How to Map Network Drives in Windows

Posted on
Updated on

February 26, 2024

Purpose:

  • Map a network drive on a Windows 10 computer

Requirements:

  • Windows 10 Operating System
  • Connection to the Mass General Brigham computer network (Ethernet, PHSWifi3, CVO or VPN)

Instructions:

Mass General Brigham builds Windows 10 computers automatically map drives when connected to the network, such as being onsite or being connected to VPN. 

Personal Windows PCs do not map drives directly.

 

If the drives are not mapped, you can manually map them. Manually mapping is required for Research Network Drives such as RFAs or MAD storage.

 

 

Manual Mapping

Remove Old Mappings

If you need to update an old mapping, please remove the old mapping first.

  1. Open File Explorer
  2. Select This PC
  3. Right click on the drive and selecting Disconnect.

Manual Mapping

  1. Open File Explorer

    • File Explorer is available from:
      • The taskbar

      • Within the Start Menu

  2. Select This PC

  3. Click Map Network Drive  or Right click to open a pop up menu and select Map Drives from there

  4. Choose an available drive letter. Most people use H for the Home Drive

  5. Type in the network path for the network drive into the "Folder:" text field:
    Note: To look up your network paths, please see: INFO: Where can I find what SFAs I have access to? 
    • Home Drive: \\cifshd.partners.org\homedir$
    • SFAs: 
      • \\cifs2.partners.org\sfaname$
      • \\smbgpa.partners.org\sfaname$
      • \\smbgpb.partners.org\sfaname$
    • PEC SFAs: \\peccifs2.partners.org\sfaname$
    • RFAs: \\rfawin.partners.org\rfaname (rfaname will be typically be INSTITUTION-LABNAME, IE. BWH-TIMI)
    • MAD3: See https://rc.partners.org/kb/article/2733

  6. Select Connect using different credentials
  7. Click Finish

  8. When prompted to login, enter partners\<your username> (i.e. partners\abc123) for the username field and your password in the password field. If you are unable to edit your user name, select "More choices" then "Use a different account".

  9. The drive will appear on the left hand side underneath This PC and underneath Network Locations under This PC. 

Related Articles:

 

Go to KB0035014 in the IS Service Desk