Mapping your network drive allows you to basically make a shortcut on your computer that leads directly to shared drive or shared folder on another computer or server on your network. It's very handy if you always need to access files from that folder.
This tutorial assumes that you already have the folder or drive already shared on the other computer and have set its permissions appropriately.
First, go to My Computer.
Click Tools and then Map Network Drive...
A window will appear that says, "Windows can help you connect to a shared network folder and assign a drive letter to the connection so that you can access the folder using My Computer. Specify the drive letter for the connection and the folder that you want to connect to:"
So select a Drive Letter from the pull down. It will hide drive letters that are already used, such as C:, and it will also show you which drive letters are already used by other network drives. Although it doesn't really matter, it may be helpful to select a drive letter that matches the folder. For example, if you are mapping a music or mp3 folder as a network drive, you may want to use drive letter M:.
Next find the Folder that you want to map it to. Click Browse and explore your network for the shared folder that you want to map.
Keep Reconnect at logon checked, so that it will try to connect to that folder everytime you login to your computer.
Click Finish
A window will open with your newly created network drive, and it will also appear under My Computer under the Network Drives section.
Note: If you do this on your laptop, and change networks, there will be a red X by the icon noting that you cannot access that network folder.
Note: If you want to remove a network drive, simply right click the Drive while in My Computer, and select Disconnect.
(click to enlarge)
Tip: You can now quickly access these drives by pressing Start + R (Run window) on your keyboard or Start > Run..., and then type the drive letter then ":" and press enter to access the drive. For example, I can type Z: and it will open up my Z drive.
