In this video, we take a look at how you access a network share from a Microsoft Windows computer. However as there are a number of ways to access network shares from within Windows. We are going to show you the three main ways we access our network shares.
In order to access your network shares, you will need the following information:
- The sub-domain name or IP address of your file server.
- A valid username and password in order to access your File Server.
- The name of the network share you wish to access.
Note: Depending on how your local Windows user account and your file server account have been configured. You maybe prompted to enter a user name and password. If this is the case you will need to enter the credentials for your file server user account. However if the user profile you use to log into Windows matches the user account you created on your file server. Windows will not prompt you for any user credentials when you connect to your network share.
- From the desktop of Windows, select Start from the Taskbar.
- Locate and choose Search.
- Now type the following:
\\myfileservehostname or \\192.168.xxx.xxx
Note: You will need to type two back slashes, to inform Windows that it is looking to connect to a network share.
- If you want to connect to a specific network share. Type another back slash and then enter the name of the network share you wish to connect to. For example:
\\192.168.xxx.xxx\Public
- Open File Explorer.
- Locate and select the Address bar.
- Now type the following:
\\myfileservehostname or \\192.168.xxx.xxx
- Alternatively to access a specific network share, type:
\\192.168.xxx.xxx\Public
- Open File Explorer.
- Locate and select Network from the sidebar of File Explorer.
- If you have never used Network Discovery before. You will see a ribbon appear in File Explorer prompting you to active Network Discovery.
- Click on change and turn on “network discovery and file sharing“.
- After Windows finished scanning your network, under the heading Computer select the icon associated with your file server.
- A list of your network shares will be displayed.
- Select a drive from this list.
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