Share CD & DVD Drives Over Network on Windows - Guide
Sharing Optical Drives Over a Network
Modern computing trends, ranging from ultrabooks to netbooks, demonstrate a clear decline in the inclusion of optical drives in new devices.
Despite this trend, users who occasionally require a CD or DVD do not necessarily need to purchase an external optical drive.
Instead, it's possible to access and utilize the optical drive of another computer connected to the same network.
Network Requirements
For this method to function, both computers involved must be connected to the same local network.
The process necessitates the use of Advanced Sharing settings within Windows, as a simplified, HomeGroup-based approach is not available.
Configuration Process
Sharing an optical drive requires navigating the Advanced Sharing options in Windows.
This allows one computer to make its CD/DVD drive accessible to another machine on the network.
- Ensure both computers are powered on and connected to the same network.
- Access the Advanced Sharing settings on the computer with the optical drive.
- Follow the prompts to share the specific optical drive.
Once configured, the shared optical drive will appear as a network drive on the other computer, allowing seamless access to its contents.
Network Drive Sharing
To begin, access the Computer window by clicking the Start button and selecting 'Computer' on the system hosting the optical drive.
Locate the drive intended for sharing, then right-click on it. From the context menu, choose 'Share with' and subsequently select 'Advanced Sharing'.
Within the properties window that appears, click the 'Advanced Sharing' button to proceed.
In the subsequent window, activate the 'Share this folder' checkbox. Assign a descriptive name – for instance, "CD Drive" – to the share, and then click the 'Permissions' button.
Verify that the 'Everyone' group possesses 'Read' access to the drive. For enhanced security, particularly outside a home network, access can be limited to designated users. Save your configured permissions by clicking 'OK'.
Password-protected sharing can be disabled for convenience, especially on a trusted home network. To do this, click the 'Network and Sharing Center' link located under 'Password Protection'.
Select the 'Home or Work' header, scroll down, and choose 'Turn off password protected sharing'. Confirm your changes by clicking the 'Save changes' button.
Upon clicking 'OK', the drive will be shared across the network. Its network address will be displayed under 'Network Path' within the properties window.
A specific icon will appear on the drive, signifying that it is currently being shared. To cease sharing the drive at a later time, revisit the 'Advanced Sharing' window and deselect the 'Share this folder' checkbox.
Mapping a Drive
To view your network, open Windows Explorer on your secondary computer and select the Network option.
This action will display a list of available network resources.
Locate the shared resource you previously established, then right-click on it.
From the context menu, choose the "Map network drive" option.
A drive letter can be assigned to the shared optical drive during the mapping process.
You also have the option to configure the drive to automatically reconnect each time you log in to the system.
Once mapped, the drive will be visible as a dedicated drive letter within the My Computer window.
Accessing the contents of the drive is achieved by double-clicking it, or navigating to it from within any application.
Alternative methods for sharing disc drives across a network include utilizing Paragon Net Burner, a software solution provided by a third party.
This program offers another avenue for network-based disc drive access.