMDISK means you should have no problem accessing it. Other types might fail or take a while. Lots of other goodies in Win32API::File (for example, if you want to see if there is any media in drive) which comes standard with modern Perls.

        - tye (but my friends call me "Tye")