How to access an usb hard disk from two or more computers at the same time?

Discussion in 'Storage Devices' started by flowda, Oct 4, 2007.

  1. flowda

    flowda Geek Trainee

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    I have bought an Iomega usb hard disk 500GB and I have various computers. The idea is to use the USB as massive storage device and access it from various computers at the same time. Can this be done? I saw in a shop a hard disk that came with this incorporated, but was quite expensive. Could this work with an usb splitter or something?
     
  2. Ferg

    Ferg Manbearpig

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    Are all your computers on the same network?

    Right click on the drive letter (in my computer) >sharing and security>set up the share

    Then if you want to connect to it (you can also 'map' it as a permanent network drive from another computer - so it would appear in the other computers 'my computer) just type into the start>run box '\\compname'
    where compname=the name of the computer with the USB drive on, it should appear in the window of shared folders.

    There are more advanced ways of doing this but this is the cheap and cheerfull ie. easy way of doing it :D
     
  3. flowda

    flowda Geek Trainee

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    Thank you for the information, but it is to be used by computers that do not belong to a network, just are independent. It is like that:

    [computer]<--->[USB]<--->[Hard Disk]<--->[USB]<--->[other pc]

    The other hard disk was a woxter I-cube 35 hub
    .: WOXTER :. Audiovisual Multimedia Electronics: the best quality at the best price
     
  4. Ferg

    Ferg Manbearpig

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  5. donkey42

    donkey42 plank

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    yes, that may seem to be an answer, however,
    Edited Source

    although, a USB HDD doesn't use much power, that autoswitch may use a lot

    BTW: i can't find any power specifications on that Lindy autoswitch

    Edit: as ferg suggested you will benefit most by networking 2 or more systems by installing a cheap NIC into each system
     
  6. flowda

    flowda Geek Trainee

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    Thank you. The hard disk is big (2.5 inches) and is self-powered.
     
  7. donkey42

    donkey42 plank

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    np
    physical size is unimportant, except when carrying it around
    power is will not be an issue then
     

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