Sharing Drives Over the Internet

Using Windows 95/98/NT and an Internet connection, you can share network resources over the Internet almost exactly like you can over a LAN.

What You Need to Get Started:
First, make sure that your Internet connection to your provider runs well. Troubleshooting gets messy unless you know what works and what doesn't. To set up your Windows 95 machine for Peer-to-Peer Internetworking, all you need is a Windows 95 machine with a functioning connection to your provider. You also need the Windows 95 Service Pack 1, (this file is 1.2 megabytes). The Service Pack fixes a potential security risk while using the default networking drivers.

Step 1: Verify that Client for Microsoft Networks Is Installed
Go into your Control Panel, then double-click Network. You'll see the Network dialog box, which looks like this. If Client for Microsoft Networks is installed, go to the next step. If Client for Microsoft Networks does not appear on the list, then press Add, then Client, then find the Client for Microsoft Networks option. Press OK and it will appear in the Networks dialog box.

Step 2: Verify that Sharing is Enabled
Go into your Control Panel, then double-click Network. You'll see the Network dialog box, which looks like this. If File and printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks is installed, go to the next step.

Step 3: Configure File and Printer Sharing
Go into your Control Panel, then double-click Network. Press the File and Print Sharing button. You'll get a dialog box like this. Click one or both boxes, depending on if you'd like to share your files and/or printers.

Step 4: Set your Computer Name and Workgroup
Go into your Control Panel, then double-click Network. You'll see the Network dialog box, which looks like this. Click the Identification tab. The tab looks like this. Fill in a name for your computer (this is the NetBIOS name). You can call it anything, and it is not case-sensitive. Fill in WORKGROUP for the Workgroup option.

Step 5: Verify Log On To Network Option
If you're using Dial-up Networking, go to your Dial-Up Networking Folder and select your dial-up connection icon. Press the right mouse button and choose Properties.... Now press the Server Type... button. You'll get the Server Types dialog box, which looks like this. Check the Log On To Network option. Also, make sure that the computer you wish to connect to has File And Printer Sharing For Microsoft Networks installed, and is sharing some resources (directories, drives, printers, etc.).

Step 6: Login and Connect
Dial-up and login to your regular Internet connection as you normally would. Then, go to any Explorer window or the My Computer window. Click the Map Network Drive button. You'll see a dialog box pop up and show you your first available drive letter, like this. On the Path: line, enter the information for the computer you want to log on to, using the \\ComputerName\SharedResourceName format. If you only know the \\ComputerName, you can still connect. Just make sure the Network Neighborhood icon is present on your desktop, press the  button, then select Run..., and type in the \\ComputerName. You'll get a dialog box with all the shared resources available on the remote computer. Or, to just connect to a drive on an NT machine, run the \\ComputerName\driveletter$. Make sure the dollar sign follows the drive letter!

Mapping Remote Drives
To make a remote drive appear local to your system, you can map it. Select My Computer on the desktop and press the right mouse button. Select the Map Network Drive option. You'll receive a dialog box that lets you choose which drive letter to assign and a text box for the UNC address of the remote resource. If you select the Reconnect at logon option, Windows 95 will attempt to re-establish a connection and assign the same drive letter to this resource the next time you logon. Press OK and the connection will be made. The drive is now accessible by any DOS or Windows application! To disconnect from the mapped drive, simply choose Disconnect Network Drive when you right-click on My Computer.
 
 
 

Copyright © 1999-2004  Ted J. Mieske
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