Mapping a network folder makes it appear to Windows as though the folder is part of your own computer. Windows assigns the mapped folder a drive letter, just as if it was an additional local hard disk. You can still access a mapped folder in the conventional manner, by navigating to it through Windows Explorer. But mapping gives the folder an alias—the assigned drive letter—that provides an alternative means of access.
Folder mapping offers the following benefits:
With programs that use the common dialog boxes, you can navigate to network folders just as you would with My Network Places. But to read a document from, or save a document to, a network folder using other programs (older Windows-based programs, for example, or MS-DOS-based programs), you will probably need to map the folder to a drive letter.
Because a mapped folder becomes a virtual disk on your local computer, an icon for the folder appears in the My Computer folder, right alongside your real local disks. If you do most of your work with files stored locally but occasionally need access to particular network folders, you might find it convenient to map them. That way, you won't have to bother opening the My Network Places icon to find the network folders you need.
When you navigate to a network computer using My Network Places, you might experience momentary delays while Windows locates and opens a channel to the selected computer. If you map the folder and choose the Reconnect At Logon option, any connection delays will occur at the beginning of your work session, and you'll be less likely to find them intrusive.
When you use the Search command to search for files stored on My Computer, the search encompasses not only your real local disks but also any mapped network folders. If you sometimes need to search for items that might be stored either locally or in a particular network folder, you can save yourself a search step by mapping the network folder.
To map a network folder to a drive letter:
Note that you can map only a shared network folder; you can't map a subfolder of a shared folder. Unlike the ordinary folder icon sported by subfolders, the icon for a network folder includes a representation of the network cable, as shown here.
The dialog box shown in Figure 9-6 appears.
Windows proposes the first available drive letter, but you can choose any letter that's not already in use. You might want to pick one that's mnemonically related to the content of the folder—for example, R for Reports.
Figure 9-6. Right-clicking a network folder icon and choosing Map Network Drive lets you turn the folder into a virtual local hard disk.
If you change your mind about mapping a network folder, simply right-click the folder's icon in your My Computer folder. Choose Disconnect in the resulting shortcut menu, and the tie will be severed.