"Requested lookup key" error using 'Network Place' shortcut

I created a 'Network Place' to allow quick ftp access to a specific folder on my webhost. The Network Place itself works fine (when I double-click it, a new window opens, it logs in to the ftp site and displays the correct folder. Files can be dragged on to the window and they upload without issue.) But when I use this as a location to export some data from Picasa (Google photo management software) I get the error:

"The Requested lookup key was not found in any active activation context."

As a test, I tried using the same location as a location to save a notepad file to and the system returned this error:

"You cannot save in the folder specified. Please choose another location."

So if windows does not have any built-in solution for automatically uploading files, can anyone recommend another solution? I wouldn't have posted this question if when I export thru Picasa, it actually returned an error that made sense. I guess I'm just hoping someone knows something I don't to make this work out.

Running Win XP sp2.