Connect to Files@Iowa
Off campus, Non-domain PCs

Are you off campus and need to access Files@Iowa on your personal laptop or desktop?

This page describes two ways to access Files@Iowa from off campus. If you have high-speed Internet access, you may install the AnyConnect client and use the Virtual Private Network (VPN) to access the Home (H:) and Shared (L:) drives. If you are using dial-up access (or just want quick access to a file), you may use your web browser to access these file locations (see below).

Using the AnyConnect Client to Access Home (H:) and Shared (L:) Drives

If your PC is not in the Iowa Domain, your home (H:) and shared (L:) drives will not automatically be available to you when you are off the campus network. (How to check if your computer is in the Iowa domain.) You may install the AnyConnect client to access the Virtual Private Network and then configure access to your Home and Shared drives in a few simple steps.

Once you have connected to these drives, you can choose a setting to reconnect at logon. When you are off campus and using a different network, you may then log on to the AnyConnect client to access these drives as if you were on the University of Iowa campus network.

For configuring access to drives:

Configure Access to Files@Iowa: Microsoft Windows XP

To manually configure your Files@Iowa home (H:) drive using Windows XP:

  • Click the start button located on the task bar.

  • Select My Computer.

  • Select the Tools menu item.
  • Select Map Network Drive...

  • In the Drive drop down menu select H:.
  • In the Folder field type \\home.iowa.uiowa.edu\hawkid (replace "hawkid" with your own Hawk ID).
  • If you would like to reconnect at logon select the Reconnect at logon check box.
  • Select Finish.

    • To complete the process, you may need to log in with your domain (Iowa) and Hawk ID in the dialog box.
    Login with domain.

    To manually configure your Files@Iowa shared (L:) drive using Windows XP:

    • Click the start button located on the task bar.

    • Select My Computer.

    • Select the Tools menu item.
    • Select Map Network Drive...

    • In the Drive drop down menu select L:.
    • In the Folder field type \\iowa.uiowa.edu\shared\deptname (replace "deptname" with your department name on the file system; if you do not know this name, please contact your local IT support staff or the ITS Help Desk).
    • If you want to reconnect at login, select the Reconnect at logon check box.
    • Select Finish. 

    • To complete the process, you may need to log in with your domain (Iowa) and Hawk ID in the dialog box.
    Login with domain.

     

    Configure Access to Files@Iowa: Microsoft Windows Vista/7

    To manually configure your Files@Iowa home (H:) drive using Windows Vista/7:

    • Click on the Windows icon on the task bar.

    • Right click on Computer and select Map Network Drive...

    • In the Drive drop down menu select H:.
    • In the Folder field type \\home.iowa.uiowa.edu\hawkid (replace "hawkid" with your own Hawk ID).
    • If you would like to reconnect at logon select the Reconnect at logon check box.
    • Select Finish.

    • To complete the process, you may need to log in with your domain (Iowa) and Hawk ID in the dialog box.

    Login dialog box

    To manually configure your Files@Iowa shared (L:) drive using Windows Vista/7:

    • Click on the Windows icon on the task bar.

    • Right click on Computer and select Map Network Drive:.

    • In the Drive drop down menu select L:.
    • In the Folder field type \\iowa.uiowa.edu\shared\deptname (replace "deptname" with your department name on the file system; if you do not know this name, please contact your local IT support staff or the ITS Help Desk).
    • If you want to reconnect at login, select the Reconnect at logon check box.
    • Select Finish. 

    • To complete the process, you may need to log in with your domain (Iowa) and Hawk ID in the dialog box.

    Login dialog box

     

    Your home (H:) and shared (L:) drives will now be available to you. 

    Note: Windows 2000 and Windows 98 are not supported.

    Using a Web Browser to Access Home (H:) and Shared (L:) Drives

    If you just want quick access to a file on your home (H:) drive, you may connect to the Virtual Private Network through your web browser and download files to your computer, or you may use MyFiles to access these files via the web: