network drive replaced by an external drive












0














I have an old software which needs access to a network drive, eg. \nameofnetworkdrive but the problem is that the network drive has now been replaced by an external USB drive (eg. drive X). Is there any way to create a symbolic link so that when the software tries to access \nameofnetworkdrive it will in fact access from the new external drive X: instead? In other words, to trick the software into thinking that the network drive still exist but in fact it has been replaced by external drive X:?



I have tried to make the external drive X: as a network drive and try to use the same name as the previous network drive but this doesn't work because windows will automatically use the machine name of my computer as the first part of the name of the network drive, eg. \computer namenameofnetworkdrive



I am using an old Windows Vista. Grateful if anyone can show me what commands I can use in MS DOS to make this link.



Thank you!



===========UPDATED QUESTION=================================



Following the response I have received, I have created the network drive by the following:-



net share nameofnetworkdrive=X:



However, it has created a network drive with the name \mycomputernameofnetworkdrive



Is there any way of making this network name to be \nameofnetworkdrive without the mention of mycomputer? because the old software would only work if it can find a network drive with the name \nameofnetworkdrive.



Grateful for any help on this! Thanks!



===================CURRENT PROBLEM===========



It would be easier if I explain the current problem. When I net share the external drive say X:, the path of such network drive will be called [name of my computer][name that I create for this network drive]. Problem is my old software will only recognise a standalone network drive called [name of network drive] but not one which is preceded by [my computer]. The only way of course is to put the external drive into the network via an ethernet port (which is not possible because this drive does not have an ethernet port). As long as the external drive is plugged into my computer as an external drive when sharing the drive to the network its path will be preceded by the name of mycomputer. I am trying to find ways of getting rid of that path to mycomputer and making the drive as a stand alone network drive as if it was connected directly into the network via ethernet port. Hope this explains the problem. Thanks again for your help.










share|improve this question
























  • I have tried the command and created the network drive but the name of the network drive is now called \mycomputertest (using the same names as in your response) but the old software needs the network drive to be called \test Is there anyway of changing the name so that the network drive is only referred to as \test and without the computername? Thanks!
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 13:41










  • In Windows, shared folders are accessed by system name, share name and resource - for example \computershared or \computersharedfile.txt... \computer has never been a valid UNC path for a directory - are you sure there isn't a particular structure of shared folders that the software requires too, and which it then concatenates onto the "base" path \computer?
    – Attie
    Dec 9 at 22:21










  • the previous old network drive was a stand alone network drive plugged into the ethernet, so there was no \computer... in front of the path. It was simply \networkdrivename. I am trying to create a new network drive with such same name \networkdrivename but I can't because the \mycomputername is now always in front.
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 22:26










  • That's not how it works...
    – Attie
    Dec 9 at 23:26
















0














I have an old software which needs access to a network drive, eg. \nameofnetworkdrive but the problem is that the network drive has now been replaced by an external USB drive (eg. drive X). Is there any way to create a symbolic link so that when the software tries to access \nameofnetworkdrive it will in fact access from the new external drive X: instead? In other words, to trick the software into thinking that the network drive still exist but in fact it has been replaced by external drive X:?



I have tried to make the external drive X: as a network drive and try to use the same name as the previous network drive but this doesn't work because windows will automatically use the machine name of my computer as the first part of the name of the network drive, eg. \computer namenameofnetworkdrive



I am using an old Windows Vista. Grateful if anyone can show me what commands I can use in MS DOS to make this link.



Thank you!



===========UPDATED QUESTION=================================



Following the response I have received, I have created the network drive by the following:-



net share nameofnetworkdrive=X:



However, it has created a network drive with the name \mycomputernameofnetworkdrive



Is there any way of making this network name to be \nameofnetworkdrive without the mention of mycomputer? because the old software would only work if it can find a network drive with the name \nameofnetworkdrive.



Grateful for any help on this! Thanks!



===================CURRENT PROBLEM===========



It would be easier if I explain the current problem. When I net share the external drive say X:, the path of such network drive will be called [name of my computer][name that I create for this network drive]. Problem is my old software will only recognise a standalone network drive called [name of network drive] but not one which is preceded by [my computer]. The only way of course is to put the external drive into the network via an ethernet port (which is not possible because this drive does not have an ethernet port). As long as the external drive is plugged into my computer as an external drive when sharing the drive to the network its path will be preceded by the name of mycomputer. I am trying to find ways of getting rid of that path to mycomputer and making the drive as a stand alone network drive as if it was connected directly into the network via ethernet port. Hope this explains the problem. Thanks again for your help.










share|improve this question
























  • I have tried the command and created the network drive but the name of the network drive is now called \mycomputertest (using the same names as in your response) but the old software needs the network drive to be called \test Is there anyway of changing the name so that the network drive is only referred to as \test and without the computername? Thanks!
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 13:41










  • In Windows, shared folders are accessed by system name, share name and resource - for example \computershared or \computersharedfile.txt... \computer has never been a valid UNC path for a directory - are you sure there isn't a particular structure of shared folders that the software requires too, and which it then concatenates onto the "base" path \computer?
    – Attie
    Dec 9 at 22:21










  • the previous old network drive was a stand alone network drive plugged into the ethernet, so there was no \computer... in front of the path. It was simply \networkdrivename. I am trying to create a new network drive with such same name \networkdrivename but I can't because the \mycomputername is now always in front.
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 22:26










  • That's not how it works...
    – Attie
    Dec 9 at 23:26














0












0








0







I have an old software which needs access to a network drive, eg. \nameofnetworkdrive but the problem is that the network drive has now been replaced by an external USB drive (eg. drive X). Is there any way to create a symbolic link so that when the software tries to access \nameofnetworkdrive it will in fact access from the new external drive X: instead? In other words, to trick the software into thinking that the network drive still exist but in fact it has been replaced by external drive X:?



I have tried to make the external drive X: as a network drive and try to use the same name as the previous network drive but this doesn't work because windows will automatically use the machine name of my computer as the first part of the name of the network drive, eg. \computer namenameofnetworkdrive



I am using an old Windows Vista. Grateful if anyone can show me what commands I can use in MS DOS to make this link.



Thank you!



===========UPDATED QUESTION=================================



Following the response I have received, I have created the network drive by the following:-



net share nameofnetworkdrive=X:



However, it has created a network drive with the name \mycomputernameofnetworkdrive



Is there any way of making this network name to be \nameofnetworkdrive without the mention of mycomputer? because the old software would only work if it can find a network drive with the name \nameofnetworkdrive.



Grateful for any help on this! Thanks!



===================CURRENT PROBLEM===========



It would be easier if I explain the current problem. When I net share the external drive say X:, the path of such network drive will be called [name of my computer][name that I create for this network drive]. Problem is my old software will only recognise a standalone network drive called [name of network drive] but not one which is preceded by [my computer]. The only way of course is to put the external drive into the network via an ethernet port (which is not possible because this drive does not have an ethernet port). As long as the external drive is plugged into my computer as an external drive when sharing the drive to the network its path will be preceded by the name of mycomputer. I am trying to find ways of getting rid of that path to mycomputer and making the drive as a stand alone network drive as if it was connected directly into the network via ethernet port. Hope this explains the problem. Thanks again for your help.










share|improve this question















I have an old software which needs access to a network drive, eg. \nameofnetworkdrive but the problem is that the network drive has now been replaced by an external USB drive (eg. drive X). Is there any way to create a symbolic link so that when the software tries to access \nameofnetworkdrive it will in fact access from the new external drive X: instead? In other words, to trick the software into thinking that the network drive still exist but in fact it has been replaced by external drive X:?



I have tried to make the external drive X: as a network drive and try to use the same name as the previous network drive but this doesn't work because windows will automatically use the machine name of my computer as the first part of the name of the network drive, eg. \computer namenameofnetworkdrive



I am using an old Windows Vista. Grateful if anyone can show me what commands I can use in MS DOS to make this link.



Thank you!



===========UPDATED QUESTION=================================



Following the response I have received, I have created the network drive by the following:-



net share nameofnetworkdrive=X:



However, it has created a network drive with the name \mycomputernameofnetworkdrive



Is there any way of making this network name to be \nameofnetworkdrive without the mention of mycomputer? because the old software would only work if it can find a network drive with the name \nameofnetworkdrive.



Grateful for any help on this! Thanks!



===================CURRENT PROBLEM===========



It would be easier if I explain the current problem. When I net share the external drive say X:, the path of such network drive will be called [name of my computer][name that I create for this network drive]. Problem is my old software will only recognise a standalone network drive called [name of network drive] but not one which is preceded by [my computer]. The only way of course is to put the external drive into the network via an ethernet port (which is not possible because this drive does not have an ethernet port). As long as the external drive is plugged into my computer as an external drive when sharing the drive to the network its path will be preceded by the name of mycomputer. I am trying to find ways of getting rid of that path to mycomputer and making the drive as a stand alone network drive as if it was connected directly into the network via ethernet port. Hope this explains the problem. Thanks again for your help.







networking hard-drive external-hard-drive






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Dec 9 at 22:15

























asked Dec 9 at 13:01









Data

11




11












  • I have tried the command and created the network drive but the name of the network drive is now called \mycomputertest (using the same names as in your response) but the old software needs the network drive to be called \test Is there anyway of changing the name so that the network drive is only referred to as \test and without the computername? Thanks!
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 13:41










  • In Windows, shared folders are accessed by system name, share name and resource - for example \computershared or \computersharedfile.txt... \computer has never been a valid UNC path for a directory - are you sure there isn't a particular structure of shared folders that the software requires too, and which it then concatenates onto the "base" path \computer?
    – Attie
    Dec 9 at 22:21










  • the previous old network drive was a stand alone network drive plugged into the ethernet, so there was no \computer... in front of the path. It was simply \networkdrivename. I am trying to create a new network drive with such same name \networkdrivename but I can't because the \mycomputername is now always in front.
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 22:26










  • That's not how it works...
    – Attie
    Dec 9 at 23:26


















  • I have tried the command and created the network drive but the name of the network drive is now called \mycomputertest (using the same names as in your response) but the old software needs the network drive to be called \test Is there anyway of changing the name so that the network drive is only referred to as \test and without the computername? Thanks!
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 13:41










  • In Windows, shared folders are accessed by system name, share name and resource - for example \computershared or \computersharedfile.txt... \computer has never been a valid UNC path for a directory - are you sure there isn't a particular structure of shared folders that the software requires too, and which it then concatenates onto the "base" path \computer?
    – Attie
    Dec 9 at 22:21










  • the previous old network drive was a stand alone network drive plugged into the ethernet, so there was no \computer... in front of the path. It was simply \networkdrivename. I am trying to create a new network drive with such same name \networkdrivename but I can't because the \mycomputername is now always in front.
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 22:26










  • That's not how it works...
    – Attie
    Dec 9 at 23:26
















I have tried the command and created the network drive but the name of the network drive is now called \mycomputertest (using the same names as in your response) but the old software needs the network drive to be called \test Is there anyway of changing the name so that the network drive is only referred to as \test and without the computername? Thanks!
– Data
Dec 9 at 13:41




I have tried the command and created the network drive but the name of the network drive is now called \mycomputertest (using the same names as in your response) but the old software needs the network drive to be called \test Is there anyway of changing the name so that the network drive is only referred to as \test and without the computername? Thanks!
– Data
Dec 9 at 13:41












In Windows, shared folders are accessed by system name, share name and resource - for example \computershared or \computersharedfile.txt... \computer has never been a valid UNC path for a directory - are you sure there isn't a particular structure of shared folders that the software requires too, and which it then concatenates onto the "base" path \computer?
– Attie
Dec 9 at 22:21




In Windows, shared folders are accessed by system name, share name and resource - for example \computershared or \computersharedfile.txt... \computer has never been a valid UNC path for a directory - are you sure there isn't a particular structure of shared folders that the software requires too, and which it then concatenates onto the "base" path \computer?
– Attie
Dec 9 at 22:21












the previous old network drive was a stand alone network drive plugged into the ethernet, so there was no \computer... in front of the path. It was simply \networkdrivename. I am trying to create a new network drive with such same name \networkdrivename but I can't because the \mycomputername is now always in front.
– Data
Dec 9 at 22:26




the previous old network drive was a stand alone network drive plugged into the ethernet, so there was no \computer... in front of the path. It was simply \networkdrivename. I am trying to create a new network drive with such same name \networkdrivename but I can't because the \mycomputername is now always in front.
– Data
Dec 9 at 22:26












That's not how it works...
– Attie
Dec 9 at 23:26




That's not how it works...
– Attie
Dec 9 at 23:26










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















0














You may create a share from an elevated Command Prompt (cmd) with the
net share command.



For example:



net share test=C:Temp
dir \mycomputertest


This should also be possible from Windows Explorer
(but I don't remember the menu command on Vista).






share|improve this answer





















  • Thanks for your quick response! I will look up this command to learn more about it and give it a try. Thanks!
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 13:20










  • I have tried the command and created the network drive but the name of the network drive is now called \mycomputertest (using the same names as in your response) but the old software needs the network drive to be called \test Is there anyway of changing the name so that the network drive is only referred to as \test and without the computername? Thanks!
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 13:39












  • That syntax never worked on any Windows version, since test will be taken as the name of a computer. Are you sure?
    – harrymc
    Dec 9 at 15:56










  • Because of the word limit in this comment box, I have described the problem as an update to my question above. Thanks.
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 22:16










  • I never heard of the syntax of "\share", even in Vista. This was always "\computer". Maybe the old program expects such a computer to exist on the network.
    – harrymc
    Dec 10 at 8:11



















0














Haven't used Vista in a while, but this should still work if memory serves correctly.



Right-Click on My Computer > Manage > Disk Manager
Right-Click on the USB drive and choose "Change Drive Letter and Paths..."
Click Change, choose a new letter from the drop down, and then click OK. Your USB drive should no longer be using that letter.



Edit:
Sorry, didn't read your post fully. Try this: In your hosts file, (C:WindowsSystem32driversetchosts)



127.0.0.1   nameofnetworkdrive 


Now when you use: \nameofnetworkdrive it should point to your local machine. You'll need to share out the local drive to do this.






share|improve this answer























  • Thanks but your method will allow change to the name of the drive. But in my case, the network drive is named as \mycomputernetworkdrivename but I want the name to be without mycomputer and be just \networkdrivename.
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 14:28










  • Thanks! I missed your edited response. I will try it now.
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 22:31










  • Did my update help you resolve your issue?
    – Blerg
    Dec 12 at 15:29











Your Answer








StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "3"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});

function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: true,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: 10,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});


}
});














draft saved

draft discarded


















StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fsuperuser.com%2fquestions%2f1382078%2fnetwork-drive-replaced-by-an-external-drive%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);

Post as a guest















Required, but never shown

























2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes








2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









0














You may create a share from an elevated Command Prompt (cmd) with the
net share command.



For example:



net share test=C:Temp
dir \mycomputertest


This should also be possible from Windows Explorer
(but I don't remember the menu command on Vista).






share|improve this answer





















  • Thanks for your quick response! I will look up this command to learn more about it and give it a try. Thanks!
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 13:20










  • I have tried the command and created the network drive but the name of the network drive is now called \mycomputertest (using the same names as in your response) but the old software needs the network drive to be called \test Is there anyway of changing the name so that the network drive is only referred to as \test and without the computername? Thanks!
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 13:39












  • That syntax never worked on any Windows version, since test will be taken as the name of a computer. Are you sure?
    – harrymc
    Dec 9 at 15:56










  • Because of the word limit in this comment box, I have described the problem as an update to my question above. Thanks.
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 22:16










  • I never heard of the syntax of "\share", even in Vista. This was always "\computer". Maybe the old program expects such a computer to exist on the network.
    – harrymc
    Dec 10 at 8:11
















0














You may create a share from an elevated Command Prompt (cmd) with the
net share command.



For example:



net share test=C:Temp
dir \mycomputertest


This should also be possible from Windows Explorer
(but I don't remember the menu command on Vista).






share|improve this answer





















  • Thanks for your quick response! I will look up this command to learn more about it and give it a try. Thanks!
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 13:20










  • I have tried the command and created the network drive but the name of the network drive is now called \mycomputertest (using the same names as in your response) but the old software needs the network drive to be called \test Is there anyway of changing the name so that the network drive is only referred to as \test and without the computername? Thanks!
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 13:39












  • That syntax never worked on any Windows version, since test will be taken as the name of a computer. Are you sure?
    – harrymc
    Dec 9 at 15:56










  • Because of the word limit in this comment box, I have described the problem as an update to my question above. Thanks.
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 22:16










  • I never heard of the syntax of "\share", even in Vista. This was always "\computer". Maybe the old program expects such a computer to exist on the network.
    – harrymc
    Dec 10 at 8:11














0












0








0






You may create a share from an elevated Command Prompt (cmd) with the
net share command.



For example:



net share test=C:Temp
dir \mycomputertest


This should also be possible from Windows Explorer
(but I don't remember the menu command on Vista).






share|improve this answer












You may create a share from an elevated Command Prompt (cmd) with the
net share command.



For example:



net share test=C:Temp
dir \mycomputertest


This should also be possible from Windows Explorer
(but I don't remember the menu command on Vista).







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered Dec 9 at 13:12









harrymc

252k12259560




252k12259560












  • Thanks for your quick response! I will look up this command to learn more about it and give it a try. Thanks!
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 13:20










  • I have tried the command and created the network drive but the name of the network drive is now called \mycomputertest (using the same names as in your response) but the old software needs the network drive to be called \test Is there anyway of changing the name so that the network drive is only referred to as \test and without the computername? Thanks!
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 13:39












  • That syntax never worked on any Windows version, since test will be taken as the name of a computer. Are you sure?
    – harrymc
    Dec 9 at 15:56










  • Because of the word limit in this comment box, I have described the problem as an update to my question above. Thanks.
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 22:16










  • I never heard of the syntax of "\share", even in Vista. This was always "\computer". Maybe the old program expects such a computer to exist on the network.
    – harrymc
    Dec 10 at 8:11


















  • Thanks for your quick response! I will look up this command to learn more about it and give it a try. Thanks!
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 13:20










  • I have tried the command and created the network drive but the name of the network drive is now called \mycomputertest (using the same names as in your response) but the old software needs the network drive to be called \test Is there anyway of changing the name so that the network drive is only referred to as \test and without the computername? Thanks!
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 13:39












  • That syntax never worked on any Windows version, since test will be taken as the name of a computer. Are you sure?
    – harrymc
    Dec 9 at 15:56










  • Because of the word limit in this comment box, I have described the problem as an update to my question above. Thanks.
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 22:16










  • I never heard of the syntax of "\share", even in Vista. This was always "\computer". Maybe the old program expects such a computer to exist on the network.
    – harrymc
    Dec 10 at 8:11
















Thanks for your quick response! I will look up this command to learn more about it and give it a try. Thanks!
– Data
Dec 9 at 13:20




Thanks for your quick response! I will look up this command to learn more about it and give it a try. Thanks!
– Data
Dec 9 at 13:20












I have tried the command and created the network drive but the name of the network drive is now called \mycomputertest (using the same names as in your response) but the old software needs the network drive to be called \test Is there anyway of changing the name so that the network drive is only referred to as \test and without the computername? Thanks!
– Data
Dec 9 at 13:39






I have tried the command and created the network drive but the name of the network drive is now called \mycomputertest (using the same names as in your response) but the old software needs the network drive to be called \test Is there anyway of changing the name so that the network drive is only referred to as \test and without the computername? Thanks!
– Data
Dec 9 at 13:39














That syntax never worked on any Windows version, since test will be taken as the name of a computer. Are you sure?
– harrymc
Dec 9 at 15:56




That syntax never worked on any Windows version, since test will be taken as the name of a computer. Are you sure?
– harrymc
Dec 9 at 15:56












Because of the word limit in this comment box, I have described the problem as an update to my question above. Thanks.
– Data
Dec 9 at 22:16




Because of the word limit in this comment box, I have described the problem as an update to my question above. Thanks.
– Data
Dec 9 at 22:16












I never heard of the syntax of "\share", even in Vista. This was always "\computer". Maybe the old program expects such a computer to exist on the network.
– harrymc
Dec 10 at 8:11




I never heard of the syntax of "\share", even in Vista. This was always "\computer". Maybe the old program expects such a computer to exist on the network.
– harrymc
Dec 10 at 8:11













0














Haven't used Vista in a while, but this should still work if memory serves correctly.



Right-Click on My Computer > Manage > Disk Manager
Right-Click on the USB drive and choose "Change Drive Letter and Paths..."
Click Change, choose a new letter from the drop down, and then click OK. Your USB drive should no longer be using that letter.



Edit:
Sorry, didn't read your post fully. Try this: In your hosts file, (C:WindowsSystem32driversetchosts)



127.0.0.1   nameofnetworkdrive 


Now when you use: \nameofnetworkdrive it should point to your local machine. You'll need to share out the local drive to do this.






share|improve this answer























  • Thanks but your method will allow change to the name of the drive. But in my case, the network drive is named as \mycomputernetworkdrivename but I want the name to be without mycomputer and be just \networkdrivename.
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 14:28










  • Thanks! I missed your edited response. I will try it now.
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 22:31










  • Did my update help you resolve your issue?
    – Blerg
    Dec 12 at 15:29
















0














Haven't used Vista in a while, but this should still work if memory serves correctly.



Right-Click on My Computer > Manage > Disk Manager
Right-Click on the USB drive and choose "Change Drive Letter and Paths..."
Click Change, choose a new letter from the drop down, and then click OK. Your USB drive should no longer be using that letter.



Edit:
Sorry, didn't read your post fully. Try this: In your hosts file, (C:WindowsSystem32driversetchosts)



127.0.0.1   nameofnetworkdrive 


Now when you use: \nameofnetworkdrive it should point to your local machine. You'll need to share out the local drive to do this.






share|improve this answer























  • Thanks but your method will allow change to the name of the drive. But in my case, the network drive is named as \mycomputernetworkdrivename but I want the name to be without mycomputer and be just \networkdrivename.
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 14:28










  • Thanks! I missed your edited response. I will try it now.
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 22:31










  • Did my update help you resolve your issue?
    – Blerg
    Dec 12 at 15:29














0












0








0






Haven't used Vista in a while, but this should still work if memory serves correctly.



Right-Click on My Computer > Manage > Disk Manager
Right-Click on the USB drive and choose "Change Drive Letter and Paths..."
Click Change, choose a new letter from the drop down, and then click OK. Your USB drive should no longer be using that letter.



Edit:
Sorry, didn't read your post fully. Try this: In your hosts file, (C:WindowsSystem32driversetchosts)



127.0.0.1   nameofnetworkdrive 


Now when you use: \nameofnetworkdrive it should point to your local machine. You'll need to share out the local drive to do this.






share|improve this answer














Haven't used Vista in a while, but this should still work if memory serves correctly.



Right-Click on My Computer > Manage > Disk Manager
Right-Click on the USB drive and choose "Change Drive Letter and Paths..."
Click Change, choose a new letter from the drop down, and then click OK. Your USB drive should no longer be using that letter.



Edit:
Sorry, didn't read your post fully. Try this: In your hosts file, (C:WindowsSystem32driversetchosts)



127.0.0.1   nameofnetworkdrive 


Now when you use: \nameofnetworkdrive it should point to your local machine. You'll need to share out the local drive to do this.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited Dec 9 at 14:58

























answered Dec 9 at 14:14









Blerg

984313




984313












  • Thanks but your method will allow change to the name of the drive. But in my case, the network drive is named as \mycomputernetworkdrivename but I want the name to be without mycomputer and be just \networkdrivename.
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 14:28










  • Thanks! I missed your edited response. I will try it now.
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 22:31










  • Did my update help you resolve your issue?
    – Blerg
    Dec 12 at 15:29


















  • Thanks but your method will allow change to the name of the drive. But in my case, the network drive is named as \mycomputernetworkdrivename but I want the name to be without mycomputer and be just \networkdrivename.
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 14:28










  • Thanks! I missed your edited response. I will try it now.
    – Data
    Dec 9 at 22:31










  • Did my update help you resolve your issue?
    – Blerg
    Dec 12 at 15:29
















Thanks but your method will allow change to the name of the drive. But in my case, the network drive is named as \mycomputernetworkdrivename but I want the name to be without mycomputer and be just \networkdrivename.
– Data
Dec 9 at 14:28




Thanks but your method will allow change to the name of the drive. But in my case, the network drive is named as \mycomputernetworkdrivename but I want the name to be without mycomputer and be just \networkdrivename.
– Data
Dec 9 at 14:28












Thanks! I missed your edited response. I will try it now.
– Data
Dec 9 at 22:31




Thanks! I missed your edited response. I will try it now.
– Data
Dec 9 at 22:31












Did my update help you resolve your issue?
– Blerg
Dec 12 at 15:29




Did my update help you resolve your issue?
– Blerg
Dec 12 at 15:29


















draft saved

draft discarded




















































Thanks for contributing an answer to Super User!


  • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

But avoid



  • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

  • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.





Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.


Please pay close attention to the following guidance:


  • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

But avoid



  • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

  • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




draft saved


draft discarded














StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fsuperuser.com%2fquestions%2f1382078%2fnetwork-drive-replaced-by-an-external-drive%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);

Post as a guest















Required, but never shown





















































Required, but never shown














Required, but never shown












Required, but never shown







Required, but never shown

































Required, but never shown














Required, but never shown












Required, but never shown







Required, but never shown







Popular posts from this blog

flock() on closed filehandle LOCK_FILE at /usr/bin/apt-mirror

Mangá

Eduardo VII do Reino Unido