Article: vtkb2110.htm
Difficulty: Easy
Time to Complete (minutes): 20
Last Updated: May 22, 2008

Question:

How do I configure a Home Directory to connect to my Network-Attached Storage (NAS) space in Windows XP?

Answer:

A Home Directory is the folder where Windows starts each time you log on. Using the Hokies Self-Service pages to set a Home Directory for your Hokies account tells your computer to connect to your NAS space with the same drive letter each time you log on. Your Home Directory travels with you from computer to computer as long as you log on with your Hokies ID each time. You may use this network drive just like any other hard disk drive. By setting a Home Directory, you do not need to manually connect to your NAS space each time you log on.

Note: If you have not yet created your NAS space, you can set up a Home Directory at the same time. For instructions, see Creating Your NAS Space in Windows 2000/XP, Mac OS X, or Linux (http://www.answers.vt.edu/ask4help/ad_min/vtkb2113.htm).

To configure your Home Directory after you have already set up your NAS space:

  1. Log on to Hokies Self-Service (http://selfservice.w2k.vt.edu/) with your Hokies ID and password.

    2. Note: You will experience a brief redirect when you click on the Hokies Self-Service link.

  2. Select the My Storage tab.
  3. From the Map Drive Letter ____ to the NAS drop-down list, select a drive letter that your computer is not already using.
  4. Click the Modify Settings button.
  5. Wait 15 minutes for the settings to take effect.
  6. Log off of Windows and log on again with your Hokies ID and password.
  7. To access your Home Directory, click the Start button.
  8. Select My Computer.
Note: Since Home Directories are network drives, a slow network connection may result in poor performance.