Solution:
OIT provides 5GB of server storage space for each individual University netID on the Central File Server. You can use this personal space to store your important files and folders so that they are accessible to you from any computer connected to the network. For simplicity, this space is often referred to as your H: drive.

It is highly recommended that all University members with Windows computers join the Princeton domain while on campus for file sharing, security and anti-virus software updates, as well as access to networked printers. For students, another advantage is that your H: drive is automatically mapped and will reconnect at login. See www.princeton.edu/files for instruction.

If your computer is not joined to the domain, or your computer is running Windows XP Home, you can still map your H: drive to the Central File Server so that you are connected each time you start your computer.

1. Double-click on the My Computer icon on your Desktop (or click on the Start button and pull up to My Computer). If your H: drive is already mapped to the Central File Server, it will look like this:
   

2. If you see a Network Drive with your University netID on 'files' (H:) you are already connected to the Central File Server with your H: drive mapped. If you see your H: drive mapped to 'smbserve' (as in the graphic below) you are using Samba technology to connect. OIT recommends that you disconnect this mapped drive and re-connect again to your H: drive using a different path, in order to utilize the NAS Central File Server to its fullest capabilities. Right-click on the 'smbserve' (H:) drive and select Disconnect.
   

3. Next, close all open windows, and right-click on My Computer (or click on the Start button and right-click on My Computer) and select Map Network Drive...
   

4. Select the drive letter H: and type the following command in the Folder: field
   \\files\yourNetID
   Make sure to type your own individual netID, for example \\files\johndoe
   Select Reconnect at logon option so that the H: drive will be available each time you start Windows. Click Finish.
   

5. When mapping a network drive, you can click the different user name option to enter alternate credentials (for example: princeton\anotherNetID). Note: If you are NOT on your own computer, do NOT click the Reconnect at Logon button, or you risk security to the intellectual property stored on your H: drive.

6. Now you can access your account on the Central File Server through your H: drive. Double-click on My Computer to access it. For helpful tips on what type of files to store, how to set permissions, and how to restore any files should they be accidentally overwritten or deleted, see: www.princeton.edu/files.

Troubleshooting

• If you are logged on to Windows as a different user, or if you are not logged into the Princeton domain, you may see a Enter Network Password window. Try typing princeton\yourNetID in the Connect As: field (make sure to use your own University netID), and ensure that you are using the correct password.

• If you do not have a Windows domain account, you will be unable to connect to the Central File Server. Call the Help Desk at 8-HELP to troubleshoot further.
• If you are off-campus and connecting to the Internet with your own Internet Service Provider, you will need to make a VPN connection to the University before accessing the Central File Server. See Solution 6023 for information about Virtual Private Networking (VPN). When using a VPN connection, you may need to use files.princeton.edu/netID rather than files/netID in the Folder field from Step 4.