Windows 7 - Libraries - Include a Network Folder

There must be another workaround for this as I can add my WHS network shares to the libraries.

I also struggled with this in vain. A little something I worked up with is simple and allowed me to access networked files and folders: shortcuts. For my movies library, I create a folder named "Movies", then went to all network drives that have movie files on them, select and created shortcuts for all those movies, then moved the shortcuts to the "Movies" folder I created locally. And so the Movies library is in actuality a library of shortcuts to all the movies. The same thing can be done with other files and folder types. If you know a better way, let us in on it.

From the posts, it appears that Libraries in Windows 7 are a COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME. The old 95/98/NT4/2000/XP explorer with mapped drives did the job quite adequately. Why would ANYBODY want to mess with Libraries? For heaven's sake Microsoft - GET A GRIP ON REALITY!

Another way of doing it is to make a shortcut to your network drive within the library folder you want.. I have a NAS full of MP3 and a drive on another computer full of MP3's. Made a shortcut to both drives in the libray MUSIC folder..That worked for me.

A simple workaround is to add the drive through Windows Media Player instead of the library itself.
Open it up and goto the Organise menu > Manage Libraries.
Here you can add any network drive without the hassle of indexing or making available offline.
When you goto the library via explorer it will also show the drive.

Why you can do it here and not through the library itself is something of a mystery.

This was done using an networked Apple Time-Capsule 1TB drive.

EXCELLENT..That is great..That worked like a charm..much better than my idea..Thanks

Kev's version of by-passing the UTTERLY USELESS (and obstructive) Libraries sounds useful, but I have already given up and gone back to XP - 'nuff said!

Cheers Kev.

Hi,
thanks for the solutions. There is another possibility; for the Pictures, Video and Music libraries you can use Windows Media Center libraries management in order to add NAS folders. MC does not require an indexed drive and adds the folder on the NAS drive to the Windows Libraries.

How is that possible?

Regards JPB

Or you just download this little peace of software makes it possible to add a network location to your library too.

Win7 Library Tool Zorn Software

Thanks. This works. Very well indeed. Cheers