Mapping a network drive on Windows

Summary

Mapping a network drive on a Windows computer that's persistent across log ins.

Environment

• Windows 10/11

Directions

Using the 'Block M App' (WLMS Notify) to map to a departmental drive

1. Click the 'Block M App' (WLMS Notify) found in the system tray, usually found by the clock in the lower-right corner.  Note that the system tray may hide lesser-used icons. You may need to click the upward-facing arrow to display these hidden icons.
2. Navigate to the 'Drive Mapping' menu item.
3. Select 'Map Department Drive'  (for details, see below).
4. Select the departmental drive you wish to map from the left drop-down.
5. Select the drive letter you wish to map the target drive to from the right drop down.
6. Click 'Apply and Close' or click 'Apply and Map Another Drive' and repeat steps 4-6.

This window is designed to populate with available actions to map departmental drives:

• The left drop-down will populate with departmental drives that you have access to. Any drives that are detected as already mapped will indicate the drive letter they are mapped to listed.  Unmapped drives will be listed as 'unmapped.' If you do not see a departmental drive that you believe should be present, or no drives populate at all, please contact support for further investigation.
• The right drop-down will list available drive letters that a network drive may be mapped to. Drive letters that already have a network drive mapped will display this information, and if selected, you will be asked if  you wish to unmap the existing drive and replace it with your new selection.
• 'Refresh' will refresh the information displayed in the drop-downs. This is useful if, for instance, you unplug a USB device that has been assigned a drive letter you wish to use.
• 'Apply and Map Another Drive' will map the current selected drive, and keep the window open so you can quickly map multiple drives.
• 'Apply and Close' will map the current selected drive, and then close the window.

Using the 'Block M App' (WLMS Notify) to map to a generic network drive

1. Click the 'Block M App' (WLMS Notify) found in the system tray, usually found by the clock in the lower-right corner. Note that the system tray may hide lesser-used icons. You may need to click the upward-facing arrow to display these hidden icons.
2. Navigate to the 'Drive Mapping' menu item.
3. Select 'Map Network Drive' (for details, see below).
4. Enter the full network path of the network drive you wish to connect to.
5. Select the drive letter you wish to map the provided path to.
6. Click 'Apply and Close' or click 'Apply and Map Another Drive' and repeat steps 4-6.

This window is designed to populate with available actions to map a generic network drive:

• Enter the full network path of the location you wish to map in the top box. This may look something like \\umroot\lsa\research\uniqname or \\adsroot.itcs.umich.edu\lsa\research\uniqname although it can be any valid UNC network path.
• The drop down will list available drive letters that a network drive may be mapped to. Drive letters that already have a network drive mapped will display this information, and if selected, you will be asked if  you wish to unmap the existing drive and replace it with your new selection.
• 'Refresh' will refresh the information displayed in the drop-down. This is useful if, for instance, you unplug a USB device that has been assigned a drive letter you wish to use.
• 'Apply and Map Another Drive' will map the current selected drive, and keep the window open so you can quickly map multiple drives.
• 'Apply and Close' will map the current selected drive, and then close the window.

Using the 'Block M App' (WLMS Notify) to map to a user drive

1. Click the 'Block M App' (WLMS Notify) found in the system tray, usually found by the clock in the lower-right corner. Note that the system tray may hide lesser-used icons. You may need to click the upward-facing arrow to display these hidden icons.
2. Navigate to the 'Drive Mapping' menu item.
3. Select 'Map User Drive'  (for details, see below).
4. Select the drive letter you wish to map the lsa-users network drive for the currently logged in user.
5. Click 'Apply and Close.'

• The standard lsa-users network share associated with the currently logged in user will pre-populate and cannot be changed.
• The drop down will list available drive letters that a network drive may be mapped to. Drive letters that already have a network drive mapped will display this information, and if selected, you will be asked if  you wish to unmap the existing drive and replace it with your new selection.
• 'Apply and Close' will map the user drive to the selected drive letter, and then close the window

Manually Mapping a Network Drive on a Windows 10/11 Computer

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Right-click This PC.
3. Select Map network drive....
4. In the drive pathway, select any available drive letter.
5. Enter the desired network path:
   1. For departmental shares, the common format is \\lsa-<dept_abbreviation>.m.storage.umich.edu\lsa-<dept_abbreviation>\dept
      1. Replace <dept_abbreviation> with the appropriate departmental abbreviation. 
      2. A list of these abbreviations can be found in the ITS Organization Prefix tool.
   2. User shares can be found at \\lsa-users.m.storage.umich.edu\lsa-users\<uniqname>.
   3. Any other network folder path can be specified, for example \\<uniqname>-win.turbo.storage.umich.edu\<uniqname>.
6. Make sure Reconnect at sign-in is selected if you wish for this drive to persist between user logins.
7. Check the box for Connect using different credentials if the account you are currently using does not have access rights to the target network share (i.e., you are not logged in via your uniqname account on a U-M device, or you are connecting to a network share that does not use UM authentication)
8. Click "Finish."
9. It you selected to Connect using different credentials you will be presented with a log in pop up:
   1. If you are authenticating using your uniqname or another UM account, prefix the account name with umroot\ Example: umroot\demo_user.
   2. If using your U-M uniqname this should use the same password that you use when logging into Umich email.
10. The shared drive should appear under, "This PC."

Instructional Video (NOTE: This video details steps in Windows 10, but Windows 11 is fundamentally similar)

Additional notes

If you are off-campus, you will need to connect to the U-M VPN before you are able to access your shared drives.

If the drive does not map or says "Access Denied", your account might not have permission to view that folder. Please contact LSA Technology Services Service Desk at 734.615.0100 or LSATechnologyServices@umich.edu for further assistance.

Legacy Instructions

LSA Department Computer: Using Legacy Block M (WLMS Notify) to map to a departmental drive

1. Click the Arrow down on your Taskbar, next to the System Tray.
2. Click "Block M (WLMS Notify)". It is the Michigan M for an icon.
3. Click "Map a department drive."
4. A new window will pop up with a list of department drives you have the ability to map. If your department doesn't show up on this list, it means that you don't have access and need to check with LSA TS concerning your permissions.
5. Enter the NUMBER that corresponds with the department drive you want to map.
6. Click "OK."
7. Enter the drive LETTER that you want to correspond with the department drive.
8. Click "OK."
9. The drive will take a second to map and then File Explorer should open showing the newly mapped drive under, "This PC."

Please note: You can also map your personal Home Drive by selecting, "Map User Drive."

Instructional Video: