Automatically Sharing USB External HD or Flash Drive when plugged in

jlc01 · 19 May 2012

I am running WHS but the same principal applies as 7. I have a HP N40L Server and have no problem sharing anything internal or external after it is connected following standard procedure.

My question is, is it possible to make Windows 7/WHS automatically share plug and play storage devices. The Server is over Wi-Fi and sometimes for big files it can be too slow and is easier just plugging in a HD.

Ideally
1. File is too big to rip directly to Desktop or Laptop from Server.
2. Plug in storage device to Server via any of the four USBs on the Servers front.
3. Go back to my regular Desktop or Laptop
4. Go to My Computer and notice the new drive has appeared under the Sever with my other internal shared drives
5. Drag and Drop to and from Server and Computer as I wish.

TanyaC · 19 May 2012

Hi and welcome to SevenForums.

Sharing external USB drives is no different to sharing internal drives.

I have a 1TB WD drive, and a Seagate 1TB USB drives connected to my Windows 2008 R2 server, which used to run Windows 7 x64. The drive is shared for client backups. If the drive is unplugged, there is occasionally a problem reconnecting for a few seconds, but once it syncs everything is fine.

Copying large files over a network (even a gigabit network), to a USB device is slow, compared to copying to internal SATA drives, bit it most certainly is doable.

Over Wi-fi you might find regular copying of large files somewhat frustrating.

jlc01 · 20 May 2012

Thanks for the greeting and your fast reply.

Does that mean I still have set up sharing every USB Flash, External HD or any othee USB storage device intially?

I know once I setup sharing, plug in, unplug and plug back in it will be OK. But I really just wanted any external drive to be plug and play and shared acroos the network.

TanyaC · 20 May 2012

Have a look at this, perhaps this might suit your needs...

SharePlugger

jlc01 · 21 May 2012

This is EXACTLY what I wanted.

You are a legend!

TanyaC · 21 May 2012

Glad to be of service.

Carando130869 · 03 Jan 2013

It might be too late but I think I should share this:
Insert a USB drive
1. Open Windows Explorer and right click Computer and click Manage.
2. Under Storage find Disk Management, on the right panel find your USB drive letter, right click on it, choose properties, then choose the sharing tab, check 'share this folder'.
3. Make sure that there will be only a drive letter without the USB stick name on it.
4. Click 'Permissions' - 'Add' - 'Advanced' - 'Find Now' - and at the RDN names, select NETWORK, hit OK twice then set the 'permissions for NETWORK' to 'full control'

For XP users, you might have to go back to Explorer and right click again ur USB and choose 'sharing' and share ur USB without any name except the drive letter.

If you forgot to erase the USB name, then it will only read the initial device you use to set up..

Hope it helps..