How to use a Windows share mapped using `net use \hostshare`?

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How to use a Windows share mapped using net use \hostshare?

I've accidentally forgotten to include the device name, e.g. Z:, in the above command, resulting in the share being mapped without a corresponding network drive showing up in Windows Explorer. The mapped share is listed using net use.

Now, what can a mapped share, without a corresponding network drive, be used to? Is it possible to link the share to a network drive afterwards (how)?

windows-7 windows network-shares

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asked 3 hours ago

Shuzheng

181129

add a comment | 

up vote
1
down vote

favorite

How to use a Windows share mapped using net use \hostshare?

I've accidentally forgotten to include the device name, e.g. Z:, in the above command, resulting in the share being mapped without a corresponding network drive showing up in Windows Explorer. The mapped share is listed using net use.

Now, what can a mapped share, without a corresponding network drive, be used to? Is it possible to link the share to a network drive afterwards (how)?

windows-7 windows network-shares

share|improve this question

asked 3 hours ago

Shuzheng

181129

add a comment | 

up vote
1
down vote

favorite

up vote
1
down vote

favorite

How to use a Windows share mapped using net use \hostshare?

I've accidentally forgotten to include the device name, e.g. Z:, in the above command, resulting in the share being mapped without a corresponding network drive showing up in Windows Explorer. The mapped share is listed using net use.

Now, what can a mapped share, without a corresponding network drive, be used to? Is it possible to link the share to a network drive afterwards (how)?

windows-7 windows network-shares

share|improve this question

asked 3 hours ago

Shuzheng

181129

How to use a Windows share mapped using net use \hostshare?

I've accidentally forgotten to include the device name, e.g. Z:, in the above command, resulting in the share being mapped without a corresponding network drive showing up in Windows Explorer. The mapped share is listed using net use.

Now, what can a mapped share, without a corresponding network drive, be used to? Is it possible to link the share to a network drive afterwards (how)?

windows-7 windows network-shares

windows-7 windows network-shares

share|improve this question

asked 3 hours ago

Shuzheng

181129

share|improve this question

asked 3 hours ago

Shuzheng

181129

share|improve this question

share|improve this question

asked 3 hours ago

Shuzheng

181129

asked 3 hours ago

Shuzheng

181129

asked 3 hours ago

Shuzheng

181129

181129

add a comment | 

add a comment | 

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

up vote
2
down vote

resulting in the share being mapped without a corresponding network drive showing up

Technically, if a drive letter wasn't specified, then the share isn't mapped; it's only connected to.

Now, what can a mapped share, without a corresponding network drive, be used to?

Everything, because most programs accept UNC paths directly – mapping to a drive letter is optional. For example, you can open the path \hostshare in Explorer or Notepad or Word or any other program; you can even dir it from the Command Prompt. This has been possible ever since Windows 95 – for more than 20 years now.

Windows will automatically connect to shares whenever an UNC path is used, so technically you don't even need net use at all. However the command remains useful even without specifying drive letters, because it lets you specify a custom username and password.

That said, there are still valid reasons to use drive letter mappings: they let you quickly see used/free space in "This PC" ("My Computer"), they're shorter to type, and you can actually cd into them via Command Prompt.

Is it possible to link the share to a network drive afterwards (how)?

If you still want to map the share to a drive, simply repeat the command with a drive letter:

net use z: \hostshare

share|improve this answer

edited 24 mins ago

answered 1 hour ago

grawity

223k33458521

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thank you - so using net use \hostshare is only useful to establish a connection with a custom username and password? Given that such connection has been established, then Windows will automatically use it when needed from e.g. Explorer?
  – Shuzheng
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Yes, it will be used automatically.
  – grawity
  46 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
1
down vote

Is it possible to link the share to a network drive afterwards?

Yes, using these commands:

net use \hostshare /delete
net use \hostshare z:

This deletes the mapping and then recreates it using the drive letter you specify.

share|improve this answer

answered 1 hour ago

Twisty Impersonator

16.3k126090

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thank you - but I know this. I want to know, what the mapped share can be used to, not just deleted and remapped with a corresponding device name :)
  – Shuzheng
  1 hour ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @Shuzheng I'd have to do some research to answer the other part of your question. If you didn't mean to ask the part I answered, please edit your question to clarify.
  – Twisty Impersonator
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

up vote
2
down vote

resulting in the share being mapped without a corresponding network drive showing up

Technically, if a drive letter wasn't specified, then the share isn't mapped; it's only connected to.

Now, what can a mapped share, without a corresponding network drive, be used to?

Everything, because most programs accept UNC paths directly – mapping to a drive letter is optional. For example, you can open the path \hostshare in Explorer or Notepad or Word or any other program; you can even dir it from the Command Prompt. This has been possible ever since Windows 95 – for more than 20 years now.

Windows will automatically connect to shares whenever an UNC path is used, so technically you don't even need net use at all. However the command remains useful even without specifying drive letters, because it lets you specify a custom username and password.

That said, there are still valid reasons to use drive letter mappings: they let you quickly see used/free space in "This PC" ("My Computer"), they're shorter to type, and you can actually cd into them via Command Prompt.

Is it possible to link the share to a network drive afterwards (how)?

If you still want to map the share to a drive, simply repeat the command with a drive letter:

net use z: \hostshare

share|improve this answer

edited 24 mins ago

answered 1 hour ago

grawity

223k33458521

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thank you - so using net use \hostshare is only useful to establish a connection with a custom username and password? Given that such connection has been established, then Windows will automatically use it when needed from e.g. Explorer?
  – Shuzheng
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Yes, it will be used automatically.
  – grawity
  46 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
2
down vote

resulting in the share being mapped without a corresponding network drive showing up

Technically, if a drive letter wasn't specified, then the share isn't mapped; it's only connected to.

Now, what can a mapped share, without a corresponding network drive, be used to?

Everything, because most programs accept UNC paths directly – mapping to a drive letter is optional. For example, you can open the path \hostshare in Explorer or Notepad or Word or any other program; you can even dir it from the Command Prompt. This has been possible ever since Windows 95 – for more than 20 years now.

Windows will automatically connect to shares whenever an UNC path is used, so technically you don't even need net use at all. However the command remains useful even without specifying drive letters, because it lets you specify a custom username and password.

That said, there are still valid reasons to use drive letter mappings: they let you quickly see used/free space in "This PC" ("My Computer"), they're shorter to type, and you can actually cd into them via Command Prompt.

Is it possible to link the share to a network drive afterwards (how)?

If you still want to map the share to a drive, simply repeat the command with a drive letter:

net use z: \hostshare

share|improve this answer

edited 24 mins ago

answered 1 hour ago

grawity

223k33458521

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thank you - so using net use \hostshare is only useful to establish a connection with a custom username and password? Given that such connection has been established, then Windows will automatically use it when needed from e.g. Explorer?
  – Shuzheng
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Yes, it will be used automatically.
  – grawity
  46 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
2
down vote

up vote
2
down vote

resulting in the share being mapped without a corresponding network drive showing up

Technically, if a drive letter wasn't specified, then the share isn't mapped; it's only connected to.

Now, what can a mapped share, without a corresponding network drive, be used to?

Everything, because most programs accept UNC paths directly – mapping to a drive letter is optional. For example, you can open the path \hostshare in Explorer or Notepad or Word or any other program; you can even dir it from the Command Prompt. This has been possible ever since Windows 95 – for more than 20 years now.

Windows will automatically connect to shares whenever an UNC path is used, so technically you don't even need net use at all. However the command remains useful even without specifying drive letters, because it lets you specify a custom username and password.

That said, there are still valid reasons to use drive letter mappings: they let you quickly see used/free space in "This PC" ("My Computer"), they're shorter to type, and you can actually cd into them via Command Prompt.

Is it possible to link the share to a network drive afterwards (how)?

If you still want to map the share to a drive, simply repeat the command with a drive letter:

net use z: \hostshare

share|improve this answer

edited 24 mins ago

answered 1 hour ago

grawity

223k33458521

resulting in the share being mapped without a corresponding network drive showing up

Technically, if a drive letter wasn't specified, then the share isn't mapped; it's only connected to.

Now, what can a mapped share, without a corresponding network drive, be used to?

Everything, because most programs accept UNC paths directly – mapping to a drive letter is optional. For example, you can open the path \hostshare in Explorer or Notepad or Word or any other program; you can even dir it from the Command Prompt. This has been possible ever since Windows 95 – for more than 20 years now.

Windows will automatically connect to shares whenever an UNC path is used, so technically you don't even need net use at all. However the command remains useful even without specifying drive letters, because it lets you specify a custom username and password.

That said, there are still valid reasons to use drive letter mappings: they let you quickly see used/free space in "This PC" ("My Computer"), they're shorter to type, and you can actually cd into them via Command Prompt.

Is it possible to link the share to a network drive afterwards (how)?

If you still want to map the share to a drive, simply repeat the command with a drive letter:

net use z: \hostshare

share|improve this answer

edited 24 mins ago

answered 1 hour ago

grawity

223k33458521

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

edited 24 mins ago

edited 24 mins ago

edited 24 mins ago

answered 1 hour ago

grawity

223k33458521

answered 1 hour ago

grawity

223k33458521

answered 1 hour ago

grawity

223k33458521

223k33458521

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thank you - so using net use \hostshare is only useful to establish a connection with a custom username and password? Given that such connection has been established, then Windows will automatically use it when needed from e.g. Explorer?
  – Shuzheng
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Yes, it will be used automatically.
  – grawity
  46 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thank you - so using net use \hostshare is only useful to establish a connection with a custom username and password? Given that such connection has been established, then Windows will automatically use it when needed from e.g. Explorer?
  – Shuzheng
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Yes, it will be used automatically.
  – grawity
  46 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

Thank you - so using net use \hostshare is only useful to establish a connection with a custom username and password? Given that such connection has been established, then Windows will automatically use it when needed from e.g. Explorer?
– Shuzheng
1 hour ago

Thank you - so using net use \hostshare is only useful to establish a connection with a custom username and password? Given that such connection has been established, then Windows will automatically use it when needed from e.g. Explorer?
– Shuzheng
1 hour ago

Yes, it will be used automatically.
– grawity
46 mins ago

Yes, it will be used automatically.
– grawity
46 mins ago

add a comment | 

up vote
1
down vote

Is it possible to link the share to a network drive afterwards?

Yes, using these commands:

net use \hostshare /delete
net use \hostshare z:

This deletes the mapping and then recreates it using the drive letter you specify.

share|improve this answer

answered 1 hour ago

Twisty Impersonator

16.3k126090

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thank you - but I know this. I want to know, what the mapped share can be used to, not just deleted and remapped with a corresponding device name :)
  – Shuzheng
  1 hour ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @Shuzheng I'd have to do some research to answer the other part of your question. If you didn't mean to ask the part I answered, please edit your question to clarify.
  – Twisty Impersonator
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
1
down vote

Is it possible to link the share to a network drive afterwards?

Yes, using these commands:

net use \hostshare /delete
net use \hostshare z:

This deletes the mapping and then recreates it using the drive letter you specify.

share|improve this answer

answered 1 hour ago

Twisty Impersonator

16.3k126090

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thank you - but I know this. I want to know, what the mapped share can be used to, not just deleted and remapped with a corresponding device name :)
  – Shuzheng
  1 hour ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @Shuzheng I'd have to do some research to answer the other part of your question. If you didn't mean to ask the part I answered, please edit your question to clarify.
  – Twisty Impersonator
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
1
down vote

up vote
1
down vote

Is it possible to link the share to a network drive afterwards?

Yes, using these commands:

net use \hostshare /delete
net use \hostshare z:

This deletes the mapping and then recreates it using the drive letter you specify.

share|improve this answer

answered 1 hour ago

Twisty Impersonator

16.3k126090

Is it possible to link the share to a network drive afterwards?

Yes, using these commands:

net use \hostshare /delete
net use \hostshare z:

This deletes the mapping and then recreates it using the drive letter you specify.

share|improve this answer

answered 1 hour ago

Twisty Impersonator

16.3k126090

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered 1 hour ago

Twisty Impersonator

16.3k126090

answered 1 hour ago

Twisty Impersonator

16.3k126090

answered 1 hour ago

Twisty Impersonator

16.3k126090

16.3k126090

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thank you - but I know this. I want to know, what the mapped share can be used to, not just deleted and remapped with a corresponding device name :)
  – Shuzheng
  1 hour ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @Shuzheng I'd have to do some research to answer the other part of your question. If you didn't mean to ask the part I answered, please edit your question to clarify.
  – Twisty Impersonator
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Thank you - but I know this. I want to know, what the mapped share can be used to, not just deleted and remapped with a corresponding device name :)
  – Shuzheng
  1 hour ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @Shuzheng I'd have to do some research to answer the other part of your question. If you didn't mean to ask the part I answered, please edit your question to clarify.
  – Twisty Impersonator
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

Thank you - but I know this. I want to know, what the mapped share can be used to, not just deleted and remapped with a corresponding device name :)
– Shuzheng
1 hour ago

Thank you - but I know this. I want to know, what the mapped share can be used to, not just deleted and remapped with a corresponding device name :)
– Shuzheng
1 hour ago

@Shuzheng I'd have to do some research to answer the other part of your question. If you didn't mean to ask the part I answered, please edit your question to clarify.
– Twisty Impersonator
1 hour ago

@Shuzheng I'd have to do some research to answer the other part of your question. If you didn't mean to ask the part I answered, please edit your question to clarify.
– Twisty Impersonator
1 hour ago

add a comment | 

 

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