How to Create a Temporary Drive

Microsoft Windows computers include a powerful command line that enables you to automate tasks that are executed repeatedly by writing scripts that capture the commands and package them into a single executable file. Commands require a complete path to resources on a network share unless the path is also configured as a mapped drive on the computer. Windows operating systems include command line tools that can transform a long shared directory path into a single temporary drive letter in order to simplify both command line execution and scripts. Use the "pushd" command to create temporary drives that simplify command line execution and scripts.

• 1

  Boot the Windows computer and login using the credentials of a user account that also has permissions to access network shares you wish to use.

• 2

  Click the "Start" or "Globe" button located in the lower left corner of the PC desktop, click "Programs" and then click "Accessories." Right-click on the command line icon in the menu that appears, and then click "Run as Administrator."

• 3

  Type "pushd \\fileserver\sharedpath\directory", replacing \\fileserver\sharedpath\directory" with the full path to the directory you wish to access over the network.

• 4

  Press the "Enter" key, and the computer will then associate the full share path specified in the "pushd" command with the next available drive letter on the computer starting with the letter "Z." The drive letter assigned can now be used to access the shared directory rather than using the full path to the shared directory.