// Optimization: Check connection validity more efficiently
        if (this.treeHandle != null && this.treeHandle.isConnected()) {
            // Connection is still valid - reuse it
            return this.treeHandle.acquire();
        }

        // Clean up old handle if needed
        final SmbTreeHandleImpl oldHandle = this.treeHandle;
        if (oldHandle != null) {

 * to referencing files and directories, jCIFS can also address servers,
 * and workgroups.
 * <p>
 * <strong><i>Important: all SMB URLs that represent
 * workgroups, servers, shares, or directories require a trailing slash '/'.
 * </i></strong>
 * <p>
 * When using the {@code java.net.URL} class with
 * 'smb1://' URLs it is necessary to first call the static