Can't access network drive plugged into the router USB port.

Question

I am running Windows 10 on 2 laptops. One laptop can connect to the storage drive plugged into the USB port of my BT router. The other laptop (also running Windows 10) cant even see the drive plugged into the router. What have I done wrong?

Answer 1

Hi Lionel,

It seems that your USB drive is not mapped on your other laptop that's why it can't see it. For me to properly assist you with this concern, please provide me the following information:

• Is this the first time you're trying to access the USB drive from the second laptop?
• Have you tried adding or mapping the USB drive as a network drive?
• Do you know the IP address of your router?

If the USB drive is already shared, then you can start mapping it on the second laptop. Please check out the link Map a network drive and follow the steps for Windows 10.

In case the above steps won't work, then you may have to access the USB drive using the router's IP address. If you don't know the router's IP, then you can check it from the Command Prompt. Just type in cmd in the Cortana search, then press Enter. Once the command prompt window opens, type in ipconfig, and press Enter. Whatever Default Gateway appears on the result is your router's IP address. 

To access the USB drive using the router's IP, follow these steps:

1. Open the File Explorer.
2. Click the Network Folder, then clear the path in File Explorer, and replace it with \192.168.2.1 (or whatever router IP you have), then press Enter.

 

   3. The USB drive should now show as a shared folder. At this point, you can either pin the shared folder to Start, create a shortcut to the desktop, or map it as a network drive. You may follow the same steps from the link I provided above.

Please let me know how it goes so I can further assist you.

Regards.

Answer 2

Have you tried accessing the USB drive using the router's IP in your second laptop? If you haven't yet, then please get the correct router IP (Default Gateway) and try to access it on the second laptop. Kindly follow the steps in accessing the USB drive using the router IP which I provided in my previous reply.

Let me know how it goes.

Regards.

Answer 3

Dear Vanessa

Thank you for your detailed reply. I am sorry to say that I had already tried all you sequestered. The use drive is aleady maped as a network drive on my second laptop but when I try to map it on my second laptop Windows cant see it. Also with a BT router it doesn't display a network address.