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Access Shared Folders: How to map a network drive

Summary

This guide explains how to map a network drive on your computer, allowing access to shared folders stored on your organization's network. Once mapped, the drive will appear in File Explorer just like a local folder allowing you access whenever you need it.

Guide

You will need:

(The information is a lot less complex than it first sounds. You can get this information from a college who already has access to the folder)

Permissions

Before you map the drive (aka. make the shared folder accessible through your laptops folders) you’ll need to Log into Fresh and make a service request for folder access.

Once this has been done you can map the drive -  its advised to wait over night before doing this to allow the permmisions to sync. (Trying it early wont case any harm- just wait 24 hours before contacting the SD team)

Mapping a Network Drive

Open file explorer by pressing Windows + E or click the File Explorer icon on your taskbar.

Scroll down the list on left hand side until you reach ‘This PC’ then right click on it. From the list that appears click on ‘map network drive’ (Image below)

A box will open, and you will need to fill out the 2 boxes Drive and Folder.

Choose a Drive letter (pick a letter from the dropdown)

 In the box Folder: You’ll need to enter the ‘Server Name’ (See info required on Page 1)

This is usually one of 3 (but can differ): 

• \\ldsfileproapp01 – the most common for shared folders for Leeds based employee’s and op’s teams. 
• \\glsfileprint – Colleagues in Glasgow
• \\vadmcpro1app01 – Colleagues in VA

Next click on browse and a small box will appear, click on the small arrow next to the server’s name and navigate to the folder you need access to (the file path will help here).

Use the file path to find the folder you need (scroll down the list and if its inside another folder use the little arrows on the left of the name to show what’s in them).

Once you have found this click on the Name (it will highlight it – shown in image below) then click okay.

Next click finish.

And you’re all done 😊! 

If you open file explorer now, scroll down to this PC (and click the little arrow to the left of it) you will see your shared folder and be able to access it from here any time. 

FAQ’S

Q: I’ve made a service request for permissions how long will it take to be actioned?

A: The turn around time for service requests is 5 working days. We ask that requests are made with as much notice as possible as sometimes additional information may be required. If you need access quicker than this, please call the Service desk line.

Q: How dose the file path help me find the folder I need?

A: If you follow this in order from left to right the first folder will contain the one to the right of it, so click the small arrow next to the first folder name you can then find the next one in the drop-down.

Q. I’m having a different issue what should I do?

A: Permissions rarely change unless a request has been made, please raise an incident rather than a service request and the service desk team will support.

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