Can you add a USB hard drive to network?

Hello all

Please be gentle with me as i'm trying to learn new PC/network things.

I have a wireless network at home which consists of a modem and router. I connect my laptop and xbox to the network.

Now what i would like to do is somehow connect my USB external hard drive to the network so i can free up some space on my laptop. I have had a look at my router but there are no USB ports on it. Also want the xbox 360 to be able to see it so i can stream movies.


Now heres the question..........Is this possible? If so what do i need to make this happen?

Many thanks

 

Yes this is possible.
Assuming you have windows Vista Home Premium or better.:-D


To use your external HDD as a network resource you need to have it plugged in and setup sharing on the drive.

Right click on My Computer and click on manage then Computer Management>System Tools>Shared Folders>Shares> right click then Click New Share... follow the wizard its pretty easy


As for setting up streaming with the Xbox follow this guide.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/mediacenter/xbox360.mspx

 

CHeers NEOKing. I am running XP. I should have been clearer. I want to carry on using my wireless network. What i want to do is add the HDD to the router in some way. Is there a way to do this?

 

It may be possible depending on what type of wireless router you are using.:confused

 

I am using a Linksys wireless - G router. It has no USB ports only ethernet.
Id there anything i can buy that can ethernet on one side and USB on the other???

 

Yes, there are devices that can do what you are after. Look here: http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...-to-NAS+NetMagic+Single+Port+?productId=33845

If this is not the correct country, then there are plenty of these types of things all over the web.

Basically, all you plug in is an Ethernet cable (may be supplied, depends on version), a power adapter (supplied), and the USB cable from your HDD.

Then you run the configuration software as detailed in the product manual, and you're good to go!

 

Linksys Network Storage Link NSLU2 NAS server or
or
USB Network Storage Server w/ Memory Card Reader @ http://www.trendnet.com/products/products.asp?cat=90

 

I have had a thought. I can just take the hard drive out of the enclosure and put it into a NAS enclosure. This should work.:confused
Does anyone know what type of hard drive is in a Maxtor Basics 500gb desktop HDD? I have been unable to find this info.

Cheers