Technology
Help Desk
Windows XP: Access Your File Server Drives Using A Personally Owned Computer
All members of the Simmons community have access to storage space on the file server. Each Simmons faculty and staff member has a personal file server folder, where they can store up to 1 GB. Students can store 100MB of data. You can access these folders from any computer with an Internet connection using http://remote.simmons.edu (for assistance, see the instructions). Alternatively, when your computer is attached to any data port on campus (e.g. in your dorm room), you may attach your computer to the file server the same way Simmons computers in the Information Commons and classrooms attach. To do this, to "mount" the folder locally, read on. If you need assistance, please visit the Library Information Commons Technology Desk or call the Simmons Technology Help Desk at 617-521-2222.
To access your file server drives from a Simmons-owned computer on campus or using another operating system (e.g. OS X), please see other versions of this document: http://my.simmons.edu/technology/helpdesk/fileserver.
Step 1) Open My Computer from the desktop (if it is not on the desktop, choose it from the Start menu). From the Tools menu, select Map Network Drive…. The Drive: field contains the letter of the drive you are associating with your file server folder. You may leave it as Z:, or change it to another letter of your preference.
You have two options for what to enter in the Folder: field:
Student
To access your personal folder on the college file servers, enter \\mcbfs1\Student\<username> (Replace the text "<username>" with your username - the same username you use for Simmons Webmail).
This folder gives you access to your personal file server folder. This is not a temporary folder like StudentData. Any documents you save there will stay until you delete them, or until you are no longer enrolled at Simmons. Only you have access to your file server folder;* you may safely store your personal files there. The Technology department backs up the file server regularly, so your data will be safe and secure.
StudentData
To gain access to the public student storage folder, enter \\mcbfs1\StudentData. This folder can be used for transferring files to someone else or for temporary storage. Please note that files older than 2 weeks are deleted daily, and files in this folder are not backed up. Also be aware that this is not a secure location, and files can be viewed and deleted by anyone who accesses the folder. Please backup your work and do not save confidential information that you don't want others to read.
*Some Technology staff have access rights to your user folder; their access is governed by the Simmons Acceptable Use Policy and the Technology at Simmons College Confidentiality Agreement.
If you leave the "Reconnect at logon" box checked, then Windows will attempt to map this drive every time you log in or your computer starts up. If your password on your computer is different from your file server password, you will have to enter your file server password every time you start your computer.
If you intend to use your file server folder regularly, leave this box checked.
If you intend to use your file server folder only occasionally, uncheck this box.
Click Finish. A window opens, asking for your user name.
Step 2) At the "Connecting to mcbfs1" box, enter:
- User name: SIMMONSNT\username (The same username you used earlier)
- Password: Your password.
If this is your first time using your file server folder, you are prompted to change your password. Your new password should be six to eight characters and should include upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters.
Caution: If your password is longer than eight characters, you will be unable to use it on Macintosh computers on campus.
Step 3) Your file server folder opens. You may use this folder like any other folder on your computer; you may also access this folder by opening My Computer and choosing the drive named the same as the location you entered - StudentData on 'mcbfs1' or username on 'mcbfs1/Users'.
Step 4) To disconnect the mapped drive, open My Computer. From the Tools menu, select Disconnect Network Drive…. Select the file server drive that you want to disconnect and click OK.
Note: Occasionally Technology needs to perform maintenance on the Simmons network. Please check your Simmons email or ask Information Commons Technology staff for information about when and how this may affect access to the file server.