This page describes how Managed XP PC users keep their documents on H: Drive and how keeping documents on H: Drive improves accessibility, reliability and security. What is my personal filestore?

My Documents on H: Drive

All Managed XP PC’s 'map' your default document locations ('My Documents') on to H: Drive (network filestore). This means that you store all documents on network filestore instead of your local Hard Disk.

Folder Structure

As with 'My Documents' on C: Drive you can have as many sub-folders and sub-sub-folders under My Documents under H: Drive as you like.

Microsoft Office Uses H: Drive My Documents

On Managed XP PCs standard applications e.g. Microsoft Word will automatically open and save documents to a 'My Documents' area on your H: Drive.

Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer will automatically keep your 'Favourites' (bookmarks) on a favourites folder on H: Drive.

Three Big Advantages

Keeping My Documents and IE Favourites on H: Drive has the following advantages:

• Your Documents Are Available To You Anywhere - you can access your H: drive from any other Managed XP PC (once you are logged in).
• Your Documents Are Backed-Up - H: Drive data is 'backed-up' to tape by ISS nightly.
• Your Documents Are Always Available - documents are written to H: Drive are simultaneously written to a hidden folder on your C: Drive so that you can carry on working on the files when the network is unavailable.

Your Documents Are Available To You Anywhere

You can access your H: Drive from any other Managed PC on campus simply by logging in. For example, if your PC fails you can log into a colleagues, friends or even a public PC Lab machine and access your H: drive.

Your Documents Are Backed-Up

ISS back up H: drive data nightly. In the event of disaster files can be recovered from backup tapes.

Your Documents Are Always Available

On the 'Managed Windows XP PC' data and documents are stored primarily on ISS network filestore aka 'H: drive', but are simultaneously written to a hidden folder on C: Drive. This means that when the H: Drive is unavailable, for example due to a temporary network failure, you can carry on working because your files are still open on the hidden C: Drive folder.

When the 'temporary network failure' is over the file that you have been editing in the hidden C: folder can be copied to the H: Drive. This is called 'synchronisation'. Synchronisation also occurs if you have been working on a file on H: drive on a another PC. When your PC next comes online, the changed H: drive file is synchronised down onto your C: Drive. Synchronisation is a 'smart copy' that insures that both the H: Drive and he C: Drive contain the latest version of your documents.

Synchronised Folder Names

If you browse your network filestore (H: Drive) with 'My Computer' or 'Windows Explorer' you will notice the areas have slightly different names:

The folder icons on the synchronised folders have a small double blue arrow at the bottom left of the folder icon.

On Managed XP PCs Microsoft Office applications are configured to use 'H:(users) Documents' for opening and saving files. Office application display the H: drive folder as 'My Documents'.

H: Drive Folders

All your documents and other data files should be kept under 'H:\(user's) Documents'. If you keep files directly on 'H:\' or in named folders under H: e.g. 'H:\Dave's they will NOT be synchronised. This means that in the event of a network outage (planned or unplanned) you will not be able to access those document for the duration of the outage.

If you have got files directly under H: Drive or in other folders under H: Drive e.g. 'H:\daves', you can make them synchronised by copying the files and/or folders to folders under 'H:\(users') Documents. If you need any assistance with this contact the ISS Service Desk.

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