If you’ve been using windows for a while, you will no doubt be aware of all the home networking goodness that Windows 7 promises. I’ve just revisited Windows thanks to Win 7. For the last year or so I have been using a great little Linux distribution by the name of PC LinuxOS. This was in large part due to a disillusionment with Windows XP and Vista, one of which had become hopelessly outdated, and the other simply hopeless. With Windows 7, all is forgiven.
Networking in the linux world is, let’s just say different. I have a nifty little home network happening, and on coming back to Windows I recalled that in order to map a network drive on another machine, running an antique version of Windows, there is no requirement for Samba or any command line voodoo. Simply navigate to the desired directory, (oops – folder – I’m back in Windows now), right click and select "Map network drive". Too easy!
Yes. Too easy by far. In Windows 7 there’s another way. Perhaps a better way, and now I’m going to share that way with you. In Windows Explorer you want to navigate to "Computer" 
up on the tools bar you will see the option "Map Network Drive" – select it, and choose your preferred drive letter from the drop down box.
Then browse to your required folder
Click the OK button, the Finish button, and you’re done. Your network drive should now show up under "Computer"
So there you have it. It really is too easy, it’s just that in typical Microsoft fashion the method is entirely backwards from what it was.
Screen captures courtesy of Itechtalk
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Yes, I think you may well be right, however the way I have always done it (on XP pro at least) was to navigate to the target directory first, and then select "Map network drive" from the context menu there. This option does not appear to be available in win 7 home prem. To me the XP way seemed a little more logical, because once you navigated a tortuous path to some directory, you can think to yourself "how much easier would life be if I just mapped this drive here and now" If this post helps but one person like me who found that their old way of doing it no longer works, then I'm happy. .-= p B´s last blog ..Map a network drive in Windows 7 =-.
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LikeYes, I think you may well be right, however the way I have always done it (on XP pro at least) was to navigate to the target directory first, and then select "Map network drive" from the context menu there. This option does not appear to be available in win 7 home prem. To me the XP way seemed a little more logical, because once you navigated a tortuous path to some directory, you can think to yourself "how much easier would life be if I just mapped this drive here and now" If this post helps but one person like me who found that their old way of doing it no longer works, then I'm happy. .-= p B´s last blog ..Map a network drive in Windows 7 =-.
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LikePierre, I was thinking the same thing. The new feature I really like with windows networking in 7 is the ability to create libraries and then use the mklink command to create a symbolic link (aka shortcut) in that library to a network location even if it's on a Linux server and is treated like a local resource. Very handy... even if it isn't possible with native search to index it.
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LikeAs I recall it, this has been the way you map a network drive ever since Windows 2000, even if the looks of the dialog have evolved a little.
- spam
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- disagree
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LikePierre, I was thinking the same thing. The new feature I really like with windows networking in 7 is the ability to create libraries and then use the mklink command to create a symbolic link (aka shortcut) in that library to a network location even if it's on a Linux server and is treated like a local resource. Very handy... even if it isn't possible with native search to index it.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeAs I recall it, this has been the way you map a network drive ever since Windows 2000, even if the looks of the dialog have evolved a little.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeYes, I think you may well be right, however the way I have always done it (on XP pro at least) was to navigate to the target directory first, and then select "Map network drive" from the context menu there. This option does not appear to be available in win 7 home prem.
To me the XP way seemed a little more logical, because once you navigated a tortuous path to some directory, you can think to yourself "how much easier would life be if I just mapped this drive here and now"
If this post helps but one person like me who found that their old way of doing it no longer works, then I'm happy.
.-= p B´s last blog ..Map a network drive in Windows 7 =-.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeYes, I think you may well be right, however the way I have always done it (on XP pro at least) was to navigate to the target directory first, and then select "Map network drive" from the context menu there. This option does not appear to be available in win 7 home prem.
To me the XP way seemed a little more logical, because once you navigated a tortuous path to some directory, you can think to yourself "how much easier would life be if I just mapped this drive here and now"
If this post helps but one person like me who found that their old way of doing it no longer works, then I'm happy.
.-= p B´s last blog ..Map a network drive in Windows 7 =-.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikePierre, I was thinking the same thing.
The new feature I really like with windows networking in 7 is the ability to create libraries and then use the mklink command to create a symbolic link (aka shortcut) in that library to a network location even if it's on a Linux server and is treated like a local resource. Very handy... even if it isn't possible with native search to index it.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeAs I recall it, this has been the way you map a network drive ever since Windows 2000, even if the looks of the dialog have evolved a little.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikePierre, I was thinking the same thing.
The new feature I really like with windows networking in 7 is the ability to create libraries and then use the mklink command to create a symbolic link (aka shortcut) in that library to a network location even if it's on a Linux server and is treated like a local resource. Very handy... even if it isn't possible with native search to index it.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeAs I recall it, this has been the way you map a network drive ever since Windows 2000, even if the looks of the dialog have evolved a little.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
Like