NetDrives

File sharing is a common thing now, and can easily be done through the great information superhighway. However, local networks are also capable of transferring files, even without Internet access. What’s more, some specialized applications like NetDrives want to help out in sharing entire disk drives.

Taking only a little while to get deployed on your computer, the application can be put to the test in no time at all. However, you might need a second PC for this to properly work, since one computer can’t benefit from this application. However, make sure .NET Framework is installed on the target PCs for proper functioning.

On the visual side of things, the application sports a familiar look, being fitted with the common ribbon interface that lets you easily switch through different areas, like share, and tools. This makes accommodation a walk in the park, especially since most input fields provide ample descriptions on mouse hover.

There’s nothing shared by default, so you need to set up a new one. A new prompt appears with several information fields that let you pick a name, specify the network address, set a drive letter, and even manage security settings either by letting anyone have access, or requiring login information for each connection attempt.

Once this is done, the second computer also needs to be connected, and only then can you explore content. There’s also the possibility to make NetDrives stay hidden in the system tray, while letting you manage most of its features from there. You’re free to create multiple connections, and even explore them at the same time.

History is kept track of just in case something goes wrong. All connections can be cleared or better organized. A log file can be generated at the press of a button, with options to save locally. To cut connections, you only need to use the dedicated function for all, or manage them individually.

Taking everything into consideration, we can say that NetDrives is a practical network sharing utility overall. Just as the name suggests, you are only able to share entire drives on your local network, so make sure there’s no valuable or personal data there.