Map Network Drive

[Bill in SD, CA]

I know this something I should know but I don't. So forgive me if this is a stupid question.

What is it and how do I know if I need to do it?

Thanks,

Bill

[theocpcguru]

Mapping a network drive is assigning a drive letter on your local machine to a shared folder on the network. Mapping a drive is simple. Go to Windows Explorer. Click Tools - Map Network Drive. A dialoge will come up asking you for the drive. This is the drive letter you are going to assign to the share. It will ask you for the folder. Use standard UNC path's for this. For instance, if you have a computer called server with a folder shared as SHARE, type
\\server\share

as the folder. Also, Windows 2000 and XP have default shares, or folders that are shared by default. For instance, if your computer named server is running one of those os's, you can use
\\server\c$
where C$ represents the default share on the C drive. With Windows 2000 and XP you can access the default share information by right clicking my computer and then on manage to open up the microsoft management console. Expand shared folders, then click on shares. You can view your default shares here. I don't know if any of the Win9X or ME os's have default shares. Also, I just learned that in 2k you can right click on my computer and map network drive from there...

Hope this helps.

[blubomber]

In a network there are files being shared on other computers, either on a file server or another workstation. To get to the files you need from another computer, you can browse the network looking for that computer and then the file that is being shared, which can be time consuming.

Or, you can setup a Mapped Network Drive. What it basicaly is, is a shortcut to a shared file on another computer. This shortcut has a picture of a Harddrive with some wires coming out of it. Your computer will give this Mapped Drive a drive letter and acts alot like a local hard drive. You can see the mapped drive in the command prompt as a drive letter. You can copy files to and from this drive. Your workstation can be setup to automaticaly reconnect to this Mapped drive when your computer reboots.

Hope this helped you out some. Have a good day!