Possible to convert external hd to networked external hd?

[terry b.]

Hello, All!
[home WLAN--desktop + a couple of notebooks all running XP Pro]
Several months ago I picked up a Maxtor OneTouch II external hard
drive, and it's worked flawlessly. But since then I've become aware
that when I'm using a notebook unit with the wireless network, the
200GB 'space' on the OneTouch is pretty much useless relative to the
client unit; the only time the external drive is directly in play is
when used by the desktop. I am very much wishing that, instead of the
standard external drive, I had gotten an external networked drive
instead, so that when using the notebook I could also use the capacity
of the external drive--w/out having to power up the desktop unit.
My question is: Is there any adapter or special connection I could
run that Maxtor through so that it would connect to the wireless router
instead of the desktop computer? So that the notebook could access it
easily? Hate to go out and spend another $300+ for a networked-unit,
when the existing external USB hard drive is fairly-new!
Thanks in advance for the help.

riprap.

 

[Richard G. Harper]

Not having exhaustively searched for such an item, I haven't seen one; but
there are several NAS-type devices that have USB inputs so you can attach a
second USB drive and have both available.

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Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
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