Windows 7: Macrium backups on wireless network

I have 2 computers on a wireless network using Macrium Reflect (free version) to backup my system and files it works great to store the backup on my main computer.
When I try to do a backup and store it on an external USB drive on my other computer I cannot get the external drives listed.
In Macrium to store the backup I choose Network, then the name of my other computer comes up, I click the down arrow and it lists Users then Desktop, My Documents, My Music etc., but not my external drives.
I woud like help on this.

Thanks
jack

Have you shared the external USB drive? Open a Command Prompt and type net share on the computer the USB drive is connected to. Does it show the USB share name?

On the other computer, open a Command Prompt and type net view. Does it show you the name of the computer that has the USB drive connected to it? If yes, type net view \\name, where \\name is the UNC name of the computer with the USB drive. It should report the shares defined for that computer.

If you can see it then you should be able to use it as long as it's defined as a Read/Write share (Remote users can change files and folders).

Hi,

You could also try looking into Map Network Drive and see if it could help


OS

If you can't see a drive in net view then I don't see how you can map it, or am I missing something (wouldn't be the first time)

As i have a new laptop and desktop i was wondering the same thing about wireless backups, my feeling is that too much could go wrong but maybe i'll give it a whirl now.
thanks OP for raising the question. yet more answers from 7 forums. cheers guys

I think it would be very slow once you had it working. You have the slower speed of the wireless network combined with the slow speed of a USB device, even USB 2.0.

I think you would be better off to move the USB drive to the 2nd computer when you want to do the backup. It would definitely run faster. Not as convenient though.

I guess the answer would be to move the laptop to the desktop where the externals live after all the point of a laptop is mobility. having said that the size of the backup from lappy to external wouldnt be that big but i agree would still take time particularly as windows backup is slow anyhow.

Use Macrium Reflect Free then, Faster than Win7 Backup.

If the OP was to map the drive on the PC inquestion (unseen in network) it may make that drive visible in the network. Worth a try

My best advise is to use an External HDD. It's portable, it can be plugged into a desktop or laptop and left plugged in or move it around from place to place. Setting up your power surge protector close to your feet, next to the laptop or destkop makes all of this simple too.


For me it's always about "speed". An good external HDD or better yet, an Internet HDD are going to be much faster with data transfer rates than a Flash Drive. I use a network on 3 desktops and my Internet HDD is the backup for all of them. I'm hardwired too, so that does make a big difference as well but would also work fine with a wireless..