16. Map
Network Drives
'Mapping' a network drive means you
allocate a drive letter to a shared network folder on your network, and can use
it in the same way as a physically connected drive on your PC. This feature is
very handy if you're sharing dozens of different folders on your network and
don't fancy having to navigate to one you regularly use for reading or writing.
You can set your PC to automatically connect to the disk at login, and it will
then appear in the shortcuts of your 'Save as' locations in almost all modern
applications - very handy indeed!
Troubleshooting Tips
If you follow our step-by-step guide, you
should have no problems setting up a home network between multiple Windows 7
PCs. However, sometimes things don't go to plan and you may run into issues.
Here are the solutions to the three most commonly encountered issues:
My Computers Won't Connect To The Router
In the unlikely event that your computers
won't connect to the router, the first thing to do is to check that the router
itself is powered up, and has finished its own boot-up sequence. Routers are
like mini computers in their own right, and are not ready to connect to the
second they are powered on. Check the status lights and be patient if you've
only just powered everything up. If you've dabbled with home networking before
and your computer has manual networking settings preconfigured, these may not
be compatible with those your router is expecting. If you used a CD to
configure your previous broadband connection, for example, and have just added
a router, there's a chance your previous settings are preventing a successful
connection.
To check for this, head to control panel,
then click on networking and sharing centre. Within this, click on 'Change
adaptor settings' and right-click on the network adaptor you're using to
connect to the router, be it wired or wireless. Click 'Properties' and then
click on 'Internet protocol version 4 (TCP/ IPv4)'. Click the 'Properties'
button. If 'Use the following IP address' is ticked and there are numbers
entered here, click on 'Obtain an IP address automatically'. Also click on
'Obtain DNS server address automatically'. This will tell your network adaptor
to obtain its IP settings from the router's DHCP server rather than trying to
find a device that is no longer connected!
If you're having problems connecting
wirelessly, there's a chance your laptop or wireless card doesn't support the
modern WPA2 security system. If this is the case, you will need to use a
cable-connected PC to access your router's settings and set it to WEP instead.
This problem is very common when connecting older laptops or wireless devices.
My Computers Cannot See Each Other On
The Network
If your computers are connected to the
router but cannot see one another, they may not be in the same workgroup.
Remember, Windows XP and Windows 7 machines have different default workgroup
names. All PCs must be on the same workgroup to see each other and share files.
If they still cannot see each other, you should check that you've configured
your network as a 'Home' network. If you accidentally selected public or work
network, the firewall and security settings will be set to disallow other
computers to discover your computer. You can change the type of network you're
connected to in the Network and Sharing Centre. On the main screen it will show
your active networks, with an icon representing the type of network. A home
network shows a cartoon house. A public network shows a bench. To change the
variety of network, just click on the blue link under the network name and
change its location.
I’ve Shared My Files And Folders But
Cannot Access Them From The Other PCs
This is probably the most common problem
people encounter when setting up file sharing across home networks. If you're
greeted by a username and password prompt when trying to click on a folder, but
you don't use a password to log into your operating system, then you will need
to disable password protected file sharing within the 'Advanced sharing
settings' of the Network and Sharing Center. A better option is to set a login
password for your username. This may cost you a few extra seconds for that
first login of the day, but is much more secure and allows you to use other
handy features like remote desktop. The login and password for your network
file share is then the same as your account login for the host computer.
If you use a password but the system still
cannot connect, the next step is to check the security software on the
computer. If you're using a fully featured security application (usually
'Internet Security branded rather than 'Antivirus' branded) it may contain a
firewall that is blocking access to your other PCs. You will need to set up the
firewall to allow access from other computers on your network.
