Is it possible to share a hard drive between two computers?

[boing]

I tend to move data from my PC to my laptop and back a fair bit which means buggering about with memory sticks, I wondered if it was possible to have an external drive that plugged into both so I could dump data from the PC then read from the laptop without plugging and unplugging stuff all the time?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Yes, it's called Network Storage, or NAS. You buy a little box with a CPU and a network jack and some HDDs, that plugs into your LAN, that lets you store files using Windows File Sharing. (Among others.)

Popular ones are QNAP, Synology, etc.

Expect to pay $100-200 for a 2-bay, and $300-600 for a 4-bay.

 

[boing]

Thanks for the info, does this mean you need to set up a network? I don't have any experience with that unfortunately. Also, would both the computers 'see' each other on such a setup?

 

[cbn]

How much data and how often?

P.S. Do you have the Pro version of Windows? If so, you can just remote in and drag and drop from one PC to the other.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Thanks for the info, does this mean you need to set up a network

Yes. But if both computers can access the internet, then they're probably already on the same network.

I don't have any experience with that unfortunately.

https://www.smallnetbuilder.com/

Also, would both the computers 'see' each other on such a setup?

Yes, but only if you tell them they are allowed to.

 

[boing]

How much data and how often?

P.S. Do you have the Pro version of Windows? If so, you can just remote in and drag and drop from one PC to the other.

Not much maybe 100Mb at a time a few times a day, it's just a hassle faffing about with memory sticks all the time. Win 64 bit but not pro.

 

[boing]

Yes. But if both computers can access the internet, then they're probably already on the same network.

https://www.smallnetbuilder.com/

Yes, but only if you tell them they are allowed to.

Thanks for the info!