Information ServicesNetwork drives FAQs

Log into Windows with your DS account. Open Windows Explorer/ File Explorer / Computer, and it'll be there.

The H: drive is your own individual filestore. The i: drive contains the shared files of any groups you may be a member of.

Look up your device on the table on the connect remotely to your H: or i: network drive page and follow the instructions.

Look up your device on the table on the connect remotely to your H: or i: network drive page and follow the instructions.

Usually, you can do this yourself, as follows:

1. Login to any Windows PC in Active Directory, on campus.
2. Navigate to the folder which contained the file, before it was deleted
3. Right-click the folder, click 'Properties', then select the 'Previous Versions' tab
4. A list of 'folder versions' will be displayed, along with dates and times
5. Click on the date/time you want to restore from, then click Open
6. A new window will display showing the old contents of the folder at the date/time you selected. From there, you can 'copy' the file you want and 'paste' it back into the original window.

The above method will work for recently-deleted files. If the file was deleted long ago, then you may need to contact the IT Helpdesk and request a restore from tape. If the file was deleted a very long time ago (for example, several months), then it may not be possible to restore it all.

Note that 'previous versions' are only taken three times each day at approximately:

• 8am
• midday, and
• 4pm

If you both created and deleted the file between these times we cannot get it back for you. If you made changes to the file today and deleted it before a backup, the restored file will not contain your most recent changes.

Other options include:

• OneDrive for Business: file storage, short-term sharing, and for syncing with your local device
• Microsoft Teams: longer-term sharing of files, meetings, collaboration and communication
• SharePoint: feature-rich system for information sharing, collaboration, storage, data collection, communication and reporting
• Pure: for long-term deposit or publication of completed research data

There are several options for syncing files between your Network Drive and your local device.

The simplest way to access files from different devices is to store your files in OneDrive for Business rather than the Network Drives.

Windows has a built-in feature called 'Offline Files' which can sync files, however, it only works on-campus and can be difficult to set up. We recommend that staff discuss their departmental IT support before trying 'Offline Files'.

Information Services does not support third-party tools used to sync files between devices.

By default, you get:

• staff and postgraduate researchers: 50 GB
• role accounts and IT-access ("temp-IT") accounts: 20 GB
• undergraduate and postgraduate taught students: 2 GB
• limited access accounts: no h: drive

Quotas are 'auto-increased' overnight. If you're within 1GB of reaching your current storage space limit, we'll automatically allocate an extra 1GB to your H: drive. This auto-increase can happen an unlimited number of times. It's not immediate, it happens overnight.

If you need a larger increase, you're welcome to ask for more space. Contact Information Services Enquiries. In most cases, requests are granted without difficulty.

Nothing. As long as it's a reasonable request, we can usually give you more without difficulty.

No. Your H: drive is only visible to you. You cannot share it with other users. To share files, contact your local IT support about using the i: drive.

While you can start using the h: drive straight away, the i: drive is different.

The i: drive is for shared/group files only. It's made up of different sub-folders for different departments and groups. You need to be a member of at least one of those groups, or have a new group set up for you, to start using i: drive.

To request membership in an existing group, or the creation of a new group, contact your departmental IT support. If you do not know who this is, see the FAQ below or contact Information Services Enquiries.

In academic departments, this would usually be your departmental/faculty IT staff. In Professional Services, this would be the Professional Services IT Helpdesk.

The files which you put into your group folder can only be seen by other members of that group.

When we say that the i: drive is for 'shared' data, that does not mean that everything in it is shared with everyone. If you're not clear who can see files the i: drive folder, contact your local/departmental IT support.

Yes, we can always deal with this. Either by creating a shared folder under one of the departments involved. Or by creating it in a separate folder outwith any department. It depends on your requirements.

Either way, there is no barrier to users collaborating across departments/faculties. Access can still be restricted to only the individuals that you want.

To discuss further, please contact your departmental/faculty IT staff. In case of difficulties, contact Information Services Enquiries.

Any user can use the i: drive, if they are given permission on a folder. This can include staff, students and limited-access accounts amongst others.

Yes. First, you'd get the group/shared folder set up in the normal way. This is done through your local/departmental IT support.

Next, each of the users outwith the University needs to be issued with a 'limited access account' (LAA). This is a special type of account in Active Directory. It cannot access all the same services as University staff and students. But it can be enabled for certain services, such as i: drive, SharePoint, Wi-Fi, and Myplace.

IT staff in several departments already have the ability to create LAAs. So you should approach them in the first instance. If nobody in your department can create LAAs, contact Information Services Enquiries. This can be set up for your department.

Once the LAAs are created, your local/departmental IT support can add them to the group in the normal way.

Finally, you can tell the external users how to access the shared folder. If they are physically off-campus, this will usually be through Webdrive. Or Strathcloud connectors.