How do you access the Drive of a Computer?

Question

How can I access the Hard Drive of a computer on my network?

Answer 1

Before giving any details I have to give you this warning:
Remember that sharing a directory shares everything inside it, including other directories. Share ONLY directories that really have to be shared. Never share the root (/) of a drive because that opens up the entire drive to potential hackers.

Now the details. First, you have to share the directory. On the machine it resides on:

1. Right click on it in the left pane of Windows Explorer and select Sharing and Security.
2. On the Sharing tab, go into the Network sharing and security box.
3. Click both the Share this folder on Network and (it will come on) Allow network users to change my files check boxes.
4. Give the directory a Share name.
5. Click OK

Now it's available to be read from other machines on your network. On one of those machines:

1. Click on My Computer.
2. Click the Folders button to display folders in the left-hand pane.
3. Click My Network Places.
4. Click Entire Network.
5. Click Microsoft Windows Network.
6. Click your network.
7. Click the machine you just shared the directory on.

Note: It may not show up here immediately, in fact, this has been the most frustrating part of sharing files or printers for me. Sometimes, restarting the machine with the directory seems to help this along.

8. If you expand the other machine's entry, you should now be
able to see the directory in the list. You can click directly on it to open it, or you can go up to Tools->Map network Drive and set up a link to the directory that comes up whenever you log in.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Hard drives are not shared over a network unless someone is incredibly stupid. Individual files may be seen that are shared.
Just right click on the Start button - chose explore - expand My Network Places(click plus sign) - getting down to Windows Networks and expanding again.
Trying to read the files on another's computer will probably bring up the Admin. password. Keep in mind - a smart Admin. logs these kind of things. :)

Answer 3

Windows XP -
My Computer >>
My Network Places >>
View Network Connections >>
Any Hardware on Other computers on the Network is There

Answer 4

For what?
Do you mean that which is written onto the HD, or the physical HD inside the computer?

To access programs, just double-click My Computer on the desktop, open C:

As to the HD inside the computer, consult your User's Guide or installation guide.

Answer 5

it needs to be shared first. On the computer that you want to access right click the file or folder you want to share and go to sharing and security. Click share this folder/drive, and click just enable sharing.
Then on the other computer type \\computername\sharename
where computer name is the full computer name found in control panel, system. And sharename is the name youy gave to the shared folder/file.

Answer 6

with drive sharing u can acess the drive of computer network. right click on drive what u want to share in network (like c, d, e..)share drive and u can see though and see in network view network computer u can acess them.