After you share a file or folder, users can connect
to it as a network resource or map to it by using a driver letter on
their machines. After a network drive has been mapped, users can access
it just as they would a local drive on their computer.
To map a network drive to a shared file or folder, follow these steps:
1. | Click Start, and then click Computer.
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2. | In Windows Explorer, click the Map Network Drive button on the toolbar. This displays the Map Network Drive dialog box.
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3. | Use the Drive field to select a free drive letter to use, and then click the Browse button to the right of the Folder field.
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4. | In
the Browse for Folder dialog box, expand the Network folders until you
can select the name of the workgroup or the domain with which you want
to work. When you expand the name of a computer in a workgroup or a
domain, you’ll see a list of shared folders. Select the shared folder
you want to work with, and then click OK.
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5. | Select Reconnect at Logon if you want Windows Vista to connect to the shared folder automatically at the start of each session.
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6. | If
your current logon doesn’t have appropriate access permissions for the
share, click the Different User Name link. You can then enter the
username and password of the account with which you want to connect to
the shared folder. Typically, this feature is used by administrators
who log on to their computers with a limited account and also have an
administrator account for managing the network.
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7. | Click Finish.
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If
you later decide you don’t want to map the network drive, click Start,
and then click Computer. In Windows Explorer, under Network Location,
right-click the network drive icon and choose Disconnect.
You
can also type in a UNC in the Run box or the address bar in Windows
Explorer. To display the Run box quickly, use the Windows logo key + R
shortcut. If you don’t have a Windows logo key or if you prefer to use
the mouse, you can add the Run option to the Start menu in Windows
Vista, as follows:
1. | Right-click the Start button and choose Properties.
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2. | On the Start Menu tab, click the Customize button to the right of the Start Menu option.
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3. | In the Customize Start Menu dialog box, scroll down and place a check mark next to the Run option.
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4. | Click OK to save your changes. |
