How to map a network drive

Overview

Use these instructions to connect to MHCDrive and other network file shares.

On this page

• Windows instructions
• macOS instructions

Windows instructions

1. Make sure you're on the campus network
   • On campus, connect via ethernet or eduroam (Lyonnet-Encrypt won't work)
   • Off campus, you'll need to be connected to the VPN

2. Open File Explorer from the taskbar or the Start menu, or by pressing the Windows logo key + E.

3. Select This PC from the left pane.

4. Then, on the File Explorer ribbon, select More  and choose Map network drive.

5. Select a letter to map to.

   • You can use any available letter to map the drive to - it doesn't have to be in the "Z Drive"

6. Enter the network address for the drive you want to connect to. 

   • On campus:
     • \\mhcdrive\departments\ for department shared files and folders in MHCDrive
     • \\comms-server\comm for the Communications NAS
   • Off campus:
     • \\mhcdrive.ms.mtholyoke.edu\departments\ for department shared files and folders in MHCDrive 

7. If you want to reconnect every time you use your computer when connected to the campus network, choose Reconnect at sign in when the option is presented.

8. Once you have confirmed your selection, select Finish at the lower-right corner.

6. At the end of this process, the new drive will appear any time you navigate to this PC in File Explorer, and you will be able to access its content from there.

macOS instructions

1. Make sure you're on the campus network
   • On campus, connect via ethernet or eduroam (Lyonnet-Encrypt won't work)
   • Off campus, you'll need to be connected to the VPN

2. Choose Finder from your App Dock. 

3. From the toolbar, choose GO → Connect to server 

4. Enter the network address for the drive for MHCdrive

   • On campus: 
     • smb://mhcdrive.ms.mtholyoke.edu/departments/ for department shared files and folders in MHCDrive 
   • Off campus:
     • smb://mhcdrive.ms.mtholyoke.edu/departments/ for department shared files and folders in MHCDrive

5. Choose Connect