Shortcut vs Mapping to local LAN

Dennis (Tri3) repsonded on another thread and subject the following and I would like to explore further but felt it belonged in a new thread: "I never bother mapping drives. I just create shortcuts to their locations without assigning them any drive letters." I have always thought the only way was to Map the drives on my other computers on my local LAN. Of course this always requires setting up "sharing" properly of those items to be shared (I have always shared the entire contents of a drive) since it was my local LAN and necessary option if Network & File Sharing.

Interested of course if there is another way. Tried to create a shortcut using \\AnotherComputeronMyLAN\C:\ and could not find.

No big deal - just curiosity.

Ed Bitzer, theHammer

Dennis,

Once I entered the correct address, in my case \\Dell660S\EonDell the shortcut worked fine.

I have three windows computers, two desktop and a laptop, and the desktops are partitioned into five different drives. I backup just data files with a scheduled batch file every evening - this way one computer goes down I am still in business or should I say I still have a brain - everything I knew in the computer, much is seeped out of the head at age 91 so I rely heavily on my second brain.

I have had problem off and on over the years corrupting mapping only to recover shortly but not really knowing what change accomplished (I know, bad poorly constructed trouble shooting). I definitely am going to start using more shortcuts to drives on my other computers and certainly could group either in the Windows Drive folder or write a small exe to condense and select. I will play a bit.

I have been involved with forums for over 30 years but backed off the last 10 and definitely having trouble responding on this forum. I swear I sent this before, and the memory is not that bad yet, but it must have gone into never never land because I cannot find - and this is the second time in the last week..

Many thanks,
Ed

Denis: Thanks also for the thorough list of help and tutorials available. I promise to study.

As for my last post is certainly was not clear. Background again ----- As I just did a clean install and had to recreate my backup handling and access to files on my other computers,I believe I can do a better job. Again I have multiple partitions on both my six year old BlackBeast which I built from components and my older Dell 660S. In the former case my C partition in my entire SSD, all of 256 with D, E, F and G partitions of my conventional drive, two terabytes. I install those programs where I want the best speed on C and utilities and other programs that I seldom use on D. E holds my data files, F source file (many of which are no longer installed but my memory of what solved some problem, and G an archive which is very similar in content to my E or data drive. Nightly I just backup the E and G drives, I periodically save a image of my C drive in case I really screw up

When I got thinking about the value of shortcuts vs Mapping I was attempting to describe how I get to the five drives I have on each desktop and how this was a shortcut to all five mapped drives. You can create a folder under Windows called Drives and place it it shortcuts to each of the partitions on that computer. You refer to it by opening Toolbars after right clicking on the taskbar and then creating a new tool bar by searching and clicking on that newly created Drive folder. This puts the Drives folder in the Notification area. After minimizing its with by dragging the folder name remains with a ">>" icon to its right. Click that and the list of partitions displays. Of course this could be done by opening File Explorer and then scanning for these drives but this way is quick and I have become accustomed to it. Have no idea where I got this creating a new toolbar from - years ago.
Now I indicated I might write code to accomplish a similar task, but no need. Another "Other Drives" folder could be created with which could handle shortcuts to my other computers drives. Have to do a little testing and think about it. There always so many ways of doing something under Windows.

Berton: Considered using a solid state drive connected to my router which I see how you use. Recently we had a new Network installed in our building with LWAP's in each apartment. Bit convenient to connect to that USP port which is up on the ceiling in our utility room with its limited space. My use is more of a one way backup to my old computer hoping never to need - just an insurance policy. I course I have been know to either delete or mess up the code in a program so that accessing that other computers files sometimes becomes important.

Ed

Dennis,

Remember I back up to my old Dell both the E and G and this is my security blanket so that if anything happens to my main computer I can immediately move my chair four feet to right and immediately at least have crutch. Have most the daily used programs on that computer also. My data security is as you suggest two external drives that I backup to every week or two again with batch files that copy only changed files and manually, not using the Task Scheduler. G is really less used data folders and keeps file explorer a little less cluttered having two separate partitions.

Ed