Can't map folder

[Doug Kanter]

Using XP Pro. I've got a folder in my root directory that I'd like to map as
drive P:. Can't seem to make it happen. In Explorer, I click on Tools, Map
Network Drive. In the dialog box, there's an example of how to enter the
computer & dir name, so I follow that pattern and enter \\Doug-Desktop\Para
(all of which is correct). Windows searches for the network drive and says
it cannot be found. If I use the browse button and point to C:\PARA, the OK
button in that dialog is greyed out. What's going on?

By the way, this is a standalone machine, no connections to any network.

 

[Haggis]

Using XP Pro. I've got a folder in my root directory that I'd like to map
as drive P:. Can't seem to make it happen. In Explorer, I click on Tools,
Map Network Drive. In the dialog box, there's an example of how to enter
the computer & dir name, so I follow that pattern and enter
\\Doug-Desktop\Para (all of which is correct). Windows searches for the
network drive and says it cannot be found. If I use the browse button and
point to C:\PARA, the OK button in that dialog is greyed out. What's going
on?

By the way, this is a standalone machine, no connections to any network.

so you are not trying to map a "network drive" , you are trying to assign a
drive letter to a local folder ...

you could create another partition on your HD and move the folder
there...then name the "new" drive as P:

any particular reason you are doing this ?

 

[Bob Milton]

One quick question - is the folder shared for the network? If it isn't,
you can't map to it.
Bob

 

[Doug Kanter]

so you are not trying to map a "network drive" , you are trying to assign
a drive letter to a local folder ...

you could create another partition on your HD and move the folder
there...then name the "new" drive as P:

any particular reason you are doing this ?

Before responding to "any particular reason", I should mention that this
worked on a previous computer which was set up just like this one...almost
(since it's not working here).

I'm doing it because there's an application which runs on my company
headquarters' machines, and points to a data directory on their server as
P:. On my standalone machine, that same data directory is simply C:\PARA.
When I make occasional modifications to the program using my machine, it
obviously doesn't work, since it's looking for P: drive.

I think the question here is "How does one convince Windows that it's on a
network?", even though it's not. I'd prefer not to use the SUBST command,
but I suppose that's an option.

 

[Doug Kanter]

Bob:
No, it's not shared - the computer's not on a network. I don't mind
pretending it is and setting the folder up that way, but for "clumsy finger
safety reasons", it cannot be accessible to two other users on this same
machine. Since this is a shiny new machine and I've been busy, I haven't had
a moment to find out how to do that. You should see the size of the XP book
I bought....

 

[Bob I]

The folder must be shared if you want to "network map" to it. Other
choice is SUBST it at login with your Startup folder.