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The purpose of the "Z" Drive is to provide faculty, staff, and students a place to store their "vital" files. The Z Drive offers another means of protection for your valuable files, because it is backed up frequently on tape. The Z Drive also offers you a method to access your files remotely, as long as you are logged into the campus network. Thus, you may access your work using classroom and lab computers. Your Z Drive area is by no means to be used to back up software CD's or store music (.mp3) or movie (.mov, .avi, .mpeg, etc.) files. Your Z Drive is not to be used as a web server or web site storage device. The Systems Administrator frequently checks for and removes without warning music, movies, backed up software CD's, and large image files from the Z Drive storage area.
 

Now would be a great time to print a copy of these instructions.

TO LOCATE YOUR Z DRIVE: 

1. Double click on the "MY COMPUTER" icon.

2. The window that opens (see below) will begin with your floppy drive (A: drive) and proceed with C, D, maybe E and (if you have it) a "Z" drive. 

3. Double click on Z drive and you will be accessing your personal area on our server. This area is backed up on a regular basis and is our most secure way of keeping data. 
 

If you do not have a Z drive you will need to create one.

CREATING A  Z  DRIVE 

1. RIGHT CLICK on the MY COMPUTER icon to access the menu.

2. SELECT "Map Network Drive". This will open up a dialog box with 2 text fields and a checkbox at the bottom.

3. SELECT the letter "Z" from the pulldown list in the first box.

4. In the second box, TYPE "\\", then next to it, TYPE "WESLINKX\XXXX_HOME$", where "XXXX" is your login name.

5. Make sure that the small box that has "Reconnect at Logon, or next login" is CHECKED.

6. CLICK "OK." Your Z: drive will open a new window.
 

VIEWING YOUR FILE EXTENSIONS

If you are using Windows95, or 98, open (double-click) the My Documents Folder and click on the View Menu and select Folder Options (see illustration below). Click on the View Tab and make sure that the "Hide extensions for known file types" box is UNCHECKED. Click "OK."

If you are using WindowsNT, ME, 2000 or XP open (double-click) the My Documents Folder and click on the Tools Menu and select Folder Options. Click on the View Tab and make sure that the "Hide extensions for known file types" box is UNCHECKED. Click "OK."

Here is a partial listing of file extensions:

For further assistance locating file extensions try Ext Search, the File Extension Search Engine: http://extsearch.com/

SEARCHING FOR YOUR FILES

Most of your created documents should be located in the MY DOCUMENTS folder on your C: drive. By default that's where MS Office applications store them (unless you tell the computer otherwise). These documents are recognized by specific extensions at the end of the files [i.e., Microsoft Word (.doc), .PowerPoint (.ppt), and Excel (.xls)]. If these files are NOT located in the My Documents Folder you must search for them. Perhaps files are located OUTSIDE of a folder (i.e., loosely sitting underneath folders on C: drive). It will simplify operations for you to have them in one location.

In addition, you will want to search for your Outlook email (see illustration below). Type this "*.pst" (without the quotes, of course) into the search field. You should see a file named "Outlook.pst." You will copy this into your Z Drive in the next step.

Furthermore, you'll want to save your Internet Explorer Favorites. RIGHT click on the Start Menu and select Explore. If you are using Windows95, or 98, your Favorites are located in the "Windows" folder. If you are using WindowsME, NT, 2000, or XP, your Favorites are located in your profile (log in name) as illustrated below.

You should now be viewing your profile and seeing your "Favorites" folder. These will be copied into your Z Drive in the next step.
 

You should frequently back up "mission critical data" to your Z Drive. The WESLINKX server regularly employs a tape back up system. Thus, your valuable files are preserved.

COPYING YOUR FILES (We'll assume you still have your Z drive open. If not, re-open it.)

Assuming that you have all your documents in the MY DOCUMENTS folder:

1. Select (highlight) the MY DOCUMENTS with a single click (DO NOT Double-click).
2. RIGHT CLICK on the highlighted icon, and a small menu will appear.
3. SELECT "Copy"
4. MINIMIZE this window by SELECTING the small box with a "-" in it, at the top right of the window. It's 3rd from the right; 2 over from the "X" that will CLOSE the window, so DO NOT CLICK the X.
5. RIGHT CLICK in an unoccupied (white) area in the Z drive window. A menu will appear.
6. SELECT "Paste." The contents of your My Documents Folder will be copied into the Z drive.
7. Repeat this process of copying and pasting files for your "Outlook.pst" email file and Internet explorer Favorites (see "SEARCHING FOR YOUR FILES" above).
8. That's it! You've successfully backed up your computer. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call the Helpdesk at Ext. 5000, or send an email to help@ncwc.edu